Macquarie Park was part of North Ryde until 1999, and the two still share the 2113 postcode, so many people who work in one live in the other. Lumi Dental at Melrose Central is south of both, near the Parramatta River. Outside peak hour the drive down Lane Cove Road and across on Victoria Road usually takes around 15 to 25 minutes.
Written by Dr James Tran, BDent (University of Sydney), MICOI, GradDip (Oral Implants), general dentist at Lumi Dental in Melrose Park.
A practice next to the office is handy for a lunchtime check-up, until a meeting runs over or you start working from home a few days a week. For many people here, a dentist that is easy to reach on a Saturday or a Thursday evening works better over the long run. This guide covers the driving and public transport routes, first visits, students and new arrivals, children's benefits and urgent problems.
A business district and the suburb it grew out of
North Ryde is about 15 kilometres north-west of the CBD in the City of Ryde. Its main street is Cox's Road, with a small shopping centre, and the suburb also takes in the CSIRO site on Delhi Road and Wallumatta Nature Reserve, and borders Lane Cove National Park.
Macquarie Park, to the north, became a separate suburb in February 1999, and many businesses there still give North Ryde as their address. It contains Macquarie University, one of the largest universities in Australia, the Macquarie Centre shopping centre and one of the biggest concentrations of jobs in New South Wales. Three underground Metro stations serve the two suburbs: North Ryde, Macquarie Park and Macquarie University.
Melrose Park is a small riverside suburb further south, beyond Ryde and West Ryde. Lumi Dental is in Melrose Central, its shopping centre. If you live on the other side of the M2, our guide for Epping and Carlingford may be more relevant.
Driving south
Lane Cove Road runs north to south through North Ryde. From the business park or the Macquarie Park station precinct, follow it south into Ryde, then turn west onto Victoria Road and continue past West Ryde into Melrose Park. From the Cox's Road end of North Ryde you are already partway, so the trip is usually a little shorter.
Lane Cove Road is slow in peak hour, so a mid-morning, early afternoon or weekend appointment avoids the worst of it. Check a live map before leaving. Parking at Melrose Central is free and undercover.
Without a car
Melrose Park has no station of its own, so a public transport trip usually needs one change. The Metro does not run towards the river, but there are two common combinations:
- a local bus from Macquarie Park or North Ryde towards Ryde or Meadowbank, then the final leg by bus, on foot or by taxi
- the Metro to Epping, a Northern Line train south to West Ryde, then bus route 524, which runs through Melrose Park towards Parramatta
Meadowbank station is the closest to Melrose Central, nearly 3 kilometres away, or roughly a 35 to 40 minute walk. Bus routes change from time to time, so use the Transport for NSW trip planner on the day.
Students and people new to Australia
With a large university on its doorstep, Macquarie Park has many students and recent arrivals choosing a dentist in Australia for the first time. If you hold overseas student health cover, our guide to dental care for international students explains how that cover applies to dental treatment. If English is not your first language, or you are booking for a parent, our article on interpreters and language support at the dentist explains what to ask for when you book.
The first appointment
We begin with your medical history, any medicines and allergies, and what you would like checked. A dentist examines your teeth, gums and the soft tissues of your mouth, and X-rays are taken only when they are needed. We can take 3D X-rays and intraoral scans in the practice. 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 there is time to think it over. Health fund claims are processed on the spot through HICAPS. Our page on an adult's first dental visit describes the appointment in more detail.
If you find dental visits stressful, mention it when you book. We can slow the pace and explain each step, 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 in North Ryde and nearby are eligible for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule without realising it. Services Australia lists 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 their parent, carer or guardian receives an eligible payment at least once that year. Eligible families receive a letter; there is no application.
The scheme 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 covers what the scheme pays for.
Fitting appointments around work, and urgent problems
Lumi is open Monday to Saturday, until 9pm on Thursdays, and on Sundays by appointment. People working long hours in the business park often find Thursday evenings or Saturdays easiest, and those slots go first. Our article on Saturday dental appointments has tips for getting one.
For a cracked tooth, a lost filling, swelling or a toothache, ring the practice and describe the problem so the team can find a suitable time. Swelling that affects breathing or swallowing needs a hospital emergency department.
Things people ask
How long is the drive?
Usually around 15 to 25 minutes outside peak from the Macquarie Park business area, and a little less from the Cox's Road end of North Ryde. Peak-hour traffic on Lane Cove Road can make it much longer.
Is there a way to come straight from work by public transport?
Yes, with a change. A bus towards Ryde or Meadowbank, or the Metro to Epping and a train to West Ryde for the 524 bus, are the usual options. Check the trip planner for current routes.
Can I book for my whole household?
Yes. Our dentists and oral health therapists see adults, teenagers and children, and appointments can often be booked back to back.
Booking a visit
If you live or work in North Ryde or Macquarie Park and would like a check-up, a clean or advice about a problem, the team at Lumi Dental in Melrose Park can find a time. Read about our general dentistry, see the current offers, or contact us for hours and directions.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Macquarie Park, New South Wales
- Wikipedia: North Ryde, New South Wales
- 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.
