How much does a dental filling cost in Australia in 2026?

What a filling typically costs in Australia

The most recent Australian Dental Association (ADA) fee survey that has been published in summary form put the average fee for a one-surface filling on a back tooth (item 531) at $178, with most general dentists charging between $135 and $248. A two-surface filling on a back tooth (item 532) averaged $220, within a range of $171 to $305.

Those survey figures date from mid-2022. Fees have moved since. Canstar’s 2026 summary of the latest ADA figures puts a single-surface back-tooth filling at $192 and a front-tooth filling at $181, and the Victorian TAC fee schedule for 2025–26 benchmarks item 531 at $218. Published practice fee guides in 2026 cluster between $150 and $450 for a composite filling, depending on size and location.

So a fair working figure for 2026 is $150–$300 for a small filling and $250–$460 for a larger one. Every figure on this page is indicative. Ask your dentist for a written quote with ADA item numbers before you book.

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Cost by size and tooth

Dentists in Australia bill fillings using ADA item numbers that describe the material, the tooth and the number of surfaces filled. The more surfaces, the higher the fee. A “surface” is one face of the tooth, so a cavity that runs from the biting surface down one side is a two-surface filling.

Front teeth (anterior)

Items 521 to 525 cover tooth-coloured composite fillings on front teeth. The ADA 2022 average was $167 for one surface and $202 for two. Front-tooth fillings tend to be slightly cheaper than back-tooth fillings because the cavities are usually smaller and easier to reach.

Back teeth (posterior)

Items 531 to 535 cover composite fillings on premolars and molars. The ADA 2022 average was $178 for one surface and $220 for two. Three-surface and larger fillings on molars are where the bill climbs: Canstar reports a top figure of $504 for the most complex direct filling, which is a five-surface, four-cusp restoration billed as four units of item 577.

Amalgam versus composite

Silver amalgam fillings are billed under items 511 to 515 and composite (white) fillings under 521 to 535. We could not find a current published Australian survey comparing the two materials, so we do not quote a price difference here. If your dentist offers both, ask for the item number and fee for each.

When a filling is not enough

If decay has reached the nerve, a filling alone will not fix the tooth. Finder’s guide notes the total can pass $600–$800 once root canal treatment is added, and a heavily broken-down molar may need a crown instead. See our root canal cost guide and dental crown cost guide for those figures.

Filling cost by city

The ADA fee survey found fillings cheapest in Queensland (average $148) and dearest in Tasmania ($183) in 2022, with South Australia and Western Australia generally sitting below the national average across most items. City-level price guides published in 2026 show a similar spread, with Sydney at the top and Adelaide and Hobart at the bottom.

Within each city, inner-city and premium-suburb practices commonly charge 15–30 per cent more than outer suburbs for the same item number. If price matters, it is worth phoning two or three practices and asking for the fee for item 531 or 532.

What changes the price of a filling

• Number of surfaces. This is the biggest driver. Each extra surface adds roughly $30–$60 on the ADA averages.
• Tooth position. Molars are harder to isolate and take longer, so they cost more than front teeth.
• Material. Composite is standard. Amalgam is less common now. Lab-made ceramic inlays and onlays (items 571 onwards) are a different, dearer category.
• Extras on the day. A new-patient exam (item 011, ADA average $67), an X-ray (item 022, $45) and local anaesthetic are usually billed on top.
• Who does it. Specialist fees run higher. Most fillings are done by general dentists and do not need a specialist.
• Location. CBD rents show up in fees. Regional and outer-suburban practices are often cheaper.

Health fund, Medicare and public dental

Fillings are classed as general dental by most health funds, so basic and mid-level extras cover usually pays a benefit. CHOICE’s analysis of February 2023 policies found the average extras rebate on a periodic exam was about $35 and on a scale and clean about $65; filling rebates vary widely by fund and tier. Check your policy for the item-number benefit and your annual limit before you book.

Medicare does not cover fillings for adults. Eligible children aged 0–17 can get up to the Child Dental Benefits Schedule cap for basic services including fillings; see our Medicare dental and CDBS guide. Concession-card holders may be able to use state public dental services, usually with a waiting list.

If you are paying out of pocket, many practices offer interest-free instalments. Our dental payment plans guide explains the options and the fees to watch for.

What happens at a filling appointment

A straightforward filling takes 20 to 45 minutes. The dentist numbs the tooth with local anaesthetic, removes the decayed enamel and dentine with a drill or air abrasion, shapes the cavity, and places the filling. Composite is applied in layers and set with a blue light, then shaped and polished so your bite feels normal. You can eat as soon as the numbness wears off, usually within two to three hours.

The fee you are quoted normally covers the anaesthetic, the filling material and the polishing. What it may not cover is the diagnostic work that found the cavity: a comprehensive exam for a new patient (item 011) or a periodic exam (item 012), plus any bitewing X-rays (item 022). If you are having a check-up and a filling on the same day, ask for the total before you sit down.

Filling cost for children

Children’s fillings on baby teeth are billed under the same item numbers and cost roughly the same as adult fillings, although small cavities on baby teeth are often one surface. Eligible children aged 0 to 17 can have fillings covered by the Child Dental Benefits Schedule up to the two-year cap, with no out-of-pocket cost if the dentist bulk-bills. Ask whether the practice bulk-bills CDBS before you book.

Temporary fillings

If a tooth breaks or a filling falls out after hours, a dentist may place a temporary filling (item 572 or similar) to settle the tooth until a permanent one can be done. Temporary fillings are cheaper than permanent ones but are not meant to last more than a few weeks. See our emergency dentist guide for what to expect and what after-hours visits cost.

Inlays and onlays

When a cavity is too large for a direct filling but the tooth does not yet need a full crown, a dentist may suggest a lab-made ceramic inlay or onlay (items 571 onwards). These are a different price category, typically closer to crown fees than filling fees, and are classed as major dental by most funds. If one is recommended, ask why a direct filling would not do and get the item number so you can compare with the crown figures in our crown cost guide.

How to pay less for a filling

• Do not delay. A one-surface filling at $150–$250 becomes a two-surface filling at $220–$300, then a crown at $1,600–$2,000 or a root canal at $900 or more. Early treatment is the single biggest saving.
• Ask for the item number and compare. Two practices in the same suburb can differ by $100 on item 531. A phone call takes two minutes.
• Use a preferred-provider dentist if your fund has them. Some funds pay a higher percentage of the fee, or cap your gap, at network practices.
• Check your annual limit. If you are near the end of your extras year with unused general dental, book before it resets.
• Consider a dental school clinic in capital cities, where supervised students treat patients at reduced fees, usually with longer appointments and waiting times.
• Ask about CDBS and public dental if you have children or a concession card.

Choosing a dentist for a filling

Any dentist in Australia must be registered with the Dental Board of Australia through AHPRA. You can check a name on the AHPRA public register in a minute. Beyond that, ask for a written treatment plan with item numbers and fees, ask whether the quoted price includes the exam and X-rays, and ask what happens if the cavity turns out to be deeper than expected.

If a tooth hurts, do not wait for a cheaper quote. Small cavities become root canals. See a registered dentist, get the item numbers, and compare from there.

Common questions