Symmetry Dental

Business Details

Your Trusted Dentists in Canberra for Holistic Care

Symmetry Dental is a holistic dental practice in Canberra dedicated to providing comprehensive dental care for patients of all ages. Our focus extends beyond traditional dentistry to address the interconnected relationship between oral health, facial development, airway function, and overall wellbeing. With expertise in guided growth orthodontics, sleep apnoea treatment, and craniofacial pain management, we prioritise early intervention to prevent future complications.

Our team collaborates with medical and allied health professionals to deliver integrated solutions, utilising evidence-based research and advanced techniques. We are committed to patient education, preventive care, and creating long-term oral health outcomes that enhance confidence and quality of life.

Services

Preventative Dentistry Orthodontic Alignment Sleep Apnoea Treatment Craniofacial Pain Management Cosmetic Dentistry Guided Growth Orthodontics Dental Hygiene Restorative Dentistry Veneers Whitening

Highlights and features

We specialise in guided growth orthodontics for children and adults.
Our team collaborates with medical professionals for integrated health solutions.
We use evidence-based techniques for sleep apnoea and craniofacial pain management.
Preventive care focus reduces long-term dental and health complications.
Flexible payment plans available for accessible, high-quality treatment.

What people say

Holistic care Expertise in sleep therapy Child-friendly approach Pain relief success Comprehensive check-ups

Website

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Services

Guided Growth Orthodontics

Guided growth orthodontics corrects jaw and facial development in children using functional appliances. This approach prevents future dental crowding, breathing issues, and sleep disorders by addressing growth patterns early. Ideal for patients aged 5-12, it reduces the need for extractions or surgery later in life.

Sleep Apnoea Treatment

Our sleep apnoea treatment uses oral appliances and myofunctional therapy to improve airway function. Custom devices reposition the jaw to prevent breathing pauses during sleep. Combined with lifestyle advice, this non-invasive approach alleviates symptoms like snoring and daytime fatigue for better overall health.

Craniofacial Pain Management

Craniofacial pain management addresses headaches, TMJ disorders, and neck pain through occlusal adjustments and stabilisation appliances. Our dentists use advanced diagnostics to identify muscle and joint imbalances, providing targeted treatments that restore comfort and function without surgery.

Preventative Dentistry

Preventative dentistry focuses on maintaining oral health through regular cleanings, fluoride treatments, and caries risk assessments. Our hygienists educate patients on proper hygiene techniques while monitoring gum health to prevent decay and periodontal disease at every life stage.

Cosmetic Dentistry

Cosmetic dentistry services include veneers, whitening, and smile redesigns to improve aesthetic appearance. Using minimally invasive techniques, we create natural-looking results that boost confidence while maintaining functional bite alignment and long-term dental health.

People

Dr Michael Ryan

Principal Dentist

Dr Michael Ryan has practiced in Canberra since 1980, specialising in holistic dentistry. He holds a Master of Science in Medicine (Pain Management) and has completed advanced training at the Pankey Institute and Tufts University. His expertise spans orthopaedic orthodontics, craniofacial pain, and sleep medicine.

Dr Joseph Ryan

Oral Medicine Specialist

Dr Joseph Ryan is a specialist in oral medicine with a Doctorate in Clinical Dentistry from Melbourne University. He lectures at Charles Sturt University and has conducted award-winning research on photobiomodulation therapy. His focus areas include facial pain and oral mucositis management.

Dr Patrick Ryan

Sleep Medicine Dentist

Dr Patrick Ryan holds a Master of Science in Medicine (Sleep Medicine) from Sydney University. He specialises in sleep-disordered breathing treatments and orthopaedic orthodontics, combining clinical expertise with ongoing postgraduate education to deliver holistic patient care.

Dr Robert Waites

Orthodontic Specialist

Dr Robert Waites has 20 years of experience in orthopaedic orthodontics and root canal therapy. He maintains memberships with the Australian Society of Endodontology and the American Association for Craniofacial Pain, focusing on non-invasive treatments for sleep apnoea and jaw pain.

Matthew Ryan

Respiratory Therapist

Matthew Ryan leads Symmetry Dental's respiratory and myofunctional re-education program. With a background in sleep medicine, he develops customised breathing exercises to support orthodontic outcomes and improve patients' overall health and sleep quality.

