If you live or work in Auburn or Berala and are looking for a dentist, Lumi Dental at Melrose Central in Melrose Park is a drive north up Silverwater Road and over the Silverwater Bridge, or a bus ride on route 544 from Auburn Station, with on-site parking when you arrive. Auburn (postcode 2144) and Berala (postcode 2141) are both in Cumberland City Council, about 16 kilometres west of the Sydney CBD, according to Wikipedia. This guide covers the routes, family and work schedules, public dental eligibility, children, health funds and emergencies.
Written by Dr James Tran, BDent (University of Sydney), MICOI, GradDip (Oral Implants), general dentist at Lumi Dental in Melrose Park.
The short version
- Auburn had 39,333 residents at the most recent census and Berala had 8,757, according to Wikipedia.
- By car, Silverwater Road runs north from Parramatta Road over the Silverwater Bridge to Victoria Road at Ermington, and Melrose Park is just east along Victoria Road.
- Without a car, bus route 544 runs from Auburn Station through Silverwater to Ermington Shops on Victoria Road, every day of the week.
- Western Sydney Local Health District provides public dental care for eligible children and concession card holders, and can arrange an interpreter if you ask.
- Our neighbouring guide to a dentist near Silverwater and Lidcombe covers the suburbs just east and north of Auburn.
- Lumi Dental is open Monday to Saturday, with Sunday by appointment, which can help around work and school.
The single rule: plan the visit around the household's week
If you live in Auburn or Berala, choose a dentist whose trip still works on your busiest day, then book the whole family's check-ups together and the next ones before you leave. In my experience, families who book in a block keep coming back, while those who book one person at a time tend to wait until something hurts.
Where the suburbs sit
Auburn
Wikipedia places Auburn 16 kilometres west of the Sydney CBD in Cumberland City Council. The main shopping area stretches for about a kilometre south of Auburn station, with supermarkets, shops and restaurants.
Auburn is known for its multicultural community. At the most recent census, 28.0% of residents were born in Australia, and the most common languages spoken at home other than English were Mandarin, Nepali, Arabic, Turkish and Urdu. Local landmarks include the Auburn Botanic Gardens, the Auburn Gallipoli Mosque and the Sri Mandir, which Wikipedia describes as Australia's oldest Hindu temple. Auburn Hospital, on Norval and Hargrave Streets, has basic 24-hour emergency facilities.
Berala
Berala sits just south-east of Auburn and shares its 2141 postcode with Lidcombe. Its name comes from Bareela, an Aboriginal word for the musk duck. Coleman Park has soccer fields, a baseball field and a children's play area. Wikipedia describes the suburb as keeping a village atmosphere, and at the most recent census the most common languages at home other than English were Mandarin, Cantonese, Arabic, Vietnamese and Korean.
Getting to Melrose Central
By car
From Auburn, head to Parramatta Road and turn north onto Silverwater Road. Wikipedia records that Silverwater Road was extended across the Silverwater Bridge over the Parramatta River to connect with Victoria Road at Ermington, where the two roads meet at a flyover interchange. From there, follow Victoria Road east to Melrose Park. There is on-site parking at Melrose Central.
By train and bus
Auburn station is on the Western and Leppington and Inner West lines of Sydney Trains, and Berala station is on the Main Southern line, with buses running between Berala and Auburn. From Auburn Station, the Transport for NSW timetable for route 544, Macquarie Centre to Auburn via Eastwood, shows buses through Silverwater to Ermington Shops on Victoria Road. Buses run every day of the week, and on the current timetable the trip between Auburn Station and Ermington Shops takes roughly 20 minutes. Melrose Park is the next suburb east of Ermington, so use the trip planner to find the stop closest to Melrose Central.
| Where you start | Usual way to Lumi Dental | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Auburn by car | Parramatta Road to Silverwater Road, over the Silverwater Bridge, then Victoria Road east | On-site parking at Melrose Central |
| Berala by car | North through Auburn or Lidcombe to Silverwater Road, then the same route | Allow extra time in peak |
| Auburn without a car | Route 544 from Auburn Station towards Macquarie Centre | Runs every day; check the trip planner |
| Berala without a car | Bus or train to Auburn, then route 544 | Check connections before you leave |
Work, school and family schedules
Many households in Auburn and Berala juggle shift work, school runs and care for older relatives. A Saturday visit is often easier than a weekday one. Lumi Dental is open Monday to Saturday, with Sunday by appointment; check current hours on the contact page.
Busy weeks change eating patterns too, and grazing or sipping sweet drinks through a long shift gives plaque more time on the teeth. I usually suggest water between meals, sugar-free options when you need a drink to keep going, and fluoride toothpaste before bed, whatever time that is.
Language and bringing someone with you
If you would like a family member or friend with you to help with English, mention it when you book, and bring a written list of your medicines.
