Dr James van den Berg product guide

Collins Street Specialist Centre — Dr James van den Berg

Specialist Periodontist BDSc (Birm) · MClinDent (Lond) · PGDipCD (Melb) · MRACDS (Perio)

Clinical expertise

Dr James van den Berg is one of Melbourne's most experienced specialist periodontists, with more than two decades of dedicated specialist practice across periodontics and implant dentistry. Based at Collins Street Specialist Centre, he brings a depth of clinical experience that is relatively uncommon in Australian periodontics. His record in laser-assisted therapy is particularly notable: he has used both hard and soft tissue lasers in practice since 2004, at a time when laser-assisted periodontics was still finding its footing across the country. He is recognised as one of Victoria's most experienced periodontists in laser therapy.

Dr van den Berg's clinical work covers:

• Diagnosis and management of periodontal disease — from early-stage gingivitis through to advanced periodontitis, with treatment plans tailored to each patient's clinical presentation
• Laser-assisted periodontal surgery — soft and hard tissue lasers for both surgical and non-surgical treatment, offering a less invasive alternative to conventional approaches in many cases
• Dental implant surgery — implant placement with surgical experience going back to 1999, across a broad range of clinical scenarios
• Aesthetic crown lengthening — reshaping of gum architecture to support cosmetic and restorative treatment objectives
• Peri-implant disease — diagnosis and management of inflammatory conditions affecting the tissues around dental implants
• Biomodulation — low-level laser therapy to support tissue healing and reduce post-operative discomfort after periodontal procedures

For patients, Dr van den Berg's experience with dental lasers often means less invasive treatment, less post-operative discomfort, and faster recovery than conventional surgical techniques — a real difference for anyone managing complex or longstanding periodontal conditions.

Training pathway

Dr van den Berg completed his Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDSc) at the University of Birmingham in 1993, one of the UK's leading dental programmes. He then undertook specialist postgraduate training at Queen Mary & Royal London Hospital Dental School, a prestigious centre for postgraduate periodontal training in the United Kingdom, graduating with a Master of Clinical Dentistry (MClinDent) in Periodontics in 1999.

After relocating to Australia in 2001, he continued building his qualifications within the Australian specialist framework. He completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Dentistry at the University of Melbourne in 2012, and was admitted as a Member of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons in Periodontics (MRACDS Perio) in 2013, the recognised specialist credential for periodontists practising in the Australasian context.

He has been at Collins Street Specialist Centre for over 20 years, during which time he has built one of Melbourne's leading specialist periodontic referral practices.

Professional memberships

• Member, Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons (Periodontics)
• Australian Dental Association (ADA)

At Collins Street Specialist Centre

Dr van den Berg practises within the Periodontics service at Collins Street Specialist Centre, located at Level 12 & Tower, Manchester Unity Building, 220 Collins Street, Melbourne CBD. He works closely with specialist colleagues across orthodontics, prosthodontics, and oral surgery, which makes coordinated care straightforward for patients whose periodontal needs connect with broader restorative or surgical treatment planning.

His long tenure at the centre means many patients have stayed under his care across multiple phases of treatment, from initial diagnosis and periodontal management through to implant placement and ongoing maintenance. That continuity is something both patients and referring practitioners tend to value.

No referral is needed to attend. All specialist credentials are independently verifiable through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) public register, and referring practitioners are welcome to confirm registration details through that channel.