How much does a tooth extraction cost in Australia in 2026?

What a tooth extraction typically costs

The Australian Dental Association’s 2022 fee survey, summarised by CHOICE, put the average general-dentist fee for a simple extraction (item 311) at $205, with most dentists charging between $149 and $300. That survey reflects fees at 1 July 2022, and the ADA recorded an average rise of 3.7 per cent across general items between its 2020 and 2022 surveys, so 2026 fees sit a little higher.

Comparison sites publishing in 2026 broadly agree: Compare the Market lists $150–$250+ for a simple extraction and $300–$600+ for a surgical one, while Finder quotes $75–$200 simple and $250–$450 surgical. The Victorian TAC schedule, which pays dentists on ADA item numbers, benchmarks item 311 at $245 and item 322 at $364 for 2025–26.

All of these are indicative. The tooth, its roots, your medical history and whether you are awake or asleep for the procedure all change the bill. Ask for a written quote with item numbers.

Extraction type	ADA item	Indicative fee per tooth	Basis
Simple (non-surgical) extraction	311	$150–$300	ADA 2022 average $205 (range $149–$300); Compare the Market 2026 $150–$250+; TAC Vic 2025–26 $245
Sectional extraction (tooth divided)	314	$250–$450	Finder 2026 surgical range $250–$450; practice guides
Surgical extraction, flap raised	322	$300–$600+	Compare the Market 2026 $300–$600+; TAC Vic 2025–26 $364
Surgical extraction with bone removal	323/324	$400–$800	Upper end of surgical ranges; Compare the Market complex wisdom $400–$1,200
Wisdom tooth, simple, at a general dentist	311/314	$150–$400	CHOICE $149–$300; HBF $180–$400
Wisdom tooth, complex, specialist	322–324	$315–$725	CHOICE $315–$599; Smile Solutions Melbourne $475–$725
Hospital removal under general anaesthetic (all fees)	various	$2,000–$3,000+	Finder up to $3,000; Medibank hospital component $1,902–$2,584 excluding doctors' fees

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Simple versus surgical extraction

Simple extraction (item 311)

The tooth is fully erupted and can be loosened and lifted out under local anaesthetic in a normal dental chair. Most front teeth, premolars and many molars come out this way. Budget $150–$300 for the extraction itself, plus an exam and X-ray if they are not already done.

Sectional and surgical extraction (items 314, 322–324)

If the tooth is broken at the gum line, has curved or fused roots, or is impacted, the dentist may need to divide the tooth (item 314), lift a gum flap (322) or remove bone (323–324). These take longer and attract higher fees: $250–$600 is typical at a general dentist, and complex cases referred to an oral surgeon can run higher.

In hospital under general anaesthetic

Some patients, and most people having all four wisdom teeth out, are treated in a day hospital. The bill then has several parts: the surgeon’s fee, the anaesthetist’s fee, the hospital or theatre fee, and any Medicare rebate on the medical (not dental) components. Medibank’s claims data for 2023–24 shows a typical hospital component of $1,902–$2,584 before doctors’ fees, and Finder puts the all-in figure at up to about $3,000. If you have hospital cover that includes oral surgery, ask for an informed financial consent form before the day.

Wisdom teeth removal

Wisdom teeth are the most common reason adults have extractions, and the price depends almost entirely on how impacted they are. CHOICE’s figures put a simple wisdom tooth at a general dentist at $149–$300 per tooth with local anaesthetic, and a complex case done by a specialist in hospital at $315–$599 per tooth before theatre and anaesthetist fees. Smile Solutions in Melbourne publishes $475–$725 for one wisdom tooth and $1,950–$2,950 for all four in the chair.

We cover the full picture, including sedation and recovery, in our wisdom teeth removal cost guide.

Extraction cost by state and city

The ADA survey found South Australia cheapest for a simple extraction ($185 average) and the ACT dearest ($231), with the national average at $205. The ADA also notes SA and WA fees were lowest across most items, and that ACT and NT figures should be read with caution because of small samples.

Jurisdiction	Average fee	Note
South Australia	$185	Lowest in the survey
National average (general dentists)	$205	Range $149–$300
Australian Capital Territory	$231	Highest in the survey; small sample
Queensland, WA	Below national average	ADA notes SA and WA fees lowest across most items
NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, NT	Around or above national average	ADA notes ACT and NT higher but samples small

Within cities, CBD and premium-suburb practices generally sit 15–30 per cent above outer suburbs for the same item. Our Dental Cost Index tracks these city differences across common treatments.

