We like to think that 37 successful years on the Sunshine Coast must mean we’re doing something right…

Kawana Dental was started in 1987 on the Sunshine Coast by Dr Michael Maltby.

Not your typical dentist, he soon became known not only for his down to earth approach and gentle demeanour, but also his long hair and tendency to disappear into the ocean at lunch.

As Kawana and the Sunshine Coast grew, so did the practice, and Michael hand-picked more dentists with a similar outlook as him – ethical, caring, gentle, real people – to help deliver the kind of care that people look for.

More than 30 years on, Kawana Dental still runs on this same platform – to look after people. In an era of corporatised dentistry run by multinational organisations, Kawana Dental remains a family owned and run practice committed to doing the best for people and their families, rather than focusing on the bottom line. There are no CEOs here, no shareholders, or board meetings.

With both Michael’s son, Dr Mark Maltby, and daughter Georgia at the helm, along with long time practice associate Dr Tamara Warren, we are a true family business, and we aim to treat our patients like part of that family.

Our practice has a strong focus on the prevention of oral disease, to help you avoid unnecessary and costly dental treatment, and we strive for gentle treatment in a comfortable setting.

We take any fears or concerns about visiting the dentist seriously, so please let us know if you’re feeling a little nervous!

Our team of 9 general dentists, 4 dental hygienists/therapists, and the best support team around, are highly skilled and between us cover all aspects of dentistry including implants, orthodontics, Invisalign, dental sedation and children’s dentistry. We also have excellent relationships with local medical and dental specialists on the coast if required.

We’ve always strived to be the best dentist on the Sunshine Coast, and we look forward to many more years helping local families.

At Kawana Dental, we offer the Sunshine Coast a comprehensive range of dental services to ensure you and your family receive excellent service and care and can focus on the things that are important to you.

We are proud to have been voted “Best Dentist on the Sunshine Coast 2019” by listeners of radio station 92.7 MixFM, as well as “Sunshine Coast’s Best Dentist” in 2019 and 2020, by readers of the Sunshine Coast Daily.

So what makes us different?

• We are a happy, friendly crew of dentists and a support team who will go out of our way to help you.

• No judgement, no lectures, no sales pitch. Many people feel embarassed about their teeth or that they haven’t been to the dentist in a long time. Our job is to help, not make you feel bad about the past.

• Honesty, information and options. We will give you the information you need to make choices about your own health care, and we will never recommend treatment we wouldn’t recommend to our own friends or family.

• We offer extended opening hours, opening early morning until late at night during the week and offering appointment on Saturdays, allowing busy people and families to attend dental appointment when it suits them.

• Affordable payment plans for treatment.

• The latest in technology including 3D scanners, 3D CBCT imaging, operating microscopes, digital x-rays and more.

• Kids Dentistry:
  We LOVE to deal with kids, and we are very good at it. We want to see happy kids and stress free mums and dads. The aim is to create kids (and adults) who have no reason to be scared or anxious about the dentist, and for dental visits to be easy for parents.

• We offer a free first visit for children under 5 who have not ever visited the dentist.
• We also utilise the bulk-billed CDBS dental service through the government, which entitles eligible children and families to utilise $1013 of dental treatment over a 2-year period.

• Sedation dentistry:
  Are you nervous? A dental “phobic”? For nervous patients on the coast, we have a range of sedation and calming techniques, including dental twilight sedation (procedural sedation) and happy gas. We also pride ourselves on being extremely gentle. We like to aim to turn fearful dental patients in to those who are more comfortable attending than they ever thought possible.

• Cosmetic Dentistry:
  It is a privilege to be able to enhance a patient’s smile, so aesthetic or cosmetic dentistry is an important part of our practice. Natural looking cosmetic bonding, veneers, whitening and straightening are all dental services we provide to the Sunshine Coast.

• Invisalign and Orthodontics:
  We have extensive experience with clear aligners including Invisalign, Spark, Smilestyler and others, as well as traditional braces, plates and appliances, to create beautiful smiles all over the Sunshine Coast.

• Zoom Teeth Whitening:
  Effective and speedy teeth bleaching

• Emergency Dentist:
  We will always do our utmost to get you in to see a dentist on the day if a dental emergency happens. We keep appointments available with each of our dentists for toothaches on the day. If you have a toothache, please call us as early as possible to secure an appointment.

What you can expect from us:

• To be treated by someone who cares for you like you are part of their family, in a comfortable environment.
• To have your best interests put first.
• To be given the information you need to make the best decisions about your oral health.
• To be treated by highly skilled professionals who keep up with the latest information available.
• To help you avoid costly restorative procedures through regular preventive care.

Community

We are proudly part of the local Sunshine Coast community. Our dentists and staff have children attending local coast schools, including Buddina State School located just across the road. Many of us are members of Kawana Surf Club and are part of the lifesaving community, volunteering for patrols on the weekend.

We are proud sponsors of both Buddina State School and Kawana Surf Club, and are actively involved in the yearly Christmas Carols held at the surf club.

Our practice and personnel have donated their time, instruments and materials, to dental aid care in remote Northern Territory, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.