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Welcome Dental - Urunga NSW Dentist

 

We'll turn that frown upside down!

 

The welcome swallow got its name from sailors who knew they were near land when they saw them. They were a welcome sight after a long journey. Their symbolism has included, peace, love and healing in different cultures.

 

Throughout our journey we want to create sensational smiles for people on the Coffs Coast and improve their overall happiness and wellbeing.

 

Invisalign, whitening, tooth whitening braces Urunga

 

services

 

The team at Welcome Dental in Urunga NSW offer a wide range of services including general dental such as fillings and oral hygiene through to cosmetic dentistry such as teeth whitening, straightening teeth or veneers. Feel free to click on the various links below to visit that page and learn more.

 

 

 

Emergency Dentistry

 

Cosmetic Dentistry

 

General Dentistry

 

Children's Dentistry

 

Orthodontics

 

Invisalign

 

 veneers

 

Veneers are added to the front of the tooth. They are used because of discolouration, misalignment, chips, to reduce gaps, worn teeth or cracks. The natural tooth may be shaved so that when the extra layer is added the tooth remains in a nice line with the other teeth. They are matched to the natural shade of your teeth.

 

 orthodontics

 

Some reasons that you may consider orthodontics include; crooked teeth, gappy teeth, an underbite or overbite, buck teeth or crowded teeth. Orthodontics is a system of using removable plates,  braces or other fixed appliances or clear aligners to  apply pressure to your teeth to move them appropriately. Nambucca Heads Urunga

 

 

 

Children

 

6 monthly dental check ups are especially important for children from time they lose their first baby tooth. The dentist will check that teeth are coming through symmetrically in the child’s mouth and in the correct sequence. Some orthodontic problems can be avoided completely with early detection and  correct management of potential issues. Small orthodontic problems can be come much larger problems if not addressed in a timely fashion. Detected of likely bigger problems early allows parents to plan financially for later treatment,

 

 

 

Teenagers

 

Many orthodontic conditions are best addressed during active growth or as the 12 year old molars are erupting so the early teenage years are a common time to start orthodontic treatment. Nambucca Heads Urunga

 

 

 

Adults

 

It is not uncommon for adults to want to move their teeth to help get to the smile they have always wanted! Many adults choose Invisalign rather than braces as they are less obvious

 

invisalign

 

Invisalign is a system of clear aligners that are worn over a period of time and changed when instructed by your dentist. There is a free online assessment at: https://invisalign.com.au Nambucca Heads Urunga

 

 

 

You will require a consult with the dentist before commencing this treatment. When they take a scan of your mouth with the Itero scanner, you will be able to see the changes that are made through using Invisalign and what your smile will look like at the end. Your retainers will then be custom made. You will need to have regular visits with the dentist and ensure that you are maintaining your oral health. Nambucca Heads Urunga

 

 

 

Depending on your case, Invisalign can start to see changes within 6 months. Most people will have Invisalign for 18-24 months until the end result. Nambucca Heads Urunga

 

 

 

The best thing about Invisalign is there are no wires, or brackets, this means you can continue eating all of your favourite foods and there are no changes to your brushing habits.

 

 

 

Diagram - showing in order; healthy gums, Gingivitis, Periodontitis

 

Composite Veneers

 

Multiple layers are added to the front of the tooth and light cured. The colour is matched to the natural shade.Nambucca Heads Urunga

 

 tooth whitening

 

Teeth may darken due to pigments that may be incorporated into the teeth due to smoking, coffee and tea, alcohol and  food additives. Some natural discolouration may occur due to with aging and post trauma. Tooth whitening is a cosmetic dental treatment used to lighten the colour of teeth to give a fresher looking smile. How long it lasts depends on continued avoidance of highly pigmented  foods and  avoiding smoking. Nambucca Heads Urunga

 

 

 

Tooth whitening is usually done either at home using special trays custom made to fit your mouth (this can take days or weeks depending on your teeth) or by Zoom whitening at the dental office (a 90 to 120 minute session).  It is a safe and quick way to improve your smile and is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures. It is often done prior to other aesthetic work so that the subsequent work can be done at a shade you are happy with. Nambucca Heads Urunga

 

 

 

It is important to note that different types of tooth whitening are suitable for different people and not everyone is a good candidate. Your dentist, hygienist or oral health therapist will be able to advise whether you are a good candidate. Sensitivity needs to be considered as in some cases it may be exacerbated by whitening.  Decay and abrasion, abfraction and erosion lesions need to be addressed and calculus should be removed prior to commencing and your overall oral health needs to be considered.

