T Townsville Dental Directory
Australian dental price index

Dental Costs in Australia 2026: Price Index for 30 Major Cities

The complete 2026 dental price index for Australia. Compare 28 treatment costs across 30 major cities plus a dental affordability index (cost versus local income) — check-up $60-$100, crown $1,200-$2,300, single implant $4,100-$7,300. ADA item-numbered, income-adjusted, sortable.

Townsville Dental Directory editorial team Reviewed by Dr. Sophie Nguyen, BDS (Griffith) Updated 8 June 2026
28 treatments 30 cities 840 price ranges ADA item-numbered

Showing 28 of 28 treatments. Tap a column heading to sort. Scroll the table sideways to see all 30 cities, or pick one city to focus.

TreatmentADA itemNational rangeSydneyNSWMelbourneVICBrisbaneQLDPerthWAAdelaideSAGold CoastQLDNewcastleNSWCanberraACTSunshine CoastQLDWollongongNSWGeelongVICHobartTASTownsvilleQLDCairnsQLDDarwinNTToowoombaQLDBallaratVICBendigoVICMackayQLDRockhamptonQLDBundabergQLDHervey BayQLDWagga WaggaNSWLauncestonTASAlbury-WodongaNSWMilduraVICSheppartonVICPort MacquarieNSWCoffs HarbourNSWBunburyWA
Dental check-up (exam)011$60–$100$65–$110$65–$110$65–$110$65–$110$65–$110$65–$110$60–$100$65–$110$65–$110$55–$95$65–$110$65–$110$60–$100$55–$95$60–$100$60–$95$55–$95$55–$90$60–$100$55–$95$55–$95$55–$95$55–$95$55–$95$55–$95$55–$90$55–$95$60–$95$60–$95$60–$100
Scale and clean114 + 121$120–$220$130–$250$130–$250$130–$230$130–$240$130–$240$130–$250$120–$220$130–$230$130–$240$110–$210$130–$230$130–$240$120–$220$110–$210$120–$220$120–$210$110–$200$110–$200$120–$210$110–$210$110–$210$110–$210$110–$210$110–$210$110–$210$110–$200$110–$200$120–$210$120–$210$120–$210
Check-up + clean + 2 X-rays011+114+121+022$200–$350$220–$390$220–$390$210–$370$220–$390$220–$380$220–$390$200–$350$210–$370$210–$380$190–$330$210–$370$220–$380$200–$340$190–$330$200–$340$190–$340$190–$330$180–$320$200–$340$190–$330$190–$330$190–$330$190–$330$190–$330$190–$330$180–$320$190–$320$190–$340$190–$340$200–$340
Bitewing X-rays (2 films)022 x2$60–$100$65–$110$65–$110$65–$110$65–$110$65–$110$65–$110$60–$100$65–$110$65–$110$55–$95$65–$110$65–$110$60–$100$55–$95$60–$100$60–$95$55–$95$55–$90$60–$100$55–$95$55–$95$55–$95$55–$95$55–$95$55–$95$55–$90$55–$95$60–$95$60–$95$60–$100
OPG (full-mouth X-ray)037$100–$180$110–$200$110–$200$110–$190$110–$200$110–$190$110–$200$100–$180$110–$190$110–$190$95–$170$110–$190$110–$190$100–$180$95–$170$100–$180$95–$170$95–$170$90–$160$100–$180$95–$170$95–$170$95–$170$95–$170$95–$170$95–$170$90–$170$95–$170$95–$170$95–$170$100–$180
Fluoride treatment121$30–$60$35–$65$35–$65$30–$65$35–$65$30–$65$35–$65$30–$60$30–$65$30–$65$30–$55$30–$65$30–$65$30–$60$30–$55$30–$60$30–$60$30–$55$25–$55$30–$60$30–$55$30–$55$30–$55$30–$55$30–$55$30–$55$30–$55$30–$55$30–$60$30–$60$30–$60
