Find a dentist near you in Australia (2026): what it costs, who is eligible for public care and how to choose

What a dentist costs in Australia in 2026

Australia has no standard dental fee. Each practice sets its own prices, Medicare does not cover routine adult care, and the only national benchmark is the Australian Dental Association’s annual fee survey, which CHOICE and Canstar summarise. On that data, a routine check-up with a scale and clean and fluoride averages about $219–$233, with most practices charging somewhere between $160 and $310.

Where you live matters. CHOICE’s state breakdown found Queensland had the lowest average filling fee ($148) and Tasmania the highest ($183), while South Australia was cheapest for an extraction ($185) and the ACT dearest ($231). Cleanbill’s separate analysis of more than 6,000 clinics, reported by SBS News, found the ACT was the most expensive jurisdiction for a first visit at about $364 and Queensland the cheapest at about $279, against a national average of $297.

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Those are averages. Within any city the spread between suburbs is often wider than the spread between states: Cleanbill found a standard clean averaged $333 in Mosman and $184 in Strathfield, both in Sydney. That is why our city hubs below list local practice fees rather than relying on national numbers.

Dentists by city

Each city hub lists indicative local fees for a check-up and clean, filling, crown and extraction drawn from published practice price pages, explains that state’s public dental options, and walks through the suburbs where practices cluster.

• Dentists in Sydney: the widest suburb-to-suburb price spread in the country.
• Dentists in Melbourne: many practices publish itemised fees, from budget CBD clinics to Collins Street.
• Dentists in Brisbane: among the cheapest capitals for routine care, with free public dental for concession-card holders.
• Dentists in Perth: fees close to the national average; WA’s public scheme is subsidised rather than free.
• Dentists in Adelaide: the lowest average extraction fee of any state.
• Dentists on the Gold Coast: strong chain competition keeps check-ups around $170–$300.
• Dentists in Canberra: Australia’s most expensive city for a clean, so new-patient offers matter.
• Dentists in Hobart: fewer dentists per head and the highest average filling fee of any state.

Looking for an orthodontist instead? Our orthodontist directory covers braces and aligner providers by city.

Public dental care by state and territory

Every state and territory runs a public dental service for people on low incomes, but the rules differ. In NSW and Queensland, eligible adults are treated free. In Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and the ACT, most adults pay a small co-payment per visit. Western Australia’s adult scheme is subsidised rather than free: patients pay a percentage of the standard fee, with pensioners receiving a larger subsidy than Health Care Card holders.

Children are treated more generously everywhere. All states see children free or bulk-bill them under the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS), a Medicare benefit that covers basic services for eligible children aged 0–17 up to a capped amount over two consecutive calendar years. Families receiving Family Tax Benefit Part A or certain other payments qualify. Our CDBS and Medicare dental guide explains the current cap and how to use it at a private practice.

Public waiting lists for non-urgent adult care can run from months to years depending on the area, so it is worth registering as soon as you are eligible. Emergency relief of pain is triaged separately and seen much sooner. If you are not eligible, university dental schools in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth run supervised student clinics that charge reduced fees.

How to choose a dentist

Start with the one check that matters most. Every dentist, dental hygienist, oral health therapist and dental prosthetist practising in Australia must be registered with the Dental Board of Australia through AHPRA. The public AHPRA Register of practitioners shows whether a person is currently registered, whether they hold a specialist title (such as orthodontist, periodontist or oral surgeon) and whether any conditions or undertakings limit their practice. If someone is not on the register, they are not permitted to practise.

Once registration is confirmed, the practical differences between practices come down to a handful of questions:

• Do they publish fees? A practice that lists its fees online, or gives you a clear figure for items 011, 114 and 022 over the phone, is easier to compare and less likely to surprise you.
• Are they in your health fund’s network? Preferred-provider practices for Bupa, Medibank, HCF, nib and the regional funds often offer gap-free check-ups. The rebate on fillings, crowns and extractions varies by policy, so check yours rather than assuming.
• Will they give an itemised written quote? For anything beyond a clean, ask for a treatment plan with ADA item numbers. It lets you compare quotes and ask your fund exactly what it will pay.
• Does the practice suit how you live? Early, late and Saturday hours, parking, public transport access and whether children are welcome all affect whether you keep going back.
• What happens if you need a specialist? Ask how the practice handles referrals for orthodontics, root canals or wisdom teeth, and whether they quote before referring.
• Payment plans. If major work is likely, ask about interest-free options before starting; our payment plan guide compares them.

We do not publish star ratings, reviews or “best dentist” lists. Those rankings usually reflect marketing budgets rather than clinical quality, and they cannot be verified. A registered practitioner, transparent fees and a clear treatment plan are the things you can actually check.

Who will actually treat you

Not everyone in a dental practice is a dentist. Oral health therapists and dental hygienists are separately registered with AHPRA and are qualified to examine, clean, apply fluoride and, in the case of therapists, place simple fillings in children and in some cases adults. Many practices use them for routine check-ups, which is clinically appropriate and often cheaper. Dental prosthetists make and fit dentures. Specialists, such as orthodontists, periodontists, endodontists and oral surgeons, hold additional registration and are usually seen on referral. All of these roles appear on the AHPRA register, so you can check exactly who is treating you.

Preferred providers and gap-free check-ups

Most large health funds run preferred-provider networks: practices that agree to charge the fund’s members set fees in exchange for being listed. Bupa’s Members First, Medibank’s Members’ Choice, HCF’s More for Teeth and nib’s First Choice are the best known, and HBF’s Member Plus dominates in Western Australia. At a preferred provider a basic check-up and clean is often gap-free on mid-level extras cover, which is the single biggest saving most people can make on routine dental. The trade-off is choice: you are limited to the network, and rebates on major items such as crowns are still capped by your annual limit. Check your policy before assuming any particular rebate.

What to expect at a first visit

A new-patient appointment typically runs 30–60 minutes. The dentist or oral health therapist will take a medical history, examine your teeth, gums and soft tissues, usually take two bitewing X-rays (and sometimes a full-mouth OPG), then clean and polish your teeth and apply fluoride. You should leave with a written summary of anything that needs treatment, with item numbers and prices, and a recommended recall interval (commonly six or twelve months).

Bring your Medicare card, any health fund card and a list of medications. If you have had X-rays elsewhere in the past two years, ask that practice to send them so you are not charged again. Many practices advertise new-patient packages of $199–$249 that include X-rays; these are usually the cheapest way into a practice.

Dental costs by treatment

Once you know what you need, our cost guides break down each treatment by item number, with price ranges from published practice fees and the ADA survey:

• Dental costs in Australia: the full overview, from check-ups to implants.
• Filling cost: composite, amalgam and ceramic by number of surfaces.
• Dental crown cost: porcelain, zirconia, gold and same-day CEREC.
• Tooth extraction cost: simple and surgical removal.
• Root canal cost: front teeth to molars, general dentist versus endodontist.
• Wisdom teeth removal cost: in the chair, under sedation or in hospital.
• Dental implant cost: single tooth to full arch.
• Emergency dentist: what to do, where to go and what it costs.

For orthodontic treatment, see our braces cost guide and Invisalign cost guide. If you are weighing up extras cover, our extras cover comparison explains waiting periods, annual limits and preferred-provider networks.

Common questions