 

 

 

Take Home Whitening

 

 This enables you to whiten and top up your whitening to whiten in your own time at your own pace. If you wish to proceed this way  and you are a good candidate, then your dentist will make you customised mouth trays that closely fit the teeth for safe and effective results. They will also discuss the best percentage of whitening gel, provide instructions and answer any questions you may have. It is important to follow the dentist’s instructions to ensure best results and to maintain your oral health. Nambucca Heads Urunga

 

 

 

Zoom Whitening

 

If you want fast results then in chair whitening with Zoom might be an option for you.

 

 

 

Zoom whitening uses whitening gel, that is activated by an ultraviolet light to achieve results. There will be a post treatment gel applied and you will also receive customised whitening trays and a take home whitening kit so that you can top up at a later date, though some people choose to just get their zoom redone every few years.

 

 

 

Single Tooth Whitening

 

When a tooth has been root filled and discoloured sometimes it can be whitened from the inside.  The dentist will assess the tooth and if suitable may clean and root filling material from inside the crown of the tooth, seal the root filling material at the gum line and temporarily seal   some whitening material inside. Two or more visits are required to get the tooth to the desired shade  before the tooth is permanently sealed.

 

 

 

Diagram - showing a teeth whitening kit.

 

Porcelain Veneers

 

These are custom made in a laboratory from porcelain or other ceramic material. The porcelain is bonded to the tooth surface.

 

 

 

Diagram - showing a veneer being added.

 

If you are looking to book in for an appointment please click here to visit the contact page. meet the team

 

Welcome Dental team comprises of a number of enthusiastic and caring personalities, committed to providing high quality dentistry and exceptional patient care in a place where people feel safe, welcome and at peace. We want our teams to be social, innovative and inspired and people who are passionate about oral health and happy smiles.

 

Cosmetic Kids Dentistry Urunga Dental

 

articles

 

View our articles page, updated regularly with news, information about oral care, what to do in an emergency and more.

 

dental emergency?

 

Dental Trauma

 

 

 

The Tooth SOS App is  a fantastic App  by the International Association of Dental Traumatology and we highly recommend you download it.

 

 

 

Dental Emergency

 

 

 

If you’re suffering a toothache or maybe you recently broke a tooth you may need emergency dental treatment.

 

 

 

A few tips if you’re suffering a tooth ache and can’t get to the dentist straight away:

 

• Avoid eating or chewing on the side of your mouth that is experiencing the pain.

 

• You may prefer soft or liquid foods, as well as avoiding food or drink that is extremely hot or cold, as many dental problems can cause heightened sensitivity to temperature.

 

• If a sharp tooth is causing discomfort you can use some bees wax, blue tac or sugar free chewing gum to cover the sharp area for short term relief.

 

To alleviate any associated pain, take paracetamol or ibuprofen (if you are able to). They work best if taken together at the same time but be careful not to exceed the maximum recommended daily dosage.

 

Some people find clove oil helpful but, be careful when applying as it can burn lips and other soft tissues

 

Record what causes the pain and how it changes.  If it is worse if you lower your head it could be a sinus issue and sinus medication might help. If your jaw joints are sore it could be a joint problem.

 

• Avoid putting aspirin directly on your gums (near the tooth) as they may potentially burn the gums , cheeks or tongue.

 

 

 

• If it hurts when you bite down or release your bite try to bite on  toothpick and check in the mirror to ensure you so you can show your dentist exactly where it hurts when you  come in.

 

 

 

• If you suffer fever, swelling or have trouble swallowing it is important to attend emergency if you cannot attend a dentist immediately.