Fissure sealant (per tooth)161$50–$90$55–$100$55–$100$55–$95$55–$100$55–$95$55–$100$50–$90$55–$95$55–$95$45–$85$55–$95$55–$95$50–$90$45–$85$50–$90$50–$85$45–$85$45–$80$50–$90$50–$85$45–$85$45–$85$45–$85$50–$85$45–$85$45–$85$45–$85$50–$85$50–$85$50–$90
Mouthguard (custom)151$150–$350$170–$390$170–$390$160–$370$170–$390$160–$380$170–$390$150–$350$160–$370$160–$380$140–$330$160–$370$160–$380$150–$340$140–$330$150–$340$140–$340$140–$330$140–$320$150–$340$140–$330$140–$330$140–$330$140–$330$140–$330$140–$330$140–$320$140–$320$150–$340$140–$340$150–$340
Composite filling, 1 surface511$150–$250$170–$280$170–$280$160–$270$170–$280$160–$270$170–$280$150–$250$160–$260$160–$270$140–$240$160–$260$160–$270$150–$240$140–$240$150–$250$140–$240$140–$230$140–$230$150–$240$140–$240$140–$230$140–$230$140–$240$140–$240$140–$240$140–$230$140–$230$150–$240$140–$240$150–$240
Composite filling, 2+ surfaces521+$200–$350$220–$390$220–$390$210–$370$220–$390$220–$380$220–$390$200–$350$210–$370$210–$380$190–$330$210–$370$220–$380$200–$340$190–$330$200–$340$190–$340$190–$330$180–$320$200–$340$190–$330$190–$330$190–$330$190–$330$190–$330$190–$330$180–$320$190–$320$190–$340$190–$340$200–$340
Crown (porcelain / zirconia)613$1,200–$2,100$1,300–$2,400$1,300–$2,300$1,300–$2,200$1,300–$2,300$1,300–$2,300$1,300–$2,400$1,200–$2,100$1,300–$2,200$1,300–$2,300$1,100–$2,000$1,300–$2,200$1,300–$2,300$1,200–$2,100$1,100–$2,000$1,200–$2,100$1,200–$2,000$1,100–$2,000$1,100–$1,900$1,200–$2,000$1,100–$2,000$1,100–$2,000$1,100–$2,000$1,100–$2,000$1,100–$2,000$1,100–$2,000$1,100–$1,900$1,100–$1,900$1,200–$2,000$1,200–$2,000$1,200–$2,000
Inlay / onlay578$900–$1,600$1,000–$1,800$1,000–$1,800$960–$1,700$990–$1,800$970–$1,700$1,000–$1,800$910–$1,600$950–$1,700$970–$1,700$850–$1,500$950–$1,700$970–$1,700$880–$1,600$850–$1,500$890–$1,600$870–$1,500$840–$1,500$820–$1,500$880–$1,600$860–$1,500$840–$1,500$840–$1,500$850–$1,500$860–$1,500$850–$1,500$830–$1,500$830–$1,500$870–$1,500$870–$1,500$880–$1,600
Bridge (per unit)643$1,500–$2,500$1,700–$2,800$1,700–$2,800$1,600–$2,700$1,700–$2,800$1,600–$2,700$1,700–$2,800$1,500–$2,500$1,600–$2,600$1,600–$2,700$1,400–$2,400$1,600–$2,600$1,600–$2,700$1,500–$2,400$1,400–$2,400$1,500–$2,500$1,400–$2,400$1,400–$2,300$1,400–$2,300$1,500–$2,400$1,400–$2,400$1,400–$2,300$1,400–$2,300$1,400–$2,400$1,400–$2,400$1,400–$2,400$1,400–$2,300$1,400–$2,300$1,500–$2,400$1,400–$2,400$1,500–$2,400
Root canal, front tooth414+417$800–$1,400$900–$1,600$890–$1,600$850–$1,500$880–$1,500$870–$1,500$900–$1,600$810–$1,400$850–$1,500$860–$1,500$760–$1,300$850–$1,500$860–$1,500$780–$1,400$760–$1,300$790–$1,400$770–$1,300$740–$1,300$730–$1,300$780–$1,400$760–$1,300$750–$1,300$750–$1,300$750–$1,300$760–$1,300$750–$1,300$740–$1,300$740–$1,300$770–$1,400$770–$1,300$780–$1,400
