Another Reason For Inverloch To Smile

Built on the site of the former Red Elk cafe, A'Beckett street's newest addition blends in well with Inverloch's main street, and is now home to a cutting edge dental practice with state of the art facilities. We caught up with the team behind the transformation earlier in the week to welcome them to Inverloch and find out more about the amazing new dental facilities now available to the Inverloch township.

Sean & Shal, it's great to meet you both, can you tell us what made you choose Inverloch for your practice?

​A family friend with a holiday home in town suggested that the old Red Elk would make a great spot for a dentist. We have another practice in Korumburra and used to visit Inverloch all the time when we had time off, it's an awesome coastal town. We took the plunge in mid 2016 and during the construction process, we realised that we have so many hobbies and interests that centre around  Inverloch and the surrounding region, that we wanted to call it home.

Tell us a little about your practice & how it operates

We are a high-tech, high energy, family owned dental practice. We are both dentists, and our dad helps with administrative tasks. We like to think we work in a paradox of the latest technology with observable long-term success rates. It's a fine balance.

Do you offer just general Dentistry or are there specialist treatments available that people would otherwise have to travel to the city for?

We do all aspects of general dentistry, however, we keep a close eye on surgical and implant dentistry, and Shal's main area of interest is orthodontics. We perform surgical replacement of dental implants as well as restoring them, and are able to complete the process from commencement to completion due to our computerised Tomography X-rays which enable us to visualise our surgical site in incredible detail. In partnership with high-end prosthetic laboratories in the city, we are then able to place lifelike prosthetic to restore the mouth to both it's ideal function and aesthetic state.

Are you used to dealing with nervous patients?

On most occasions, we are able to turn a nervous patient into a calm, collected and rational patient. Our clinic is designed to distract you from the clinical atmosphere. We have flat screen TV's mounted on the ceilings so you can watch your favourite show or movie. Our team is also highly trained and approachable, briefing you fully prior to any procedures.

Do you have facilities for children?

We love kids. We understand the challenges that accompanies a young patient - the uncertainty and inherited anxiety - and we have learned to minimize the emotional stress for our younger patients.

As much as we love to see all our young patients through their necessary treatment, we also understand that not all patients can be placated. To us, it is just as important to know where to draw the line and refer to a specialist paedodontist for treatment. It's all about creating a welcoming experience and to minimise any trauma. 

What's your philosophy on dentistry?

The most important thing about any of our treatments is not the procedure itself, but the plan that precedes it. We like the analogy of a new car. Most of us start our lives with great set of teeth, and we call that a brand new car, however, over time, the car needs maintenance. With improper maintenance and through accidents, the car is no longer what it once was. It is human nature for patients to see the problem and wanting to get rid of the rattles and creaks but patch up jobs will lead to eventual catastrophe. If the tyre alignments are off, the car will still run, but the tyres will wear out much quicker and the cost of replacing the tyres will add up. 

Of course, the mouth is not a car, but many of the principles are the same. Fixing the cause requires patience and resources, but ultimately, our goal is to restore the reliability and joy of ownership.

Can you describe your ideal day in Inverloch

When not at the practice, we can more often than not been found walking our two dogs, fishing or kayaking or the occasional spot of fishing, especially if the sun is shining. We can't think of a better place to live :-)

How can people learn more about your practice or make an appointment?

We love technology, but nothing says more about a practice than walking in and talking to the team. We are a friendly bunch so do pop in and say hello if your are passing by, we'd love to meet you and show you around. Our website can be found @ www.abeckettstdental.com.au or give us a call on
03 5655 1816 or email at [email protected]

We're open Mon - Fri 9.00am - 5.30pm and Saturdays by appointment.