 

 

 

Pain is your body’s way of saying something is wrong and sometimes things are very wrong.  If a tooth is starting to hurt on its own sometimes it’s too late to save it so don’t wait for things to get bad. If you think something is not right then call for an emergency dental appointment

 

 

 

Knocked out teeth

 

 

 

Baby teeth

 

If it is a baby tooth don’t replace it but bring the child in for review (preferably with the tooth).

 

 

 

Adult teeth

 

1 Try to find your tooth, when you find it do not touch the root of the tooth, hold it by the crown.

 

2 If the tooth is dirty rinse it with milk before reinserting it (ensure to place it back in the right way). Do not scrub the tooth clean.

 

3 If you don’t want to reinsert it then place the tooth between your teeth and cheek until you get to the hospital or the dentist or place it into a glass of milk. Do not place the tooth into water.

 

fillings

 

Teeth may require ‘fillings' or ‘restorations' for a number of reasons. These include, decay, trauma, grinding (bruxism) or to protect and seal teeth after root canal therapy. Sometimes we have to rebuild teeth that have been etched away by acids. Fillings are used to  reduce further  wear and tear or loss of tooth structure.

 

 

 

Cavities that require filling may become evident due to;

 

Tooth ache or tooth pain ( which may be intermittent or constant)

Sensitivity to hot and cold

feeling or seeing a hole

Floss tearing between teeth

Discolouration or grey shadowing

Decay on an x-ray

 

 

The most common form of filling used is a composite resin. Sometimes we use glass ionomer cements.  Rarely amalgam fillings may be indicated and maybe an option. Porcelain and zirconia inlay/onlays may also be appropriate. The composite resin is matched to the shad of your natural teeth. If you do opt for a porcelain inlay/onlay then this is also matched to your natural shade, however the costs are substantially higher as this is a lab made product and requires two visits (these are similar to a veneer).

 

 

meet the team

Welcome Dental team comprises of a number of enthusiastic and caring personalities, committed to providing high quality dentistry and exceptional patient care in a place where people feel safe, welcome and at peace. We want our teams to be social, innovative and inspired and people who are passionate about oral health and happy smiles.

Would you like to read about visiting clinicians that practice at Welcome Dental?

visiting clinicians

Visiting Clinicians arrow
Visiting Clinicians arrow transparent

Dr Sharon Marinucci

(BDS / BSci Dent (Hons)

Sharon graduated from Adelaide University with first class Honours in 1996. She travelled around for a while, spending time in Darwin, Brisbane and Brunei before moving into the Coffs Harbour area early 1998.

 

With a very young family and a small recruiting business that specialised in the placement of dentist’s Dr Marinucci declined to take long term work but helped out a variety of dental practices and institutions in the Coffs and Grafton area. In 2004 she established the original Fresh Dental Care practice in the smallest rooms she could find in Urunga. The practice grew and other Fresh practices were established prior to their sale in 2011. She negotiated purchasing back the Urunga dental practice, now Welcome Dental in 2020.

 

Dr. Marinucci has a passion for working holistically, considering all aspects which contribute to optimum dental health. While a large part of her time is spent on orthodontics, she also enjoys cosmetic dentistry and working with phobic patients and helping them overcome their dental anxieties. She is certified to use nitrous oxide and Penthrox sedation.

 

Outside of dentistry, Sharon spends most of her time with her family within the local community in their home surrounded by bush with lots of dogs and chickens.  She tries to support the arts and children selling their home-made wares at market stalls, enjoys swimming and surfing badly and is trained as a snake catcher which she finds very useful as snakes are always after the chickens.

 

Dr Elizabeth Flores Westreicher

Associate Dentist

BDS (Lima, Peru). Australian Dental Board Certified (ADC Perth)

Dr Liz Flores Westreicher is delighted to be a part of  Welcome Dental . She graduated with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery in 2003. Dr Liz has gained extensive experience in her own practice providing the best care to her patients.

 

Liz volunteered to work in different dental mission fields catering for the marginalised and gaining experience in all aspects of general dentistry. She moved to Australia where she attained her Certification of General Dentistry from the Australian Dental Council in Perth.