Root canal, molar417 x3+$1,200–$2,200$1,300–$2,500$1,300–$2,500$1,300–$2,300$1,300–$2,400$1,300–$2,400$1,300–$2,500$1,200–$2,200$1,300–$2,300$1,300–$2,400$1,100–$2,100$1,300–$2,300$1,300–$2,400$1,200–$2,200$1,100–$2,100$1,200–$2,200$1,200–$2,100$1,100–$2,000$1,100–$2,000$1,200–$2,100$1,100–$2,100$1,100–$2,100$1,100–$2,100$1,100–$2,100$1,100–$2,100$1,100–$2,100$1,100–$2,000$1,100–$2,000$1,200–$2,100$1,200–$2,100$1,200–$2,100
Tooth extraction, simple311$180–$350$200–$390$200–$390$190–$370$200–$390$190–$380$200–$390$180–$350$190–$370$190–$380$170–$330$190–$370$190–$380$180–$340$170–$330$180–$340$170–$340$170–$330$160–$320$180–$340$170–$330$170–$330$170–$330$170–$330$170–$330$170–$330$170–$320$170–$320$170–$340$170–$340$180–$340
Wisdom tooth, simple311$200–$400$220–$450$220–$450$210–$430$220–$440$220–$430$220–$450$200–$400$210–$420$210–$430$190–$380$210–$420$220–$430$200–$390$190–$380$200–$390$190–$390$190–$370$180–$360$200–$390$190–$380$190–$370$190–$380$190–$380$190–$380$190–$380$180–$370$190–$370$190–$390$190–$390$200–$390
Wisdom tooth, surgical322 / 324$400–$900$450–$1,000$450–$1,000$430–$960$440–$990$430–$970$450–$1,000$400–$910$420–$950$430–$970$380–$850$420–$950$430–$970$390–$880$380–$850$390–$890$390–$870$370–$840$360–$820$390–$880$380–$860$370–$840$380–$840$380–$850$380–$860$380–$850$370–$830$370–$830$390–$870$390–$870$390–$880
Single dental implant (all-in)684+688+672$4,500–$6,500$5,000–$7,300$5,000–$7,200$4,800–$6,900$5,000–$7,200$4,900–$7,000$5,000–$7,300$4,600–$6,600$4,800–$6,900$4,800–$7,000$4,300–$6,200$4,800–$6,900$4,800–$7,000$4,400–$6,400$4,300–$6,200$4,400–$6,400$4,300–$6,300$4,200–$6,100$4,100–$5,900$4,400–$6,300$4,300–$6,200$4,200–$6,100$4,200–$6,100$4,200–$6,100$4,300–$6,200$4,200–$6,100$4,100–$6,000$4,200–$6,000$4,400–$6,300$4,300–$6,300$4,400–$6,300
All-on-4 (per arch)-$20,000–$35,000$22,000–$39,000$22,000–$39,000$21,000–$37,000$22,000–$39,000$22,000–$38,000$22,000–$39,000$20,000–$35,000$21,000–$37,000$21,000–$38,000$19,000–$33,000$21,000–$37,000$22,000–$38,000$20,000–$34,000$19,000–$33,000$20,000–$34,000$19,000–$34,000$19,000–$33,000$18,000–$32,000$20,000–$34,000$19,000–$33,000$19,000–$33,000$19,000–$33,000$19,000–$33,000$19,000–$33,000$19,000–$33,000$18,000–$32,000$19,000–$32,000$19,000–$34,000$19,000–$34,000$20,000–$34,000
Full denture (per arch)711 / 719$1,500–$3,500$1,700–$3,900$1,700–$3,900$1,600–$3,700$1,700–$3,900$1,600–$3,800$1,700–$3,900$1,500–$3,500$1,600–$3,700$1,600–$3,800$1,400–$3,300$1,600–$3,700$1,600–$3,800$1,500–$3,400$1,400–$3,300$1,500–$3,400$1,400–$3,400$1,400–$3,300$1,400–$3,200$1,500–$3,400$1,400–$3,300$1,400–$3,300$1,400–$3,300$1,400–$3,300$1,400–$3,300$1,400–$3,300$1,400–$3,200$1,400–$3,200$1,500–$3,400$1,400–$3,400$1,500–$3,400
