Frequently Asked Questions
Appointments and new patients
Yes, new patients are always welcome. We offer an introductory appointment for new patients that includes an examination, two x-rays and a scale and clean – see our current offers for details. Call (03) 9459 4297 to book.
Call us on (03) 9459 4297 or send an enquiry through our contact page and we’ll get back to you.
Monday 8.30am – 6.00pm
Tuesday 8.30am – 6.30pm
Wednesday 9.30am – 5.00pm
Thursday 8.30am – 5.00pm
Friday 8.30am – 1.00pm
Saturday – appointments available for certain procedures
Sunday – closed
Yes. We’re open until 6pm on Mondays and 6.30pm on Tuesdays, and Saturday morning appointments are available for certain procedures approved by the dentist. Call us to check availability.
Your private health fund card if you have one, a detailed medical history including a list of any medications you take, and your Medicare card if your child may be eligible for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule. If you have recent x-rays and clinical records from another dentist, bring those too or ask your previous practice to send them across.
You’ll fill in a medical and dental history form, then we carry out a thorough examination – checking for decay, cracked teeth, gum disease, dry mouth and any unusual lumps or lesions (an oral cancer screening). X-rays and photos may be taken if needed to help with diagnosis and planning. New patients can have all of this plus a scale and clean as part of our introductory offer.
No. You can book directly with us – no referral needed.
Please give us as much notice as you can, ideally 48 hours, so we can offer the time to another patient. Call (03) 9459 4297.
Emergency and urgent care
We keep designated appointment times available each day for dental emergencies, and getting you out of pain fast is our top priority. Call us on (03) 9459 4297 as early in the day as you can.
Severe or persistent toothache, a knocked-out or broken tooth, facial swelling, bleeding that won’t stop, or a lost filling or crown causing pain. If in doubt, call us and we’ll advise whether you need to be seen urgently.
Fees, health funds and payment
Yes, we accept all private health funds, and we have HealthPoint in the practice so you can claim your rebate on the spot and only pay the difference, if any. We also accept Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) and the Medicare Child Dental Benefits Schedule.
We are a preferred provider for the HCF More for Teeth program, which offers no-gap cover for diagnostic and preventive dentistry. All other health funds are accepted and claimable on the spot through HealthPoint.
Costs depend on the treatment you need. We take the time to listen and understand your needs, and we’ll always give you a clear treatment plan with costs and options before proceeding, so there are no surprises.
Your child may be eligible for the Medicare Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS), which covers up to $1,158 over two calendar years for eligible children – including examinations, cleans, fissure sealants, certain x-rays, fillings and extractions. Call us with your Medicare card handy and our staff can check your child’s eligibility on the spot.
We bulk bill eligible children under the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, so there is no out-of-pocket cost for covered treatment.
Our services
A check-up and clean is usually best every six months. A regular check can identify problems as early as possible, letting us manage them with the least fuss and cost – remember, dentistry doesn’t have to be expensive; neglect is. Some patients with gum disease or a high decay risk may need more frequent visits. Read more about our general dentistry.
Yes, children are very welcome. We aim to make visits positive from a young age, screen carefully for decay, and monitor dental growth and development. We can also check whether your child is eligible for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule. Read more on our children’s dentistry page.
We understand – dental anxiety is very common, and we work gently and at your own pace. We go the extra mile to make you comfortable, whether that’s a warm blanket, a cushion or listening to your own music during treatment. If you dread needles, we use numbing cream first and administer local anaesthetic gently using The Wand, which most patients find far more comfortable. Let us know when you book and we’ll look after you. Read more about how we help anxious patients.
Yes. For highly anxious patients, or anyone who has had a traumatic dental experience in the past, we work with Sleep Safely, qualified specialist anaesthetists who provide IV sedation for dental treatment in our practice. Under IV sedation you’re deeply relaxed and may have little or no memory of the treatment. Part of this service may be claimable through Medicare and your private health fund, depending on your level of cover.
Yes – maintaining regular check-ups and cleans during pregnancy is important, as hormonal changes can make gums bleed easily or become sore. Ideally, x-rays and any necessary treatment are completed before pregnancy, and during pregnancy we keep treatment to a minimum unless it’s an emergency. Let us know you’re pregnant when you book. See pregnancy and dentistry.
Yes – both options. You can whiten at home with a kit we provide and show you how to use, or have it done in the comfort of our practice. See our teeth whitening page.
Yes. Dr Susma Pawar is a certified Invisalign dentist. Invisalign uses a series of customised clear aligners to straighten teeth without metal braces – you can remove them to eat and clean your teeth. Book a consultation to find out if Invisalign is right for you, or read more on our Invisalign page.
We offer teeth whitening, veneers, crowns and bridges and Invisalign. We listen to what you’d like to change, take photos, x-rays and moulds where needed, and give you options to choose from. See our cosmetic dentistry page for more.
The main options are implants, bridges and dentures, and in some cases Invisalign can close the space. Implants are the closest option to a natural tooth, bridges anchor a replacement tooth to neighbouring teeth, and dentures are a removable, lower-cost option. We’ll help you choose what suits your mouth and budget – see replacing missing teeth.
Yes. If you suspect sleep apnoea, we recommend seeing your GP for a referral to a sleep physician, who can organise a sleep study. Depending on the diagnosis, we can then provide an oral sleep appliance to help manage obstructive sleep apnoea and snoring. Read more about snoring and sleep apnoea.
Yes. We make properly-fitted custom mouthguards that protect not just your teeth but your gums and supporting bone – recommended for all contact sport. They come in a variety of colours, so just let us know what you’d like.
All our prostheses, apart from Invisalign aligners, are made in Australian laboratories.
About the practice
Dr Susma Pawar, owner and senior dentist, is a University of Adelaide graduate, ADA member and certified Invisalign dentist with experience ranging from private practice to complex care at the Adelaide Dental Hospital’s Special Needs Unit. Dr Ben Casella studied in Cairns and practised in family dentistry in Far North Queensland for five years before joining the team.
Burgundy Street Dental Clinic has served the Heidelberg community for more than 35 years. It was started by Dr Cherie Boyall and is now owned and operated by Dr Susma Pawar.
Yes. We’re an independent, family-oriented practice – not part of a corporate dental group. Treatment decisions are made by your dentist based on what’s right for you.
Location and practical questions
1/124 Burgundy St, Heidelberg VIC 3084 – in the heart of Heidelberg’s shopping strip, right next door to the Heidelberg Newsagency and two doors from Chemist Warehouse. We’re a short walk from Heidelberg Train Station, bus stops and bike tracks.
Yes, ample parking is available on Cartmell Street and Burgundy Street, with rear entry to the practice.
Yes. There is stair access at the front from Burgundy Street, and step-free rear entry via Sheffields Lane for anyone who prefers to avoid stairs. Our facilities and services are accessible to all patients.
We see patients from Heidelberg, Ivanhoe, Alphington, Eaglemont, Rosanna, Templestowe, Bulleen, Bundoora, Viewbank, Greensborough, Doncaster and surrounding suburbs.