 

As a member of the Australian Dental Association, Australian Society of Endodontology and an Affiliated Member of the Royal Australasian College of dental Surgeons, Liz takes different avenues of learning and continues to update her skills and interests by attending various courses in order to provide the best possible levels of care to her patients. Liz's aim is always to make the patient feel comfortable in the chair along with tailoring treatments to the patient's needs and concerns.

 

When she's not working, Liz loves relaxing with family and friends, doing outdoor activities, swimming at the beach, reading, cooking and learning new languages.

Dr Oleg Pushkarev

(BDS, PhD)

After graduation from Saint Petersburg State Pavlov’s University in 2006, and accomplishing master’s program in restorative dentistry in 2009, Oleg started his career in dentistry working in a specialized periodontal practice, working on his PhD at the same time. An opportunity to broaden his horizons and experience the relaxed Australian lifestyle led him to move to Coffs Harbour, NSW.

 

Oleg’s special interest in implant and restorative dentistry has inspired him to study oral Implants at the University of Sydney (GradDipClinDent) and eventually moving to Toowoomba.

 

Oleg is deeply committed to taking a holistic approach to dentistry and focused on prevention of oral disease and oral rehabilitation. Helping people to learn more about their oral health and how they can improve it is a great satisfaction for him. He strives to provide the highest level of care for his patients and frequently attends national and international conferences and seminars to further his knowledge and expertise. Oleg is a proud member of Australian Dental Association (ADA), Australian Prosthodontic Society (APS), and International Team for Implantology (ITI).

 

Oleg welcomes all new patients including those who are nervous and anxious and with his gentle manner creates relaxed stress-free environment.

 

In his spare time, Oleg enjoys wonderful Australian nature, goes hiking and bushwalking, and has an interest in history.

Ms Jess Cantrill

(Bachelor of Oral Health)

Jessica has been working within the dental industry for the last 12 years. Jessica started as a dental assistant with Dr Sharon Marinucci and then studied at Newcastle University where she completed a Bachelor of Oral Health. Jessica graduated in 2008 and had been working as the head of the hygiene department at a central coast practice for the past 7 years. Jessica decided to move her family back to her original home town, to be closer to family and to return working with Dr Sharon Marinucci.

 

As a qualified Dental Hygienist she provides an important service which includes treating, managing and maintaining overall oral health while providing oral hygiene education. Jessica is passionate about her work, aiming to provide an excellent service in a friendly and caring manner to ensure her patients are always comfortable.

Susan Waldorf

Oral Health Therapist

Susan has been working within the dental industry for the past 16 years. She began her career on the Coffs Coast as a dental assistant and soon realised she wanted to further her career.  Susan is an Oral Health Therapist, she completed her Bachelor of Oral Health at Newcastle University in 2012 and then went on to complete a Diploma in Dental Therapy.

 

She has completed a further accredited course in dental whitening and aims to continuously expand her knowledge through further education.

 

Having grown up on the Mid North Coast and experiencing the lifestyle this area has to offer, her intention was always returning and working within the community which she calls home.

 

Susan’s focus is on preventative dental treatment to patients of all age groups. She has a passion for working with children, completing preventative and restorative procedures.

 

Susan enjoys spending her time enjoying the magnificent waterways whilst making a difference within the mid north coast region by improving the oral health of the community.

Kirsty Christensen

Business Manager

Kirsty has been working with Dr Sharon Marinucci for the past 9 years (Kirsty was the Business Manager for Fresh Dental Care). Strangely Kirsty has suffered a lifetime of dental anxiety, she can relate closely to patients who feel the same way about coming to the dentist.

 

Kirsty is a Coffs Harbour local; born at the old hospital on Victoria Street. Kirsty is passionate about building a positive culture within the workplace and loves to see her team succeed in their personal and professional lives. Kirsty loves to make people feel happy and welcome within the surgery.

 

Outside of work you will find her in the ocean, where she loves to take photos of nudibranchs and the abundant sea life off our coast.

 

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Before having any surgical or invasive procedures undertaken, it is always advisable to have a second opinion, from a registered and qualified health practitioner.

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