Rockingham’s Oldest and Largest Independent Dental Practice
About Rockingham Dental
60 Years of Serving the Rockingham Community
We are the oldest and largest practice in Rockingham, but we’ve worked hard to make sure we aren't a corporate franchise. To the team at Rockingham Dental Centre, dentistry is about people, relationships, and the community we serve.
“Our goal is simple - leave people better than we found them”.
Our Story
It all started in 1965 when Dr Vance Moore helped establish a tiny dental clinic above the chemist on Thorpe Street, and the first practice in Rockingham. What began as a small community clinic quickly became something the locals relied on.
By 1978, the practice had moved to No. 57 Thorpe Street. Interestingly, the building was positioned at a specific angle, officially to get the best sunlight for dental work, but unofficially to make sure neighbouring businesses didn't squeeze out our patients' parking. We've always been a bit protective of the people who trust us.
It's here that Dr Russell Gordon and Dr Gerard Parkinson truly shaped what it would become. For over 35 years, they ran the clinic with a quiet, steady commitment to the Rockingham community, treating generations of families, earning trust one patient at a time, and building a reputation that no amount of marketing could buy. The foundations they laid are the reason we're still here today.
In 2018, Dr Hari Menon took over, joined by Dr Vilas Menon in 2021. We weren't business experts; we were dentists who realised that the "old way" of running a clinic (overworking staff and rushing patients) wasn't working. We decided to build on the foundations our predecessors had spent decades perfecting and shape something that could carry their legacy forward.
What We Do Differently
In the last five years, we’ve doubled our team and our capacity, outgrowing our old space to build a custom, 9-chair facility in 2024. It is now the largest in the Peel region, but the "soul" of the practice remains the same.
We handle the hard stuff here
We’ve built "businesses within the business," including an in-house lab, 3D printing, and an IV sedation suite with its own private entrance. You shouldn’t have to drive to Perth for specialist care.
We respect your time
Our front desk and phones are separated. If you’re standing in front of us, you have our full attention, not a phone ringing in the background.
We make room for life
We reserve space every single day for emergency appointments. If you’re in pain, we don’t want you waiting.
Clinical Excellence + Relationship
Great dentistry is 1/3 clinical skill, 1/3 patient care, and 1/3 managing the relationship. We train our team equally in all three.
We Walk the Talk
We don't just talk about community; we’re part of it.
$250,000+
In free dental care delivered to our Rockingham community through Healing Smiles and the Salvation Army. We believe in profit with a purpose.
Healing Smiles: Providing dental care for survivors of domestic violence.
Dental Rescue Days: Free care for unhoused neighbours in Rockingham.
AUKUS: In 2024, we were selected as the primary dentist for incoming US Navy families, bringing world-class care to the local region.
Primary dental provider for incoming US Navy families
Numbers That Matter
While we focus on the "human factor," we track our data to make sure we’re actually delivering.
83% Rebooking Rate: Most of our patients stay with us for life.
100 New Patients a Month: Our growth comes mostly from word-of-mouth.
We are Locals: 70% of our 50-person team lives right here in Rockingham.
Why Choose Rockingham Dental Centre?
Here is why our patients stay with us:
We do the complex work in-house
A "Team-First" culture that benefits you
Emergency space is non-negotiable
World-class standards with local roots
We don’t pretend to be perfect, but we are honest. If we run five minutes late, it’s usually because we were having a meaningful conversation with a patient who needed it—and we’ll give you that same time when you’re in the chair.
FAQs
What makes you different from any other dental clinic in Rockingham?
We’re owner-operated and values-driven. We’ve invested heavily in tech (like our own on-site lab) so we can do same-day dentistry and complex implants right here. We also treat our staff like adults: giving them the autonomy to lead, which results in better care for you.
What do you mean by ‘family-friendly’ dentist?
Is it true you provide free dentistry?
I’m terrified of the dentist. Can you help?
Why did the US Navy choose you for the AUKUS families above other dental clinics?
Do you offer payment plans?
Meet the Owners: Hari & Vilas
Dr Hari Menon took over the practice in 2018. At the time, leading a large team and a 7-chair clinic without formal business training was a steep learning curve. He saw firsthand how a fragmented culture and low morale could affect patient care. He decided then that RDC would be built on honesty and compassion, not just clinical quotas.
Dr Vilas Menon joined in 2019. Despite the chaos of the pandemic, the partnership clicked because they shared a specific frustration: seeing clinics run like factories. We’ve all seen it - dentists doing great work but burning out, or profitable clinics cutting corners on patient care.