Dental Care in Australia: Costs, Public vs Private & How to Save Money on Your Teeth (2026 Guide)

Why Dental Isn't Covered by Medicare

When Australia's universal healthcare system (now Medicare) launched in 1975, dental was excluded due to budget constraints - and it's stayed that way ever since. Medicare covers GP visits, hospital treatment, and specialist referrals, but adult dental is almost entirely excluded.

The only exceptions are:

• Emergency dental surgery performed in a public hospital (e.g. jaw fractures, severe infections)
• Dental procedures that are part of a broader medical treatment (very rare)

For everything else - check-ups, fillings, crowns, wisdom teeth removal - you're paying out of pocket or through private health insurance. If you haven't yet applied for Medicare, check our complete Medicare guide first - it's your foundation for accessing the limited dental support that does exist.

What Does Dental Treatment Actually Cost?

Here's a realistic breakdown of dental costs in Australia (as of early 2026). These are typical private practice prices - actual costs vary by location, dentist, and complexity.

Free & Subsidised Dental Care: Your Options

1. Public Dental Clinics (Adults)

Every state and territory runs public dental clinics that offer free or very low-cost treatment. The catch? You need to be eligible - and the waitlists are long.

Who qualifies:

• Holders of a Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card (issued by Centrelink)
• Dependants listed on those cards
• In some states: Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders, refugees, and asylum seekers

Typical wait times:

2. Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS)

The CDBS is a Medicare-funded programme that provides up to $1,158 per eligible child over a two-consecutive-calendar-year period (indexed annually on 1 January).

Eligibility:

• Child aged 0-17 for at least one day in the calendar year
• Child is eligible for Medicare
• Family receives Family Tax Benefit Part A, Parenting Payment, ABSTUDY, Carer Payment, or another qualifying Centrelink payment (see our guide to Centrelink and government benefits for eligibility details)

What's covered:

• Check-ups, X-rays, cleaning, fissure sealing, fillings, root canals, extractions, and partial dentures

What's NOT covered:

• Orthodontics (braces), cosmetic dental work, or hospital dental procedures

How it works:

1. Services Australia assesses eligibility at the start of each calendar year
2. You'll receive a notification via post or MyGov
3. Take your child to any dentist who bulk-bills under the CDBS - the dentist bills Medicare directly, so there's no out-of-pocket cost
4. If the dentist doesn't bulk-bill CDBS, you pay upfront and claim back from Medicare (up to the schedule fee)

3. University Dental School Clinics

Australia's dental schools run teaching clinics where final-year dental students treat patients under the supervision of qualified dentists. The trade-off is longer appointment times, but the savings are significant.

Private Health Insurance: Is Dental Extras Cover Worth It?

Private health insurance (PHI) with extras cover is how most working Australians manage dental costs. Here's what you need to know:

Waiting Periods

What to Look For

• Annual limits: Most basic extras policies cap dental at $400-$800 per year. Mid-range policies: $1,000-$1,500
• Percentage back: Typically 50-80% of the fee, up to your annual cap
• Preferred provider networks: Some funds (Bupa, Medibank, HCF) have "Members First" or "Choice" networks where you pay no gap for preventive check-ups
• Pre-existing conditions: If your dental issue existed in the 6 months before joining, the 12-month major dental wait applies regardless

Is It Worth the Maths?

For a single person paying ~$15-$25/week for basic extras:

• You pay ~$780-$1,300/year in premiums
• If the policy covers two check-ups and cleans ($400-$700 value) plus one filling ($200-$500), you roughly break even
• Major dental is where insurance really pays off - a single crown ($1,500+) or root canal ($2,000+) can exceed your entire annual premium

5 Practical Tips to Save Money on Dental

1. Don't skip your check-ups. A $200 check-up that catches a small cavity saves you a $2,000 root canal. Prevention is the cheapest dental care
2. Shop around. Call 2-3 dentists for quotes. Suburban and regional dentists are often 20-40% cheaper than CBD practices
3. Ask about payment plans. Many clinics offer interest-free payment plans (e.g. Afterpay, Zip, or in-house plans) for treatments over $500
4. Use your health fund's preferred provider. If you have PHI, staying in-network can mean $0 out-of-pocket for preventive care
5. Consider dental schools. You'll wait longer per appointment, but the quality is supervised by experienced clinicians and the fees are substantially lower

How First Migration Can Help

Navigating Australia's healthcare system - especially the gaps between Medicare, dental, and private health insurance - can be overwhelming when you're also dealing with visa applications, settlement logistics, and building a new life. Understanding your visa entitlements and healthcare access starts with getting the right visa advice.

At First Migration Service Centre, our registered migration agents help clients understand their healthcare entitlements based on their specific visa type, and can advise on timing your private health insurance to avoid penalties like the Lifetime Health Cover loading. For families with children, our CCS Calculator can also help you estimate childcare subsidies - another major cost for newcomers.

Ready to take the next step? We invite you to submit a free visa assessment so we can understand your situation and provide tailored advice on your visa and settlement journey.