Partial denture (acrylic)721$800–$2,000$900–$2,200$890–$2,200$850–$2,100$880–$2,200$870–$2,200$900–$2,200$810–$2,000$850–$2,100$860–$2,100$760–$1,900$850–$2,100$860–$2,200$780–$2,000$760–$1,900$790–$2,000$770–$1,900$740–$1,900$730–$1,800$780–$2,000$760–$1,900$750–$1,900$750–$1,900$750–$1,900$760–$1,900$750–$1,900$740–$1,800$740–$1,900$770–$1,900$770–$1,900$780–$2,000
Teeth whitening (in-chair)118$400–$900$450–$1,000$450–$1,000$430–$960$440–$990$430–$970$450–$1,000$400–$910$420–$950$430–$970$380–$850$420–$950$430–$970$390–$880$380–$850$390–$890$390–$870$370–$840$360–$820$390–$880$380–$860$370–$840$380–$840$380–$850$380–$860$380–$850$370–$830$370–$830$390–$870$390–$870$390–$880
Porcelain veneer (per tooth)556$1,200–$2,500$1,300–$2,800$1,300–$2,800$1,300–$2,700$1,300–$2,800$1,300–$2,700$1,300–$2,800$1,200–$2,500$1,300–$2,600$1,300–$2,700$1,100–$2,400$1,300–$2,600$1,300–$2,700$1,200–$2,400$1,100–$2,400$1,200–$2,500$1,200–$2,400$1,100–$2,300$1,100–$2,300$1,200–$2,400$1,100–$2,400$1,100–$2,300$1,100–$2,300$1,100–$2,400$1,100–$2,400$1,100–$2,400$1,100–$2,300$1,100–$2,300$1,200–$2,400$1,200–$2,400$1,200–$2,400
Composite veneer (per tooth)526$400–$900$450–$1,000$450–$1,000$430–$960$440–$990$430–$970$450–$1,000$400–$910$420–$950$430–$970$380–$850$420–$950$430–$970$390–$880$380–$850$390–$890$390–$870$370–$840$360–$820$390–$880$380–$860$370–$840$380–$840$380–$850$380–$860$380–$850$370–$830$370–$830$390–$870$390–$870$390–$880
Clear aligners (full course)881$4,500–$9,000$5,000–$10,000$5,000–$10,000$4,800–$9,600$5,000–$9,900$4,900–$9,700$5,000–$10,000$4,600–$9,100$4,800–$9,500$4,800–$9,700$4,300–$8,500$4,800–$9,500$4,800–$9,700$4,400–$8,800$4,300–$8,500$4,400–$8,900$4,300–$8,700$4,200–$8,400$4,100–$8,200$4,400–$8,800$4,300–$8,600$4,200–$8,400$4,200–$8,400$4,200–$8,500$4,300–$8,600$4,200–$8,500$4,100–$8,300$4,200–$8,300$4,400–$8,700$4,300–$8,700$4,400–$8,800
Braces (metal, full course)821+881$6,000–$9,000$6,700–$10,000$6,700–$10,000$6,400–$9,600$6,600–$9,900$6,500–$9,700$6,700–$10,000$6,100–$9,100$6,300–$9,500$6,400–$9,700$5,700–$8,500$6,300–$9,500$6,500–$9,700$5,900–$8,800$5,700–$8,500$5,900–$8,900$5,800–$8,700$5,600–$8,400$5,400–$8,200$5,800–$8,800$5,700–$8,600$5,600–$8,400$5,600–$8,400$5,700–$8,500$5,700–$8,600$5,600–$8,500$5,500–$8,300$5,600–$8,300$5,800–$8,700$5,800–$8,700$5,800–$8,800
Emergency exam + relief012 / 015$150–$300$170–$340$170–$330$160–$320$170–$330$160–$320$170–$340$150–$300$160–$320$160–$320$140–$280$160–$320$160–$320$150–$290$140–$280$150–$300$140–$290$140–$280$140–$270$150–$290$140–$280$140–$280$140–$280$140–$280$140–$280$140–$280$140–$280$140–$280$150–$290$140–$290$150–$290