Public dental care and how private care fits
Western Sydney Local Health District provides public dental care through its Oral Health Access Program for eligible residents in areas including Auburn, Baulkham Hills, Blacktown, Holroyd and Parramatta, with clinics including the Westmead Centre for Oral Health. Its eligibility rules are:
- all children under 18 who live in NSW, and
- adults who are eligible for Medicare and hold a Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card or Commonwealth Seniors Health Card.
The district notes that some services are free while others may have a cost explained first, that waiting times vary with demand, and that it can arrange an interpreter if you tell the clinician or reception staff. Our guide to public dental in NSW and the waiting list explains how waiting lists work.
Health funds, first visits and children
Claiming on the spot
If you hold private extras cover, bring your health fund card so the claim can be processed at the desk. Our article on HICAPS and claiming your health fund at the dentist explains how it works.
Your first visit
A dentist does the examination and diagnosis, the oral health therapists look after the clean, and X-rays and 3D scans are taken in house when needed. You receive a written quote before any treatment starts. Bring your Medicare and health fund cards and your medicines list.
Children and the CDBS
The whole practice at Lumi Dental accepts the Child Dental Benefits Schedule for eligible children; read more on the CDBS page or in our guide to the Child Dental Benefits Schedule. Where a child needs a general anaesthetic, the team refers to a paediatric dentist or hospital service.
What Lumi Dental offers patients from Auburn and Berala
| Service | What it covers | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| Check-ups, cleans and fillings | Dentist examination, cleans and gum therapy by the hygiene team, mercury-free fillings | General dentistry |
| Children's dentistry | CDBS accepted for eligible children | Children's dentist |
| Emergency appointments | Time kept in the day; ring first | Emergency dentist |
| Crowns and bridges | Planned from an intraoral 3D scan | Crowns and bridges |
| Dental implants | Single teeth to full arch, called All-on-X | Dental implants |
| Clear aligners | Planned by a dentist from a 3D scan | Clear aligners |
| Nervous patients | Time to talk first, with IV sedation for anxious adults | Dental anxiety |
Wisdom teeth removal, dentures and relines, whitening, bonding, veneers and custom sports mouthguards are also available. Lumi Dental does not provide general anaesthetic itself and refers where it is needed, though IV sedation is available at the practice.
Emergencies
Western Sydney Local Health District lists facial or mouth swelling among the problems that need urgent dental care, and advises calling Triple Zero (000) or going to the nearest hospital emergency department if symptoms worsen. For a broken tooth or toothache, ring Lumi Dental first and describe what has happened; the practice keeps time for emergency appointments. Our guide on what to do in a dental emergency covers the first steps.
How we approach this at Lumi Dental
Lumi Dental is a general and cosmetic dental practice at Melrose Central in Melrose Park. A dentist does the examination and diagnosis; the oral health therapists do cleans and gum therapy. 3D scanning, 3D X-ray and 3D printing are in house, and specialist cases are referred to registered specialists. Read more about general dentistry at Lumi Dental.
Questions patients ask
How do I get from Auburn to Melrose Park?
By car, take Silverwater Road north over the Silverwater Bridge, then Victoria Road east. By public transport, take route 544 from Auburn Station towards Ermington and check the trip planner for the closest stop.
Is there a dentist near Berala that is open on Saturday?
Lumi Dental in Melrose Park is open on Saturdays, with Sunday by appointment; check current hours on the contact page. Saturday times fill first, so book ahead.
Am I eligible for free public dental care in Auburn?
Children under 18 who live in NSW are eligible through Western Sydney Local Health District. Adults need Medicare and a Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card or Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, and some services may still have a cost.
Can I bring a family member to help with English?
Yes. Mention it when you book so there is room in the surgery, and bring your medicines list. Public dental services in Western Sydney can also arrange an interpreter if you ask.
Can I use my health fund at a dentist in Melrose Park?
Yes, bring your card and the claim can usually be processed at the desk.
Book a check-up at Lumi Dental, Melrose Park
If you live or work in Auburn or Berala and want a general dentist a short trip across the river, the team at Lumi Dental in Melrose Park can see you for a check-up, a child's CDBS visit or an emergency. See the current offers, read about general dentistry at Lumi Dental, and ask for a written quote after your examination. Patients also visit from Ryde, Parramatta, Ermington and Rydalmere, with on-site parking at Melrose Central. Our guide to a dentist near Homebush and Strathfield covers the suburbs to the east.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Auburn, New South Wales
- Wikipedia: Berala, New South Wales
- NSW Government, Western Sydney Local Health District: Oral health in Western Sydney
- Transport for NSW: Route 544, Macquarie Centre to Auburn via Eastwood
About the author
Dr James Tran is a general dentist at Lumi Dental in Melrose Park. He holds a BDent from the University of Sydney and a Graduate Diploma in Oral Implants, and is a Member of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists (MICOI).
This article is general information only and is not a substitute for an examination and individual advice from a registered dental practitioner. Suitability for any treatment varies from person to person.
