Dental costs in Australia: Medicare does not cover general dental for adults
Medicare does not cover general dental
This surprises many people coming from countries with broader public health coverage: Medicare does not pay for routine dental treatment for adults. This includes check-ups, scale and clean (cleaning), fillings, extractions and X-rays.
Medicare only covers dental in limited circumstances:
- Emergency dental treatment in a public hospital (acute, serious cases only).
- The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) — a separate scheme for children (see below).
Typical costs at a private dentist
| Service | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| General consultation | $50–$100 |
| Scale and clean | $100–$250 |
| X-ray (per film) | $30–$70 |
| Filling (per tooth) | $150–$300+ |
| Simple extraction | $150–$300 |
| Surgical wisdom tooth removal | $300–$800+ |
| Braces / Invisalign | $3,000–$9,000+ |
Costs vary significantly by dentist, city and complexity. Always ask for a written fee estimate before proceeding with treatment.
Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS)
The CDBS provides up to $1,000 over two calendar years for children aged 2–17 who are eligible (the child or their parent/guardian receives Family Tax Benefit Part A or certain other Centrelink payments). Covered services include check-ups, X-rays, cleaning, fissure sealing, fillings and extractions — but not orthodontics or general anaesthetic.
Check eligibility and find a participating dentist through myGov or by calling Medicare.
Community Dental Services
Most states operate Community Dental Services — government-funded clinics offering low-cost or free dental care for people holding a Medicare card, Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card or similar. The main downside is long waiting times — often several months for non-emergency treatment.
- VIC: Dental Health Services Victoria (dental.org.au)
- NSW: Community Health Centre dental clinics
- QLD: Metro North Oral Health and similar state health services
Private health insurance — extras cover
Private health insurance extras cover includes dental at varying reimbursement levels:
- Basic extras: typically covers annual check-up and clean.
- Mid/top extras: adds fillings, extractions, crowns, orthodontics.
Each policy has an annual limit (e.g., $500–$1,500 for dental). You must also serve a waiting period (typically 2–12 months depending on the policy and service) before you can claim dental benefits.
Tips to manage dental costs
- University dental schools: students supervised by qualified clinicians provide significantly reduced-cost treatment.
- Payment plans: many private dentists offer interest-free payment plans — ask before treatment.
- Budget annually: don’t wait until a condition worsens before seeking care — prevention is far cheaper than treatment.
- Check CDBS eligibility for your children via myGov/Medicare before booking appointments.