All figures are estimated 2026 market ranges in Australian dollars, before private health insurance rebates. Individual clinics can sit outside these bands. See the methodology below.

City price index

How each city compares to the national average

An index of 1.00 is the national average across these 30 cities. Above 1.00 means dental fees run higher than average; below 1.00 means lower. Derived from cost-of-living baskets, damped and clamped — see methodology.

Sydney NSW

Index 1.12

+12%

Gold Coast QLD

Index 1.12

+12%

Melbourne VIC

Index 1.115

+12%

Perth WA

Index 1.105

+10%

Adelaide SA

Index 1.082

+8%

Hobart TAS

Index 1.076

+8%

Sunshine Coast QLD

Index 1.074

+7%

Brisbane QLD

Index 1.068

+7%

Canberra ACT

Index 1.058

+6%

Geelong VIC

Index 1.057

+6%

Newcastle NSW

Index 1.012

+1%

Darwin NT

Index 0.984

-2%

Townsville QLD

Index 0.979

-2%

Mackay QLD

Index 0.975

-3%

Bunbury WA

Index 0.975

-3%

Port Macquarie NSW

Index 0.967

-3%

Toowoomba QLD

Index 0.964

-4%

Coffs Harbour NSW

Index 0.963

-4%

Rockhampton QLD

Index 0.95

-5%

Launceston TAS

Index 0.95

-5%

Wollongong NSW

Index 0.949

-5%

Cairns QLD

Index 0.949

-5%

Wagga Wagga NSW

Index 0.942

-6%

Albury-Wodonga NSW

Index 0.94

-6%

Hervey Bay QLD

Index 0.938

-6%

Bundaberg QLD

Index 0.934

-7%

Ballarat VIC

Index 0.931

-7%

Shepparton VIC

Index 0.926

-7%

Mildura VIC

Index 0.922

-8%

Bendigo VIC

Index 0.907

-9%
Affordability index

Dental affordability: cost versus local income

A treatment that looks cheap in one city can still take a bigger bite out of a local pay packet than a dearer treatment in a higher-earning city. This index measures dental cost against average local earnings — so a lower score means a treatment is genuinely more affordable for people who live there.

Earnings are the ABS Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings for each city's state (November 2025), adjusted for the metro/regional income gap. The routine-care basket is one check-up, clean and X-rays plus one single-surface filling. "Days of earnings" uses average full-time ordinary-time pay over a five-day week.

Most affordable

Canberra ACT

A single implant costs about 13 days of average local earnings (5% of annual income). Routine care: 1.1 days.

Least affordable

Launceston TAS

A single implant costs about 16.4 days of average local earnings (6.3% of annual income). Routine care: 1.4 days.

