If you live or work in Burwood or Croydon and are weighing up a dentist, Lumi Dental at Melrose Central in Melrose Park is a drive north up Concord Road and over the Ryde Bridge, or a train to West Ryde and a short bus ride, with on-site parking when you arrive. Burwood (postcode 2134) is the administrative centre of the Municipality of Burwood, about 12 kilometres west of the Sydney CBD, and Croydon (postcode 2132) is split between the Municipality of Burwood and the Inner West Council, according to Wikipedia. It is a longer trip than from the suburbs closest to Melrose Park, so this guide is frank about when it makes sense.
Written by Dr James Tran, BDent (University of Sydney), MICOI, GradDip (Oral Implants), general dentist at Lumi Dental in Melrose Park.
The short version
- Burwood had 18,224 residents at the most recent census and Croydon had 10,755, according to Wikipedia.
- By car, Concord Road runs north from Strathfield to the Ryde Bridge, and from there Victoria Road leads west to Melrose Park.
- Without a car, take a Northern Line train to West Ryde, then bus route 524 to Cobham Avenue in Melrose Park.
- Both suburbs sit within Sydney Local Health District, which provides public dental care for eligible children and concession card holders, including at a community clinic in Croydon.
- Our guide to a dentist near Homebush and Strathfield covers the suburbs just to the west, on the same route north.
- Lumi Dental is open Monday to Saturday, with Sunday by appointment, which can suit people who work or study on the Ryde and Parramatta side.
The single rule: choose the dentist that fits your week, not just your postcode
If you live in Burwood or Croydon but work on the Ryde or Parramatta side, or need a Saturday or a particular service, a practice near work can be easier to keep up with. If you are home most of the week, a dentist closer to where you live may suit routine check-ups better. In my experience, the check-ups people keep are the ones that fit around an ordinary week.
Where the suburbs sit
Burwood
Wikipedia describes Burwood as a suburb in Sydney's Inner West. The main shopping strip runs along Burwood Road beside Burwood station, and Westfield Burwood sits on Burwood Road opposite Burwood Park, which the council established on land once known as Edrop's Paddock. Burwood Chinatown is an arcade linking Burwood Plaza to Burwood Road.
Burwood has a multicultural community. At the most recent census, 25.1% of residents were born in Australia, and the most common languages spoken at home other than English were Mandarin, Cantonese, Nepali, Vietnamese and Korean.
Croydon
Croydon lies between the commercial centres of Burwood and Ashfield, bounded by Parramatta Road to the north. Its main shopping strip, The Strand, sits south of the railway line and is heritage listed in its entirety. At the most recent census, the most common languages spoken at home other than English were Mandarin, Cantonese, Italian, Arabic and Greek.
Getting to Melrose Central
By car
From Burwood or Croydon, head west to Strathfield and join Concord Road, which runs north to meet Homebush Bay Drive just south of the Ryde Bridge. Wikipedia describes the Ryde Bridge as two parallel bridges carrying Concord Road across the Parramatta River between Rhodes and Ryde. North of the river the road becomes Church Street and meets Victoria Road at an interchange in Ryde. From there, follow Victoria Road west to Melrose Park. There is on-site parking at Melrose Central. Check a live map in peak hour.
By train and bus
Burwood station is on the T9 Northern Line, as well as the T2 and T3 Inner West lines, according to Wikipedia. Not every Northern Line train stops at Burwood, so you may need to change at Strathfield. Croydon station is on the T2 Inner West and Leppington Line, with all-stations trains about every fifteen minutes; change at Strathfield for the Northern Line. Northern Line trains cross the Parramatta River between Rhodes and Meadowbank and stop at West Ryde.
At West Ryde, the Transport for NSW timetable for route 524, Parramatta to West Ryde, shows buses from West Ryde Station to Cobham Avenue before Parer Street, Melrose Park, every day of the week. On the current timetable that leg takes about 5 minutes.
| Where you start | Usual way to Lumi Dental | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Burwood by car | West to Strathfield, Concord Road north over the Ryde Bridge, then Victoria Road west | On-site parking at Melrose Central |
| Croydon by car | The same route via Strathfield and Concord Road | Allow extra time in peak |
| Burwood by train | Northern Line to West Ryde, changing at Strathfield if needed, then route 524 | Check which trains stop at Burwood |
| Croydon by train | T2 to Strathfield, Northern Line to West Ryde, then route 524 | Two changes, so allow more time |
Work, study and family schedules
Many people in Burwood and Croydon commute, study or juggle school runs. If your week already runs through Ryde or Parramatta, a visit on the way to or from work can be simpler than a separate trip. Lumi Dental is open Monday to Saturday, with Sunday by appointment; check current hours on the contact page. Booking the family together saves extra trips.
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
Sydney Local Health District lists Burwood Council and Ashfield Council, whose area is now part of the Inner West Council, as wholly within its boundaries. Its Sydney Dental Hospital and Oral Health Services treat residents who are eligible for Medicare and are:
- children and young people under 18, or
- adults holding a Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card or Commonwealth Seniors Health Card. A State Seniors Card on its own does not qualify.
The district's community oral health clinics include one at Croydon Health Centre, which offers general and paediatric dentistry, as well as clinics at Canterbury, Concord and Marrickville. 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.
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 Burwood and Croydon
| 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
Sydney Local Health District describes a dental emergency as uncontrolled bleeding, severe dental infection, or trauma such as facial swelling or an accident damaging the mouth or teeth. Outside clinic hours it advises contacting your closest hospital emergency department. If swelling makes breathing or swallowing difficult, call Triple Zero (000). 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 Burwood to Melrose Park?
By car, head to Strathfield, take Concord Road north over the Ryde Bridge, then Victoria Road west. By public transport, take a Northern Line train to West Ryde and then bus route 524 to Cobham Avenue.
Is there a dentist near Croydon 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 Burwood?
Children under 18 with Medicare are eligible through Sydney Local Health District. Adults need Medicare and a Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card or Commonwealth Seniors Health Card.
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. Our article on HICAPS and claiming your health fund explains how it works.
Is Melrose Park far from Burwood?
It is further than the suburbs closest to Melrose Park, across the river, so it suits people who already travel to the Ryde or Parramatta side.
Book a check-up at Lumi Dental, Melrose Park
If you live or work in Burwood or Croydon, 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 Concord and Gladesville covers the suburbs just to the north.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Burwood, New South Wales
- Wikipedia: Croydon, New South Wales
- Sydney Local Health District, Sydney Dental Hospital and Oral Health Services: Who we treat
- Transport for NSW: Route 524, Parramatta to West Ryde
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.
