Dental Care in Australia — Costs, Medicare & Cheaper Options

Why Dental Isn't Covered by Medicare

When Medicare was introduced in 1984, dental was deliberately excluded from the scheme. The decision was largely political and financial — including dental would have significantly increased the cost of Medicare. Despite decades of advocacy from health groups and dentists, this hasn't changed.

This means that for adults, all dental treatment is paid for out of your own pocket unless you have private health insurance with dental extras cover. This includes:

• Check-ups and examinations
• Teeth cleaning and scaling
• Fillings
• Extractions
• Root canals
• Crowns and bridges
• Orthodontics (braces)
• Dentures

The only exception is dental treatment that is part of a hospital procedure (e.g., dental surgery under general anaesthetic at a public hospital for medical reasons). In this rare case, Medicare covers the hospital stay but not the dental work itself.

Typical Dental Costs in Australia

Here's what you can expect to pay at a private dentist in 2025-26:

Prices vary significantly by location — inner-city dentists tend to charge more than suburban or regional ones. Always ask for a treatment plan with costs before agreeing to any work.

How to Save on Dental Care

Despite the high costs, there are several ways to access more affordable dental care in Australia:

1. Public Hospital Dental Clinics

Each state runs public dental clinics that provide free or very low-cost dental care for eligible people. Eligibility usually requires:

• A Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card, or Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
• Being a dependant of someone with these cards

The catch? Waiting lists can be 12-24+ months for non-emergency treatment. Emergency dental (severe pain, swelling, trauma) is usually seen within 24 hours.

2. Community Health Centres

Many community health centres offer dental services on a sliding scale based on income. Some provide free dental for people experiencing financial hardship regardless of card status. Search for community health dental services in your area through your state health department.

3. Dental Schools / University Clinics

This is one of the best-kept secrets for affordable dental care in Australia. See the dedicated section below.

4. Health Fund Dental Clinics

Some health insurance funds run their own dental clinics with fixed, lower prices for members. HCF, Medibank, and nib all operate dental centres in major cities where you can get treatment at known costs with no gap (or a small gap).

5. Payment Plans

Many private dentists offer payment plans through services like Afterpay, Zip Pay, or in-house payment plans. This doesn't reduce the cost, but it spreads it over time. Be careful with interest-bearing plans.

University Dental Clinics — 50-70% Cheaper

Universities with dental programs run teaching clinics where supervised students provide treatment at significantly reduced prices. Treatment is performed by students in their final years under close supervision by qualified dentists.

The trade-off is that appointments take longer (2-3 hours vs 30-60 minutes at a private dentist) because the student is learning and being supervised. The quality of care is high — everything is checked by a qualified dentist before you leave.

Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS)

The one exception to "Medicare doesn't cover dental" is the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, which provides up to $1,095 over 2 consecutive calendar years for basic dental services for eligible children aged 0-17.

Eligibility requires:

• The child is aged 0-17
• The child is eligible for Medicare
• The child or their family receives a qualifying government payment (FTB Part A is the most common, but also includes certain other payments)

Services covered include examinations, x-rays, cleaning, fissure sealing, fillings, root canals, and extractions. Orthodontics, cosmetic procedures, and hospital services are NOT covered.

Private Health Insurance for Dental

To get dental coverage, you need private health insurance with "extras" cover (also called ancillary or general treatment cover). This is separate from hospital cover.

What extras dental cover typically includes:

• General dental: Check-ups, cleaning, fillings, extractions (usually 50-80% covered up to an annual limit)
• Major dental: Crowns, bridges, root canals, dentures (usually 50-60% covered, separate annual limit)
• Orthodontic: Braces, Invisalign (usually only included in higher-tier extras, lifetime limit of $1,000-$2,500)

Typical Extras Cover Costs

Compare policies using tools like privatehealth.gov.au (government comparison site), Canstar, or Compare the Market. Read our full private health insurance guide for more details.

Waiting Periods Explained

This catches many people off guard. When you take out private health insurance with dental cover, you can't use it immediately. There are mandatory waiting periods before you can claim:

• General dental (check-ups, cleaning, fillings): usually 2 months
• Major dental (crowns, root canals, dentures): usually 12 months
• Orthodontic (braces, Invisalign): usually 12 months

This means you can't take out insurance and immediately get major dental work covered. The insurance companies designed it this way to prevent people from only taking out cover when they need expensive treatment.

Dental Tourism — A Warning

Some Australians travel overseas (Bali, Thailand, Vietnam, India) for cheaper dental work. While costs can be 50-80% lower, there are significant risks:

• No regulation: Dental standards vary widely overseas. What seems like a bargain can result in substandard work
• Follow-up care: If something goes wrong after you return to Australia, local dentists may charge premium rates to fix overseas work
• No recourse: If treatment fails, you have no consumer protection rights overseas
• Travel costs: Flights, accommodation, and time off work reduce the savings
• Infection risk: Different sterilisation standards in some clinics

If you do consider dental tourism, research the clinic thoroughly, check dentist qualifications, read reviews from Australian patients, and factor in the full cost including travel and potential follow-up care in Australia.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Medicare cover dental in Australia?

No, Medicare does not cover dental for adults. The only exception is the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) for eligible children aged 0-17, which provides up to $1,095 over 2 years. Adults need to pay out of pocket or use private health insurance extras cover.

How much does a dental check-up cost in Australia?

A standard check-up including examination, x-rays, and clean typically costs $200-$350 at a private dentist. University dental clinics charge 50-70% less. Community health centres may offer free or low-cost dental for concession card holders.

What is the cheapest way to get dental care in Australia?

The cheapest options are university dental clinics (50-70% cheaper than private), community health centre dental clinics (free or low-cost for eligible people), and public hospital dental clinics (free for Health Care Card holders, but expect long waiting lists of 12-24 months).

Is private health insurance worth it for dental?

It depends on your needs. If you only need annual check-ups ($200-$350/year), paying out of pocket may be cheaper than insurance premiums ($300-$800/year). But if you anticipate major work (crowns, root canals), insurance can save thousands — just remember the 12-month waiting period for major dental.

What is the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS)?

The CDBS provides up to $1,095 over 2 consecutive calendar years for basic dental services for eligible children aged 0-17. The family must receive FTB Part A or the child must receive certain government payments. Services include check-ups, x-rays, cleaning, fillings, and extractions.

How long are waiting periods for dental on health insurance?

General dental (check-ups, fillings) typically has a 2-month waiting period. Major dental (crowns, root canals, dentures) and orthodontics usually have a 12-month waiting period. You cannot claim for treatment received during the waiting period.

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and does not constitute medical or financial advice. Dental prices are approximate and vary by location and provider. Always get a written quote before agreeing to treatment. SettleAU is not affiliated with any dental provider or health insurer.