What changes the price

• How the tooth comes out. Simple, sectional or surgical, each with its own item number and fee.
• Anaesthetic. Local is included in the chair fee. IV sedation or general anaesthetic adds an anaesthetist and often a hospital fee.
• Who does it. General dentists handle most extractions. Oral surgeons and other specialists charge more; the ADA found specialist hourly rates of $450–$1,500 in 2022.
• Extras. A consultation (items 011–014), X-ray (022) or OPG (037) is usually billed separately. Budget $45 for a single X-ray and $60–$120 for an exam.
• What comes next. An extraction leaves a gap. If you plan to replace the tooth, see our dental implants cost guide and dental bridge cost guide.

Health fund, Medicare and public dental

Simple extractions are usually classed as general dental by health funds, so most extras policies pay something toward item 311. Surgical extractions (322 onwards) are often classed as major dental, which may need a higher tier and a longer waiting period. CHOICE found an average extras benefit of $123 for item 322 across February 2023 policies, within a wide range of $58–$340. Check your policy for the item-number benefit and your annual limit.

Medicare does not cover extractions done in the dental chair for adults. For in-hospital surgical removal, Medicare pays a rebate on the surgeon’s and anaesthetist’s medical item numbers but not the hospital fee; that is where hospital cover with oral surgery matters. Children aged 0–17 who are eligible for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule can have extractions covered up to the cap; see our Medicare dental guide.

If you need help spreading the cost, our dental payment plans guide compares the options.

What happens during an extraction, and what aftercare costs

For a simple extraction the dentist numbs the area, loosens the tooth with an elevator and lifts it out with forceps. The whole appointment is usually 20 to 40 minutes, most of it waiting for the anaesthetic. A surgical extraction adds a small incision in the gum, sometimes removal of a little bone, and a few dissolving stitches; allow 45 to 90 minutes. You will leave with gauze in place and written instructions.

Budget for the days after as well as the procedure. Over-the-counter pain relief is usually enough for a simple extraction. If the socket becomes painful two to four days later (dry socket), a review visit and dressing is typically billed as a short consultation or under item 013 or 014, and infection may need a prescription. Ask whether a post-operative review is included in the quoted fee; many practices include one at no charge.

Replacing the tooth

An extraction is often the start of a bigger decision. Leaving a gap at the back is sometimes fine; leaving one at the front or losing a molar that your bite relies on usually is not. The three replacement options are a dental implant (around $5,100 on ADA averages), a bridge ($3,800–$6,000 for three units) or a partial denture. If an implant is likely, ask the dentist about socket preservation grafting at the time of extraction, which adds a few hundred dollars but can save a larger graft later.

Sedation options and what they add

Between local anaesthetic in the chair and a general anaesthetic in hospital sits IV sedation, sometimes called twilight sedation, delivered in the practice by a sedationist or anaesthetist. It suits anxious patients and multi-tooth extractions. The sedation fee is separate from the extraction fee and is usually quoted per session rather than per tooth; ask for it in writing, and ask whether Medicare pays any rebate on the anaesthetist’s medical item numbers. You will need someone to drive you home.

How to pay less for an extraction

• Get the X-ray and plan first. Knowing whether the tooth is simple or surgical before the day avoids a surprise upgrade from item 311 to 322 in the chair.
• Ask about the chair versus hospital. Many wisdom teeth can be removed under local anaesthetic or IV sedation in the practice for a fraction of the day-hospital total.
• Use hospital cover wisely. If you are going to hospital, check your policy includes oral surgery and ask every provider (surgeon, anaesthetist, hospital) for informed financial consent in writing.
• Compare item 311 fees. The ADA range of $149–$300 for the same item shows how much practices differ. Two phone calls can save $100.
• Dental school clinics in capital cities offer supervised extractions at reduced fees, with longer waits.
• Children and concession holders may qualify for CDBS or public dental, where extractions are covered.

Choosing who removes the tooth

Any dentist or oral surgeon treating you in Australia must be registered with AHPRA; you can check the public register online. For a routine extraction a general dentist is appropriate. For deeply impacted wisdom teeth, teeth close to the nerve in the lower jaw, or if you have a medical condition that affects bleeding or healing, your dentist may refer you to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.

Ask three things before you book: the item numbers and fee, whether sedation or hospital costs are extra, and what aftercare is included if you get dry socket or an infection. If a tooth is painful, swollen or broken, see a registered dentist promptly rather than waiting on quotes.

Common questions