Dr Dee-Anna Luong

Where Did You Work Before Alma Dental?    

I feel like I’ve worked everywhere! I worked in the country for about three years, and in the government system for two years. After that, I worked in private practices as an employed dentist. I’ve also worked as a locum dentist around Perth.

I even did a mini-residency with Dr Derek Mahoney in Sydney, and then worked for him for about a year. I would fly over every four to six weeks and to work at his practice Saturday-Sunday or Friday-Sunday.

How Have These Different Working Environments Influenced Your Practice?

It’s been great to experience many different work environments and philosophies. I’ve learned a lot about the dynamics of practices, both large and small. It’s always interesting to see how other dentists run their practices, and how they manage and treat their staff.

I’ve experienced many different practice management ideas. Some I agree with, some I don’t agree with. I’ve taken the best ideas and brought them into my practice.

I’ve also been able to try out many different dental materials and equipment, which has allowed me to make decisions about which ones I’ll use in my own practice: I only want to work with the best!

It’s also critical to have a good working relationship with a high-quality dental laboratory. Thanks to the opportunity to work with many local dental technicians over the years, I’ve identified the best labs and now work exclusively with them.

I’ve worked in big practices with over 15-20 staff, and in small practices with just a few staff members. I think the number of people we have at Alma Dental is perfect. I don’t want to go any bigger than that. I think you lose that sense of togetherness when the team gets too big.

I think Alma Dental has a great balance of every experience and idea that I’ve accumulated over time.

What Do You Like About North Perth?

It’s very central, good parking. The people here are lovely and come from many different walks of life. It’s an older area of the city that’s in transition at the moment, becoming more modern. And the best thing is it’s so close to the city, just a bus stop away. There is even a bus stop right in front of us, which makes it very convenient to visit us. We’re opposite Coles, and there are lots of cafes nearby.

There is a Recreation Centre down the road, with swimming pools and gymnasiums. There are lots of little local gyms around too. So North Perth is a location that supports a healthy, active lifestyle, which is very important to me.

What Do You Love Most About Alma Dental?

Definitely my staff. And they feel the same. We all look forward to being at work, and we all work together well to provide great service to our patients.

We all believe that excellent service is so much more than the way we greet people. It’s the small ways we show we care, the genuine interest we have in all of our patients, the happiness that radiates throughout our practice, our decision to always do what’s right and to use the best quality materials and equipment available.

I invest heavily in education for myself and my team. We all keep up-to-date with current dental knowledge because ours is a profession that experiences amazing and rapid advances. There’s so much being discovered about dental health right now. It’s a very exciting time to be a dentist.

What Areas Of Dentistry Do You Most Enjoy?

• Orthodontics for adults and children
• TMD
• Endodontics (root canal treatment)
• Natural-looking cosmetic dentistry

What Are Your Personal And Professional Philosophies?

I would say treat other people as if I would treat myself or my family. Always be honest (because I believe in Karma).

What’s  Your Personal Connection To North Perth?

I grew up in Perth and have lived in South Perth for 15 years. I love living and working so close to Perth’s CBD. My kids are in local schools, and my parents still live close by.

I feel like I’ve done all my long drives and my country placement. Now I really love the fact that I can wake up in the morning and get to work in 15 minutes!

What Do You Do When You’re Not Doing Dentistry?

I spend a lot of time travelling to Dental Education training. 

I really love an active, healthy lifestyle for myself and my children. I suppose it keeps me driven. But then I do enjoy just relaxing in front of the TV and watching the news (that’s the only thing I watch on TV).