Harter Family Dental Care: A Family Dental Practice in Albany WA
Harter Family Dental Care is a general dental practice at 111 Albany Highway, Mount Melville, Albany WA 6330, treating patients of all ages. The practice was established in 1999 and has been part of dental care in Albany ever since. We see children and adults, and the emphasis across the practice is on preventing problems rather than only repairing them.
The Practice and the People in It
The practice was started in 1999 by Dr Daryl Harter and Dr Mary Harter, a husband and wife who ran it for 24 years. Dr Daryl graduated with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery in 1982 and opened the practice in Albany in 1999; Mary joined as it grew, and together they developed the dental therapy and hygiene side of the work. Dr Daryl continues to see patients, and his particular interests are prevention-based dentistry and restorative work including implants, crowns and bridges.
In 2023 Dr Nathanael Ong took over as owner and principal dentist. He completed his Bachelor of Dental Surgery at the University of Western Australia and worked in Esperance and then Geraldton before moving to Albany with his family. He is joined by Dr Rani Flynn, who was born and raised in Mandurah, graduated from the University of Western Australia and practised in Esperance before coming to Albany. Estelle Morgan is our dental therapist and runs the hygiene side of the practice.
Laticia, who moved to Albany with Dr Nathanael, works in the practice’s administration. She grew up on a farm outside Esperance and also works as a registered nurse at Albany Regional Hospital, so the difficulty of getting dental care in a regional area is familiar ground.
Prevention, Hygiene and the Work We Do
Prevention is the part of the practice we put most weight on. Regular oral examinations let our dentists and hygienist keep an eye on the health of teeth and gums, and a scale and clean removes the tartar and plaque that build up despite regular brushing. Our dentists check for signs of oral cancer at each visit. We also treat periodontal disease, and provide a non-surgical option for mild to moderate sleep apnoea using a mandibular advancement splint, which holds the lower jaw and tongue forward to open the airway.
Estelle carries out oral health assessments, provides a diagnosis and sets out treatment options, and can refer on where a matter needs a specialist. The hygiene rooms use EMS Airflow equipment for Guided Biofilm Therapy, which removes biofilm, stains and early calculus above and below the gumline.
On the restorative side we provide dental implants, crowns and veneers, teeth straightening, whitening and children’s dentistry. We practise adhesive dentistry — drill less, bond more, as we put it — and our ceramic work is made by Combitech Dental Laboratory in Dunsborough. Treatment plans and costs are discussed with you before treatment starts.
Health Funds and Making an Appointment
We accept all major health fund providers with on-the-spot claiming, and we also accept veteran cards issued by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Appointments can be booked online through our website or by phoning the practice on (08) 9842 3006. You will find us on Albany Highway at Mount Melville, and new patients looking for a family dentist in Albany are welcome to get in touch.