Concord and Gladesville face each other across the Parramatta River, and the trip to Lumi Dental reflects that. From Gladesville it is a straight run west along Victoria Road. From Concord you cross the river first, on the Ryde Bridge. Outside peak hour either drive is usually a short one.
Written by Dr James Tran, BDent (University of Sydney), MICOI, GradDip (Oral Implants), general dentist at Lumi Dental in Melrose Park.
Both suburbs have dentists of their own, so this guide is for people weighing up a slightly longer trip: perhaps for a Saturday or Thursday evening appointment, for implants, braces or aligners, or because family already come to us. It covers the routes, the public transport options, what to expect at a first visit, and how children's benefits and urgent problems are handled.
Two suburbs on opposite banks
Concord sits about 10 kilometres west of the CBD in the City of Canada Bay, with its shopping strip along Majors Bay Road and a string of parks along the foreshore. Concord West, home to one of the area's railway stations, is a separate suburb to the north-west.
Gladesville is about the same distance from the city but on the northern side of the river, split between the City of Ryde and the Municipality of Hunter's Hill. Victoria Road is both its main road and its commercial centre, which is convenient here, because Victoria Road is also the road that leads to Melrose Park.
Melrose Park is the small riverside suburb further west on that northern bank, bordered by Meadowbank, West Ryde and Ermington. Lumi Dental is in Melrose Central, the shopping centre there. If you live closer to the water on the southern side, our guide for Wentworth Point and Rhodes may suit better.
From the southern bank, you cross the river first
Head north out of Concord to Concord Road and follow it across the Parramatta River. The Ryde Bridge carries Concord Road over the water between Rhodes and Ryde. Once you are on the northern side, turn west onto Victoria Road and stay on it through West Ryde until you reach Melrose Park.
The bridge approaches are the slow part of this trip in peak hour, in both directions. A mid-morning, early afternoon or Saturday appointment avoids most of that. Check a live map before you leave for a current travel time.
From the northern bank, it is one road all the way
Join Victoria Road heading west and stay on it through Ryde and West Ryde. There is no bridge to cross and no motorway, which makes it one of the more predictable approaches to the practice, although Victoria Road itself gets heavy at commuter times.
Parking at Melrose Central is free and undercover, so there is no need to circle for a spot or watch a meter during a longer appointment.
Getting here without a car
Melrose Park has no railway station of its own. The closest is Meadowbank, on the T9 Northern Line, and from there Melrose Central is a fair walk, so many people take a short taxi ride. Bus route 524 also runs between West Ryde and Parramatta through Melrose Park.
From Concord, the nearest stations are Concord West and North Strathfield, both on the same Northern Line. A train north crosses the river at Rhodes and reaches Meadowbank, then West Ryde, a couple of stops later.
From Gladesville, buses along Victoria Road run towards Ryde, where you can connect onwards. The Parramatta River ferry stops at Huntleys Point, next to Gladesville, and at Cabarita near Concord; Meadowbank also has a wharf. Timetables and routes change, so the Transport for NSW trip planner is the best guide on the day.
What happens at a first visit
Your first appointment starts with a talk about why you have come, your medical history and the medicines you take. A dentist then examines your teeth, gums and the soft tissues of your mouth, and takes X-rays only if they are needed to see something an examination cannot. We can take 3D X-rays and intraoral scans on site. Cleans and gum care are usually done by one of our oral health therapists.
If treatment is recommended, you will usually receive a written treatment plan, often by email, so you can read it at home before deciding. Health fund claims are processed on the spot through HICAPS. Our article on an adult's first dental visit goes through each stage in more detail.
How often you return after that depends on your teeth and gums rather than a fixed six months. Our guide to how often you should see the dentist explains how the interval is set.
If dental visits make you nervous, tell us when you book. Appointments can be paced more slowly, and Lumi offers happy gas, inhaled pain relief, oral sedation and IV sedation. Consultations for nervous patients are free; see our current offers.
Children's dental benefits
Some families on both sides of the river qualify for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule without realising. Services Australia sets three conditions: the child is eligible for Medicare, is aged 0 to 17 for at least one day of the calendar year, and the child or a parent, carer or guardian receives an eligible payment at least once that year. There is no form to fill in; Services Australia writes to eligible families.
In 2026 the scheme covers up to $1,158 per child over two calendar years for basic dental care. It does not cover orthodontics or cosmetic treatment. Eligible children are bulk billed at Lumi, and our oral health therapists Sabrina Tran and Jennifer Nguyen see children and families. Our CDBS explainer sets out what is and is not included.
Evenings, weekends and urgent problems
Lumi is open Monday to Saturday, until 9pm on Thursdays, and on Sundays by appointment. For people who commute into the city from Concord or Gladesville, Thursday evenings and Saturdays are often the easiest times, so it helps to book ahead. Our article on Saturday dental appointments has tips for getting a weekend slot.
For a broken tooth, a lost filling, a bad toothache or swelling, ring the practice and describe what is happening so the team can find a suitable time. Swelling that affects your breathing or swallowing needs a hospital emergency department, not a dental chair.
Common questions
Which side of the river has the easier drive?
Distances are similar. Gladesville has the simpler route because it stays on Victoria Road; Concord's route depends on traffic over the Ryde Bridge, so it varies more at peak times.
Can I come by train instead?
Yes. Catch a Northern Line train from Concord West or North Strathfield to Meadowbank, then take a short taxi or walk. You can also continue to West Ryde and take the 524 bus.
Do you see the whole family?
Yes. Our dentists and oral health therapists see children, teenagers and adults.
Making a booking
If you would like a check-up, a clean or advice about a particular problem, the team at Lumi Dental in Melrose Park can find a time that suits your week. Read about our general dentistry, check the current offers, or get in touch for hours and directions.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Concord, New South Wales
- Wikipedia: Gladesville
- Wikipedia: Melrose Park, New South Wales
- Services Australia: Who can get the Child Dental Benefits Schedule
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 Master 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.