RankCityAvg weekly incomeRoutine basketBasket: days of payBasket: % of weekSingle implantImplant: days of payImplant: % of year
1Canberra ACT$2,249$5001.122.2%$5,850135%
2Sydney NSW$2,191$5301.224.2%$6,150145.4%
3Brisbane QLD$2,087$5051.224.2%$5,850145.4%
4Perth WA$2,299$5301.223.1%$6,10013.35.1%
5Newcastle NSW$1,941$4751.224.5%$5,60014.45.5%
6Wollongong NSW$1,941$4501.223.2%$5,25013.55.2%
7Cairns QLD$1,848$4501.224.3%$5,25014.25.5%
8Darwin NT$1,944$4701.224.2%$5,40013.95.3%
9Toowoomba QLD$1,848$4551.224.6%$5,30014.35.5%
10Bendigo VIC$1,770$4351.224.6%$5,00014.15.4%
11Wagga Wagga NSW$1,836$4501.224.5%$5,150145.4%
12Albury-Wodonga NSW$1,836$4501.224.5%$5,150145.4%
13Mildura VIC$1,770$4351.224.6%$5,05014.35.5%
14Shepparton VIC$1,770$4401.224.9%$5,10014.45.5%
15Coffs Harbour NSW$1,836$4551.224.8%$5,30014.45.6%
16Bunbury WA$1,926$4651.224.1%$5,35013.95.3%
17Melbourne VIC$2,112$5301.325.1%$6,10014.45.6%
18Adelaide SA$2,031$5151.325.4%$5,95014.65.6%
19Geelong VIC$1,870$5001.326.7%$5,85015.66%
20Hobart TAS$1,912$5151.326.9%$5,90015.45.9%
21Townsville QLD$1,848$4651.325.2%$5,40014.65.6%
22Ballarat VIC$1,770$4451.325.1%$5,15014.55.6%
23Mackay QLD$1,749$4651.326.6%$5,35015.35.9%
24Rockhampton QLD$1,749$4501.325.7%$5,250155.8%
25Bundaberg QLD$1,749$4451.325.4%$5,15014.75.7%
26Hervey Bay QLD$1,749$4451.325.4%$5,15014.75.7%
27Port Macquarie NSW$1,836$4601.325%$5,35014.65.6%
28Gold Coast QLD$1,848$5301.428.7%$6,15016.66.4%
29Sunshine Coast QLD$1,848$5101.427.6%$5,900166.1%
30Launceston TAS$1,602$4501.428.1%$5,25016.46.3%

Ranked most to least affordable by routine-care basket as a share of average local earnings. Income figures are ABS state AWOTE (Nov 2025) with a metro/regional modifier; they are city estimates, not exact city-level measurements. Lower is more affordable.

Australian adult dental care sits almost entirely outside Medicare, and no regulated fee schedule exists. Every practice sets its own prices, so the same treatment can cost noticeably more in one city than another. This index sets out estimated 2026 fee ranges for 28 common dental treatments across the 30 largest cities in Australia — a single reference for what dental work actually costs, where it costs more, and where it costs less.

Use the filter and sort controls on the table below to compare any treatment across all 30 cities, or to pull up every price for a single city.

Key facts: dental costs in Australia, 2026

  • A dental check-up costs $60-$100 nationally (ADA item 011); a full check-up, clean and X-rays package costs $200-$350.
  • A composite filling costs $150-$350 depending on the number of surfaces.
  • A crown costs $1,200-$2,300; a root canal costs $800-$2,400 depending on the tooth.
  • A single dental implant costs $4,100-$7,300 all-inclusive; All-on-4 costs $20,000-$35,000 per arch.
  • The most expensive cities are Sydney, Gold Coast, Melbourne and Perth (about 10-12% above the national average).
  • The cheapest cities are Bendigo, Mildura, Shepparton and Ballarat (about 7-9% below the national average).
  • Dental fees vary less than the general cost of living, but can differ by up to 40% between the cheapest regional and dearest metropolitan practice on premium items.
  • On affordability (cost measured against local income), Canberra is the most affordable city for dental care and Launceston the least. A single implant costs about 13 days of average earnings in Canberra versus 16 days in Launceston.
  • The Gold Coast is the costliest city for dental fees yet one of the least affordable, because local incomes are well below Sydney and Melbourne while fees are not.

Dental affordability: cost versus local income

A price tag alone does not tell you whether dental care is affordable. A $500 check-up-and-clean basket is a smaller burden in a high-earning city than in a lower-earning one, even if the dollar figure is identical. The affordability index on this page measures each treatment against average local earnings, so cities are ranked by how hard the cost actually bites — not just by the sticker price.

