How Much Does a Dentist Charge in Australia in 2017
Dental work is normally NOT covered under Medicare, although there are some exceptions to this. One of these is the Child Dental Benefits Scheme for children between 2 and 17 years of age who are, or whose parents are, in receipt of some Centrelink Benefit payments. You can claim up to $1,000 for each child over 2 consecutive calendar years. More details at: www.humanservices.gov.au/medicare/
There are however some Government based Dental Facilities, eg: Dental Teaching Hospitals that are available for certain sections of the population, eg: those holding Health Care Cards. Details of these are on State Health Websites such as: www.health.qld.gov.au/adult
Queensland Adult patient eligibility – public sector dental clinics
For adults to be eligible for publicly funded oral health care they must be a Queensland resident and where applicable, in receipt of benefits from either a:
Pensioner Concession Card issued by the Department of Veteran’s Affairs
Pensioner Concession Card issued by Centrelink
Health Care Card
Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
Queensland Seniors Card
Private Dental Treatment in Australia
The main option for Dental Treatment in Australia are the Private Dentists that are situated in most suburbs.
Medical Category Advert
Most of the Insurance companies will cover Dental treatment, but be aware to check levels of cover provided.
Example cost of a typical Check up and Clean at October 2017
| Item No. : | Dental service | Cost from and to |
| 11 | Comprehensive Oral Examination | $65 – $90 |
| 022 x 2 | X-Rays | $88 – $114 |
| 114 | Removal of Calculus – First Appointment | $115 – $153 |
| 121 | Topical Remineralising | $35 – $60 |
| Total Cost | Between | $303 – $417 |
Examples of Dental rates shown by a Queensland Dental Surgery in October 2017
| DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES | ||
| Description | From $ | To $ |
| 011 Comprehensive oral examination | $50 | $80 |
| 015 Consultation extended 30 mins or more | $85 | $105 |
| X-RAYS | ||
| Description | From $ | To $ |
| 022 Intraoral radiograph – per x-ray | $40 | $50 |
| OTHER DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES | ||
| Description | From $ | To $ |
| 061 Pulp testing | $29 | $35 |
| 071 Diagnostic model | $55 | $70 |
| 072 Photographic records – intraoral | $35 | $50 |
| PREVENTIVE, INTERNAL BLEACHING & MOUTHGUARDS | ||
| Description | From $ | To $ |
| 111 Removal of plaque and/or stain | $49 | $60 |
| 114 Removal of calculus (1st visit) | $98 | $125 |
| 115 Removal of calculus (2nd visit) | $88 | $125 |
| 153 Bi-maxillary mouthguard | $247 | $247 |
| 161 Fissure sealing | $40 | $75 |
| The fee range shown above is dependent upon your health fund’s scheduled fees | ||
| The fee range shown below is dependent on the complexity of your treatment, the materials used and laboratory fees. |
||
| PERIODONTICS & GUM CARE | ||
| Description | From $ | To $ |
| 213 Treatment of acute periodontal infection | $90 | $150 |
| 221 Clinical periodontal analysis | $60 | $90 |
| 222 Root planing and subgingival curettage (per tooth) | $60 | $90 |
| EXTRACTIONS | ||
| Description | From $ | To $ |
| 311 Removal of a tooth or part thereof | $145 | $220 |
| 314 Sectional removal of a tooth or parts thereof | $195 | $330 |
| 322 Surgical removal of a tooth | $235 | $370 |
| 323 Surgical removal of a tooth requiring removal of bone | $280 | $430 |
| 324 Surgical removal of a tooth requiring removal of bone and tooth division | $340 | $560 |
| ROOT CANAL TREATMENTS | ||
| Description | From $ | To $ |
| 411 Direct pulp capping | $50 | $75 |
| 414 Pulpotomy | $100 | $140 |
| 415 Preparation of root canal – one canal | $260 | $320 |
| 416 Preparation of root canal – each additional canal | $130 | $170 |
| 417 Root canal obturation – one canal | $260 | $310 |
| 418 Root canal obturation – each additional canal | $130 | $160 |
| 419 Extirpation of pulp or debridement of root canal – emergency or palliative | $200 | $230 |
| COMPOSITE RESTORATIONS | ||
| Description | From $ | To $ |
| 521 Anterior (front teeth) – one surface | $130 | $170 |
| 522 Anterior (front teeth) – two surface | $150 | $210 |
| 523 Anterior (front teeth) – three surface | $180 | $250 |
| 524 Anterior (front teeth) – four surface | $220 | $310 |
