This is a question about value, and I reckon you’re right to wonder whether you’re getting a fair deal. As a dentist at Townsville Dental Clinic who quotes filling prices to North Queensland patients every day, I can give you a straight answer about whether $200 for four fillings represents good value or if you should be concerned.
Our Dentist’s Direct Answer
“At $50 per filling, that’s actually very reasonable by Australian standards and probably represents small to medium sized composite fillings. Here at Townsville Dental Clinic, standard composite fillings typically range from $180 to $350 per tooth depending on size and complexity, so $200 for four teeth is well below what most Townsville patients pay. That price suggests either very small fillings, a promotional rate, health fund discounts, or potentially lower quality materials or rushed work. It’s worth asking exactly what you’re getting for that price.”
Understanding Typical Filling Costs in Australia
To give you proper context, standard composite (tooth colored) fillings in Townsville typically cost $180 to $350 per tooth. Small fillings on front teeth are at the lower end, while large fillings on back molars are at the higher end. Amalgam (silver) fillings are usually a bit cheaper, around $150 to $280 per tooth.
So if you’re being quoted $200 total for four fillings, that works out to $50 per filling, which is significantly below normal Australian pricing. This immediately raises some questions about what exactly you’re getting. It could be legitimate, but it’s worth understanding why the price is so low.
In my years at Townsville Dental Clinic, I’ve learned that unusually low prices usually mean one of a few things: very small simple fillings, promotional pricing to attract new patients, health fund gap payments rather than total costs, or corners being cut somewhere in materials or time spent.
The Australian Dental Association publishes fee guidelines, and $50 fillings are well below these recommendations. That doesn’t automatically mean poor quality, but it does warrant asking questions.
What Affects Filling Costs
The size of the cavity makes a huge difference to pricing. A tiny filling on one surface of a tooth takes 15 to 20 minutes and uses minimal material, so charging $150 to $180 is reasonable. A large filling covering three surfaces of a molar takes 45 minutes to an hour and uses considerably more material, justifying $300 to $350.
The location matters too. Front teeth are generally easier to fill and more straightforward, so they cost less. Back molars are harder to access, need to withstand heavy chewing forces, and take longer to fill properly, so they cost more.
Material choice affects price. Composite resin (tooth colored) fillings are more expensive than amalgam (silver) but look natural and bond to the tooth. Glass ionomer fillings are cheaper but less durable. At $50 per filling, you’re probably not getting premium composite materials.
The dentist’s experience and overheads play a role. A newly graduated dentist might charge less than someone with 20 years experience. City practices with higher rent costs more than regional clinics. At Townsville Dental Clinic, we balance competitive pricing with quality materials and experienced care.
Red Flags to Watch For
If you’re being quoted $200 for four fillings, you need to ask some specific questions. Are these genuinely four separate cavities requiring four individual fillings, or could the dentist be counting surfaces? Sometimes less ethical dentists will quote per surface rather than per tooth to make pricing seem lower.
Make sure you understand what’s included. Does the $200 cover the examination, x-rays, and anaesthetic, or are those extra? Sometimes quotes are just for the filling procedure itself, and all the other costs get added on top. At Townsville Dental Clinic, we give patients itemized quotes so there are no surprises.
Ask about the filling material. If they’re using older amalgam instead of modern composite, or lower grade materials, that explains the cheaper price. There’s nothing wrong with amalgam for back teeth if you don’t mind the silver appearance, but you should know what you’re getting.
Find out how long is allocated for your appointment. Quality fillings take time to do properly. If they’re rushing through four fillings in 30 minutes, the work quality will suffer. Proper fillings need adequate time for tooth preparation, moisture control, material placement, and finishing.
In my experience with North Queensland patients, deals that seem too good to be true often have catches. It might be a loss leader to get you in the door, with the expectation you’ll need more expensive treatments. Or it might be genuinely substandard work.
When Low Prices Make Sense
To be fair, there are legitimate reasons you might be quoted $200 for four fillings. If you have private health insurance with good dental coverage, your gap payment might be $200 while the total cost to the health fund is considerably more. Always check whether a quote is the gap fee or the total fee.
New patient promotions or special offers sometimes include discounted rates on basic treatments like fillings. Dental schools and teaching clinics charge much less because students do the work under supervision. The quality can be excellent, but appointments take longer.
Some practices run community service days or bulk billing arrangements with certain health funds. These are usually advertised clearly and represent the practice giving back to the community rather than cutting corners.
If your fillings are genuinely tiny (just catching early decay), the work might be simple enough that $50 per tooth is reasonable. Early intervention when cavities are small is always better than waiting until they’re large and expensive.
What You Should Actually Pay
For good quality dental fillings in Townsville, expect to pay $150 to $200 for small simple fillings, $200 to $280 for medium fillings, and $280 to $350 for large complex fillings. This is for composite (tooth colored) materials done properly with adequate time and care.
At Townsville Dental Clinic, we charge within this range depending on the specifics of each case. We use quality materials, take the time to do things right, and provide itemized quotes upfront. Most patients with private health insurance get significant rebates, reducing their out of pocket costs.
If you’re paying cash without insurance, some practices offer modest discounts. But be wary of prices that seem dramatically below market rates without clear explanation.
The bottom line is that $200 for four fillings is unusually cheap. It might be legitimate, but you owe it to yourself to understand exactly what you’re getting before proceeding. Ask detailed questions about materials, appointment length, what’s included, and whether this is a gap fee or total cost.
If you’d like a second opinion or want to compare quotes, pop into Townsville Dental Clinic and we’ll give you an honest assessment of what your fillings should actually cost.