Two intuitive measures are used: days of average earnings needed to pay for a treatment, and the treatment’s cost as a share of weekly or annual income. A representative routine-care basket (one check-up, clean and X-rays plus one single-surface filling) anchors the ranking; a single dental implant is shown as the big-ticket reference.

The headline finding is that the most expensive cities are not always the least affordable. Sydney and Perth have high fees but also high incomes, so routine care lands near the national middle on affordability. The Gold Coast, by contrast, combines top-tier fees with regional-level incomes, making it one of the least affordable cities despite being a major centre.

How to read the price index

Each cell shows the estimated fee range for one treatment in one city. Ranges are bands, not single prices, because real fees depend on the clinic, the complexity of the case, the materials chosen, and whether additional work (a build-up before a crown, bone grafting before an implant) is needed.

Treatments are grouped into six categories — preventive and diagnostic, fillings and restorative, endodontics and surgery, implants and prosthetics, cosmetic and orthodontic, and emergency. ADA item numbers are shown where a single dominant item applies, so you can cross-check any figure against your own quote or your health fund’s schedule.

Methodology: how these figures are built

This index is derived, transparent and reproducible — not a scrape of clinic advertising.

  1. National fee bands. For each treatment a national low-to-high band is set against its Australian Dental Association (ADA) item number. These bands reflect the item-numbered structure of the ADA Dental Fees Survey and the public fee guides Australian clinics publish. The midpoint of each band is the national reference fee.

  2. City fee index. Dental fees track practice overheads — commercial rent, clinical and administrative wages, and laboratory fees — which correlate with, but vary less than, the general cost of living. Each city’s index is derived from published cost-of-living baskets (cross-checked across livingcost.org, Numbeo and the ABS Selected Living Cost Indexes), normalised so the 30-city average equals 1.00, then damped by a factor of 0.40 so that dental fees move only about 40% as far as the full cost-of-living spread. The result is clamped to a range of 0.90 to 1.12 — fees vary roughly plus or minus 11% by city, consistent with the ADA’s observation that premium-item fees can differ by up to 40% between the cheapest and dearest practices nationally.

  3. Per-city ranges. Each city’s low and high are the national band multiplied by that city’s index, rounded to realistic quote increments.

  4. Affordability (cost versus income). Average earnings for each city are anchored to the ABS Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings for that city’s state (full-time adults, November 2025), then adjusted for the documented metro/regional income gap — capital cities sit slightly above their state figure and regional centres below it, consistent with ABS guidance that capitals pay roughly 10-20% more than regional areas for like roles. Affordability is then the midpoint treatment cost divided by daily earnings (a five-day week) to give “days of average earnings”, and divided by weekly or annual earnings to give the income-share figures. Cities are ranked most-to-least affordable on the routine-care basket. These income figures are state-anchored city estimates, not exact city-level measurements.

Limitations. Every figure is an estimated market range, not a quote from any named clinic, and any individual practice can sit outside these bands. Prices exclude private health insurance rebates and assume no unusual complications. Always confirm the exact fee with the treating practice before booking. This page is published by the Townsville Dental Directory, an independent directory funded by display advertising only; it sells no treatment and takes no clinic referral fees.

Sources and references

  • Australian Dental Association — Dental Fees Survey (item-numbered average fees) and Policy Statement 6.26 on dental fees.
  • Australian Bureau of Statistics — Selected Living Cost Indexes, Australia.
  • Australian Bureau of Statistics — Average Weekly Earnings, Australia (Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings by state, November 2025), used for the affordability index.
  • Published cost-of-living baskets: livingcost.org and Numbeo Australia city data.
  • Townsville Dental Directory clinic dataset and the Townsville 2026 dental price guide.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much does a dental check-up cost in Australia in 2026?

A standard dental examination (ADA item 011) costs $60-$100 across most Australian private practices in 2026. A combined check-up, scale and clean with two bitewing X-rays typically costs $200-$350. Fees sit at the higher end in Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast (around 10-12% above the national average) and at the lower end in regional cities such as Bendigo, Ballarat and Cairns (around 7-9% below average).