| 525 Anterior (front teeth) – five surface | $250 | $380 |
| 531 Posterior (back teeth) – one surface | $145 | $190 |
| 532 Posterior (back teeth) – two surface | $170 | $230 |
| 533 Posterior (back teeth) – three surface | $195 | $300 |
| 534 Posterior (back teeth) – four surface | $230 | $350 |
| 535 Posterior (back teeth) – five surface | $260 | $440 |
| PORCELAIN RESTORATIONS | ||
| Description | From $ | To $ |
| 551 Porcelain restoration – one surface | $450 | $670 |
| 552 Porcelain restoration – two surface | $710 | $100 |
| 553 Porcelain restoration – three surface | $1000 | $1200 |
| 554 Porcelain restoration – four surface | $1100 | $1300 |
| 555 Porcelain restoration – five surface | $1200 | $1400 |
| VENEERS & OTHER RESTORATIVE SERVICES | ||
| Description | From $ | To $ |
| 577 Cusp capping | $30 | $40 |
| 582 Veneer – composite | $300 | $500 |
| 583 Veneer – porcelain | $1100 | $1400 |
| 597 Post | $160 | $260 |
| CROWNS AND BRIDGES | ||
| Description | From $ | To $ |
| 613 Full crown – non metallic | $1600 | $1800 |
| 613.1 Full crown – CEREC | $1600 | $1800 |
| 615 Full crown – veneered | $1600 | $1800 |
| 618 Full crown – metallic | $1600 | $1800 |
| 627 Preliminary restoration for crown | $200 | $230 |
| 625 Post and core for crown | $400 | $500 |
| 643 Bridge pontic – per pontic (tooth) | $1200 | $1400 |
| 645 Precision or magnetic attachment | $250 | $350 |
| 651 Recementing crown or veneer | $110 | $200 |
| IMPLANTS | ||
| Description | From $ | To $ |
| 661 Fitting of implant abutment – per abutment | $1000 | $1200 |
| 663 Removal of implant and/or retention device | $300 | $500 |
| 665 Prosthesis with resin base attached to implants – per arch | $1000 | $1200 |
| 666 Prosthesis with metal frame attached to implants – per arch | $1200 | $1200 |
| 668 Fixture or abutment screw removal and replacement | $180 | $250 |
| 673 Full crown attached to osseointegrated implants | $1600 | $1800 |
| 678 Diagnostic template | $320 | $400 |
| 679 Surgical implant guide | $360 | $440 |
| 684 Insertion of 1st stage of 2 stage endosseous implant | $1850 | $2200 |
| 691 Second stage surgery of 2 stage endosseous implant | $500 | $700 |
| DENTURES, DENTURE REPAIRS AND DENTURE RELINES | ||
| Description | From $ | To $ |
| 711 Complete maxillary denture | $1250 | $1300 |
| 712 Complete mandibular denture | $1250 | $1300 |
| 719 Complete maxillary and mandibular dentures | $2500 | $2600 |
| 721 Partial resin denture | $700 | $1000 |
| 727 Partial metal frame denture | $1300 | $1500 |
| 751 Relining complete denture | $220 | $260 |
| 752 Relining partial denture | $180 | $220 |
| 753 Cleaning and polishing of existing denture | $45 | $65 |
| ORTHODONTICS – INVISALIGN AND BRACES | ||
| Description | From $ | To $ |
| 811 Passive removable appliance – per arch | $240 | $300 |
| 821 Active removable appliance – per arch | $950 | $1100 |
| 825 Sequential plastic aligners – per arch | $3000 | $4000 |
| 831 Full arch banding – per arch | $1800 | $2700 |
| 871 Orthodontic adjustment | $150 | $180 |
| 881 Complete course of orthodontic treatment | ||
| GENERAL SERVICES | ||
| Description | From $ | To $ |
| 911 Palliative care | $70 | $90 |
| 928 Intravenous cannulation and establishment of infusion | $100 | $120 |
| 942 Sedation – intravenous – per 30 mins | $90 | $110 |
| 965 Occlusal splint | $550 | $600 |
| 984 Bi-maxillary oral appliance obstructive snoring and sleep apnoea | $1300 | $1400 |
Government Health Departments
- Dental Services under Medicare
- Victoria’s Public Dental System
- Queensland Public Oral Health Services
- WA Public Dental Health
- NSW Public Dental Health
Overseas Dental options
Travelling overseas is becoming popular for many people to save money and/or avoid long waiting times for public treatment.
The following links are examples only and I have no knowledge of their abilities.
- Medi Tour Holiday and Dental travel packages
- Dental Express Holiday and Dental travel packages
Please check out any overseas options very carefully, as it is not easy to just ‘nip back’ for follow up treatment.
Private Health Organisations
- MBF Private Health Care
- HBA A BUPA member
- HCF Private Health Care
- NIB Private Health Care
- Manchester Unity Private Health Care
- Medibank Australia’s largest private health insurer