Questions

What age should my child first see an orthodontic specialist?

Children should have their first orthodontic evaluation by age 5 to identify growth issues early.

Do you treat sleep apnoea without CPAP machines?

Yes, we offer oral appliances and myofunctional therapy as non-invasive alternatives for mild to moderate sleep apnoea.

Are payment plans available for orthodontic treatment?

We offer interest-free payment plans for treatments over $4,000 with 20% upfront payment required.

How does dental health affect overall wellbeing?

Poor oral health correlates with systemic conditions like heart disease. Our holistic approach addresses these connections proactively.

What's the difference between orthodontics and orthopaedic orthodontics?

Orthopaedic orthodontics focuses on facial growth guidance in children, while traditional orthodontics primarily straightens existing teeth.

Do you accept emergency dental appointments?

We prioritise urgent cases but recommend contacting us promptly for acute dental pain or injuries.

Reviews (7)

Write a Review

J. Slaven

Feb 11, 2021 Report

My daughter saw Michael Ryan for her first appointment over 4 years ago and with advice from Michael and ensuing excellent treatment provided by Patrick, we are amazed at her transformation. Our experience with the Symmetry team was consistently professional, caring and supportive, which was invaluable as my daughter was initially very apprehensive about the process. We are so very pleased with Symmetry and their wholistic approach and would highly recommend their services.

Sandra Pilloni

Jan 21, 2021 Report

Both of my daughters received treatment from Symmetry Dental. Several orthodontists we saw previously were wanting to remove teeth which concerned me. I decided on Michael Ryan as he gave me information I hadn't heard from the other orthodontists. He had a more conservative approach and no mention of taking out teeth. Both my girls have had braces and completed treatment with Symmetry. I am really pleased with the practice and felt they were very considerate regarding cost. My girls had a great experience and outcome. (and still have all their teeth) Definately worth getting an opinion from them

Jenny Daniher

Dec 05, 2020 Report

This place is the ONLY place to go to for orthodontic treatment and jaw related problems. I can't recommend them highly enough. My oldest sons had orthodontic treatment elsewhere that cost a bomb and was a total disaster! Now having to have re treatment at Symmetry Dental. Fortunately i had found them in time for my youngest sons treatment and they did a fabulous job that has actually worked, cost less and in half the time. Thank you so much.

Fitness Grand

Jul 19, 2019 Report

I have been seeing see Dr Robert Waites for the past 5 years. When I first visited I had crooked and worn bottom teeth and chipped and worn top teeth. I now have teeth that I can be proud of. He also assisted with a repayment scheme at the time of the major work. I recently required an implant after a work accident and Robert recommended a great specialist in Canberra as well as orchestrating the restoration with another of his colleagues. He's one of the best working within a very professional outfit. The reception staff are also very friendly and efficient. Ben Mayes

Fallon De Smet

Jun 12, 2019 Report

Have suffered chronic neck pain for over 10 years, was told nothing more could be done until i saw Michael Ryan at Symmetry dental, he worked out in minutes it was actually my jaw joint (TMJ) referring the pain to my neck and head. The treatment so far has reduced my pain and headaches significantly. Now about to start jaw expansion and braces etc to make my mouth bigger for my tongue to help my sleep apnea. They have an amazing team of people, like Matt Ryan the breathing specialist, Chris Neil the kinesiologist and they also link in with my physio and sports physician. They think outside the

Beck Perkins

Dec 11, 2018 Report

I will never return to or recommend symmetry dental in Kingston. I went in with one problem and was advised I needed 20k worth of work to my teeth. I have since received a second opinion who have recommended no work needed at this stage. I got the impression symmetry dental wanted to prescribe as much work as possible!

Matthew Ruwald

Aug 22, 2018 Report

I have had severe neck pain most of my adult life ( I"m 62 ). I have been to many Specialists over the years with little success. Constantly grinding my teeth over the years had also damaged my teeth and cracked many of my fillings.
Symmetry Dental repaired my fillings and set me up with an appointment to see one of their associates - Chris Neil. After several visits to Mr Neil, he was able to realign my neck and Symmetry Dental fitted me with a set of pivots on my teeth to stop my nightly grinding and clenching. I only wear the pivots at night whilst sleeping. The results have been outstanding