A relaxed, thorough first appointment at Whitehorse Dental on Canterbury Road — a comprehensive exam, any X-rays needed, a scale and clean where appropriate, and a clear written plan with costs before any treatment begins.
At your first visit to Whitehorse Dental you can expect a comprehensive oral examination, any X-rays that are needed, a scale and clean where appropriate, and a clear written plan with costs before any treatment goes ahead. Plan for about 45 to 60 minutes. There is no pressure to decide anything on the day — a first visit is often just a look and a conversation. We are at 129A Canterbury Road, Blackburn, we welcome new patients of all ages, and consultations are available in Mandarin, Cantonese, Teochew, Shanghainese and English. Saturday appointments are available to make the first visit easier to fit around work and school.
| At a glance | What to expect |
|---|---|
| What happens | History & chat, comprehensive exam, X-rays if needed, scale & clean where appropriate, written plan |
| How long | About 45–60 minutes |
| What to bring | Medicare card, health-fund card, medication list, previous X-rays (if any) |
| Cost indication | Depends on whether X-rays & a clean are needed — written plan with costs before any treatment (see indicative ranges below) |
Seeing a new dentist for the first time can feel like a step into the unknown, and we do everything we can to take the uncertainty out of it. Whether you have just moved to Blackburn, are transferring from another practice, or it has simply been a while since your last check-up, your first visit is a calm, unhurried place to start. Our team greets you by name, walks you through what will happen, and gives you the time and information to feel in control of your own care — nothing is done without explaining it first.
Knowing the sequence ahead of time takes a lot of the nerves out of a first visit. Here is what a typical first appointment looks like:
A few things help us make the most of your appointment:
Arriving a few minutes early to complete your new-patient form gives us more time for you. If dental anxiety is on your mind, mention it when you book — we have several ways to help you feel comfortable.
Australian Dental Association (ADA) item numbers identify each procedure on your receipt and private health-fund claim. They are national identifiers — not fees — so they are the same wherever you are treated, and worth quoting when you check your cover. The codes most likely to appear on a new-patient first visit are:
| ADA item | Procedure |
|---|---|
| 011 | Comprehensive oral examination |
| 022 | Intraoral radiograph — periapical or bitewing (per exposure) |
| 037 | Panoramic radiograph — OPG (per exposure) |
| 114 | Removal of calculus — scale & clean |
| 121 | Topical fluoride application |
The figures below are general indicative ranges across Australian clinics (2025), provided as a guide only — they are not a quote and not a statement of Whitehorse Dental’s fees. Your exact cost is confirmed in a written treatment plan after your assessment.
| Type | Indicative range (AUD) |
|---|---|
| First visit (exam + X-rays + scale & clean) | $200 – $430 |
| Check-up & clean (standard recall) | $150 – $300 |
Indicative Australian ranges (2025) shown as a general guide only, not a quote. If you hold private extras cover, we can help you check your rebate before you commit.
The cost of a first visit depends on whether X-rays and a scale and clean are needed alongside the examination, so the figures above are an indicative guide only — not a quote. After your examination we give you a written treatment plan with clear costs before any treatment begins. If you hold private extras cover, we can help you check your rebate on the spot with HICAPS.
Blackburn is a settled, family-oriented suburb about 16 kilometres east of Melbourne's CBD, and its demographics make it a genuinely multigenerational catchment: in the 2021 Census, couples with children made up 48.2% of local families, while 18.4% of residents were aged 65 or over, with a median age of 41. In practice that means we are often the first dental home for three generations of the same household — from a child's very first check-up to a grandparent transferring their care. Whitehorse Dental is easy to reach for all of them: both Blackburn and Laburnum stations sit on the Belgrave and Lilydale lines a short walk away, there is on-site parking, and we are close to Blackburn Lake Sanctuary — a convenient, familiar part of the neighbourhood for families and for non-driving grandparents alike.
If you have recently moved to the area, are transferring from another practice, or are helping an older parent find a dentist closer to home, a first visit is the easy way in. There is no need for records to be transferred before you come — bring any recent X-rays if you have them and we will take it from there. With on-site parking and a short walk from two train lines, getting here is straightforward whether you drive, catch the train, or rely on family to bring you.
A few principles shape every first visit at Whitehorse Dental:
You can also read more about how we care for the whole household on our Blackburn family dental care page.
Whitehorse Dental is at 129A Canterbury Road, Blackburn VIC 3130 — close to Blackburn Lake Sanctuary, a short walk from Blackburn and Laburnum stations, with on-site parking. New patients of all ages are welcome, and Saturday appointments make the first visit easier to arrange. Call us on (03) 8838 8820 or book online to arrange your first appointment.
Dr Melissa wrote a step-by-step guide to exactly what happens during your first visit — from the initial conversation through to your personalised plan.
Read the full guideYour first appointment starts with a friendly chat about your medical and dental history and what has brought you in. We then carry out a comprehensive oral examination of your teeth, gums, bite and soft tissues, take any X-rays that are needed to see between and inside the teeth, and — where appropriate — do a scale and clean. We finish by talking through what we found and giving you a clear written plan with costs before any treatment goes ahead. There is no pressure to decide on the day.
Plan for about 45 to 60 minutes. A first visit takes a little longer than a routine check-up because it includes a full history, a comprehensive examination, any X-rays, and time to discuss your findings and options unhurried. If you would like a scale and clean on the same day, let us know when booking so we can allow enough time.
Bring your Medicare card, any private health-fund card (physical card if you would like us to process an on-the-spot HICAPS claim), a list of any medications you take, and any recent dental X-rays from a previous dentist if you have them. Arriving a few minutes early to complete your new-patient form helps us make the most of your appointment.
Yes, and you are far from alone. Tell us when you book, and again when you arrive, and we will slow the pace right down, explain each step before we do it, and stop whenever you need a break. A first visit is a gentle place to start — often just a look and a conversation, with no treatment on the day. If dental anxiety has kept you away for a while, our dental anxiety management page explains the calm, no-judgement approach we take.
It depends on what your visit involves — whether X-rays and a scale and clean are needed alongside the examination. The indicative ranges on this page are a general guide only, not a quote. After your examination we give you a written treatment plan with clear costs before anything begins, so there are no surprises. If you hold private extras cover we can help you check your rebate on the spot with HICAPS.
Yes. Whitehorse Dental welcomes new patients of all ages, whether you have just moved to the area, are transferring from another practice, or it has simply been a while since your last visit. We care for patients from Blackburn, Blackburn North and Blackburn South, and neighbouring Box Hill, Nunawading, Forest Hill and Vermont South.
Absolutely — we are set up as a whole-family practice, from a child's first check-up through to grandparents. Many families book back-to-back appointments to save trips. You can read more on our children's dentistry page.
Yes. Consultations at Whitehorse Dental are available in Mandarin, Cantonese, Teochew, Shanghainese and English. Many patients — especially older family members — feel more at ease asking questions and understanding their options in their first language, so we make that available throughout your visit, not just at the front desk.
Yes. We accept all major Australian private health funds, and if you have dental extras cover you may be eligible for a rebate. On-the-spot claims can be processed via HICAPS if you bring your physical or digital health-fund card, so you only pay the gap.