How much does a dental filling cost in Australia?

A single-surface composite (tooth-coloured) filling (ADA item 511) costs approximately $150-$250 in Australia. A two-or-more-surface filling (item 521 and above) typically ranges $200-$350. Capital-city practices charge toward the top of these bands; regional clinics charge toward the bottom.

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

A porcelain or zirconia crown (ADA item 613) costs approximately $1,200-$2,100 nationally, with most metropolitan practices quoting $1,500-$2,300. The final price depends on the material, the tooth location, and whether a core build-up or root canal is required first.

How much does a dental implant cost in Australia?

A single dental implant in Australia costs $4,100-$7,300 all-inclusive (implant, abutment and crown) in 2026, with a national reference range of $4,500-$6,500. Full-arch All-on-4 restorations cost $20,000-$35,000 per arch. Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast sit at the top of the range; regional cities are 8-9% cheaper.

Which Australian cities have the cheapest dental treatment?

Regional Victorian cities — Bendigo, Mildura, Shepparton and Ballarat — have the lowest dental fees in this index, running roughly 7-9% below the national average. Other affordable cities include Cairns, Wollongong, Bundaberg and Wagga Wagga. The most expensive cities are Sydney, the Gold Coast, Melbourne and Perth, which run 10-12% above the national average because dental fees track local practice overheads such as commercial rent and wages.

Why do dental prices vary between Australian cities?

Dental fees are set by each individual practice — Australia has no regulated dental fee schedule. The main driver of geographic variation is practice overhead: commercial rent, clinical and administrative wages, and laboratory costs, all of which are higher in capital cities. Dental fees vary less than the general cost of living, but the Australian Dental Association notes procedure fees can differ by up to 40% between the cheapest regional and the dearest metropolitan practices on premium items such as crowns and implants.

Does Medicare or private health insurance cover dental costs in Australia?

Adult dental care is almost entirely outside Medicare. Exceptions are the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (up to $1,132 over two years for eligible children) and limited public dental services for concession-card holders. Most adults pay privately or use private health insurance extras cover, which typically rebates a portion of general dental up to an annual limit of $500-$1,500 per person. The gap fee — the difference between the clinic's fee and the rebate — is common at most practices.

Which Australian city has the most affordable dental care relative to income?

Measured against average local earnings, Canberra has the most affordable dental care of the 30 cities in this index. A routine check-up, clean and filling costs roughly 1.1 days of average local earnings there, and a single dental implant about 13 days (around 5% of annual income), because Canberra has the highest average earnings in the country. Sydney, Perth and Brisbane also rank well on affordability despite higher fees, because incomes there are high. The least affordable cities are Launceston, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast.

Why is the Gold Coast one of the least affordable cities for dental care?

The Gold Coast has some of the highest dental fees in Australia — around 12% above the national average — but average local incomes are closer to regional Queensland levels than to Sydney or Melbourne. Because affordability is cost measured against income, the combination of high fees and moderate earnings means a single implant on the Gold Coast costs about 16-17 days of average local earnings, among the highest in the country, even though it is a large metropolitan centre.

How is dental affordability calculated on this page?

Affordability compares the cost of treatment to average local earnings. Income is the ABS Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings for each city's state (full-time adults, November 2025), adjusted up for capital cities and down for regional centres to reflect the documented metro/regional pay gap. Each treatment's midpoint cost is then divided by daily earnings (a five-day week) to give 'days of average earnings', and by weekly or annual earnings to give the income-share figures. Cities are ranked on a routine-care basket of a check-up, clean, X-rays and one filling. Lower means more affordable.

How accurate is this dental price index?

Every figure is an estimated market range, not a quote from any specific clinic. National bands are anchored to ADA item numbers and published Australian fee guides; per-city ranges apply a cost-of-living index that is damped (dental fees move about 40% as much as the full cost-of-living spread) and clamped to roughly plus or minus 11%. Always confirm the exact fee with the treating practice. Individual clinics can and do sit outside these bands.

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