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Ready to brighten your dental care routine?
We can help you find a better deal on your Extras cover
Compare now, sit back & save money (we’ll even do the paperwork)
Our dedicated Health Insurance experts are here to help. Updated 1 May 2026.
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Dental insurance helps cover the cost of dental treatments, such as check-ups, cleanings, fillings and more. It reduces out-of-pocket expenses to make dental care more affordable. In Australia, dental insurance is often included as part of an Extras health insurance policy. This provides coverage for various dental services based on the level of cover you choose.
Extras cover typically comes with limits on how much you can claim each year, and some services may only be partially covered. For example, an Extras policy might cover general dental services like cleanings and check-ups, but you may only receive 60% of the cost back or have an annual claim limit, such as $750.
Extras policies with dental come in different levels, from basic to top, with different benefits, limits and premiums depending on what policy you choose. While most dental insurance falls under Extras cover, you might be able to claim for dental procedures carried out in a hospital under your Hospital cover. This could include accommodation and operating theatre fees for the likes of dental surgery for implants or wisdom teeth removal.
Here’s a general overview of what’s typically covered on Extras:
This usually includes exams to check for cavities and gum disease, as well as preventative treatments like check-ups, cleanings and polishes. General dental may also cover plaque removal, some tooth extractions, fillings and x-rays. While most Extras policies include general dental, coverage may be limited on Basic and Bronze plans. Waiting periods of two months normally apply, meaning you won’t be able to make a claim straight away.
Major dental covers more complex procedures, such as endodontics (root fillings) and treatment for periodontitis (gum disease). It may also include crowns, bridges, dentures, major restorative fillings and oral appliances for sleep apnoea. Major dental coverage is typically available on top-level Extras policies and may be particularly beneficial for seniors. 12-month waiting periods usually apply for major dental treatment.
Orthodontics is a type of specialist dental care that corrects the alignment of teeth using appliances such as bands, braces and clear aligners. Similar to major dental, orthodontics is generally only available with higher levels of Extras cover and may be worth considering if you are purchasing family cover or single-parent health cover. Keep in mind that orthodontic treatment usually comes with a 12-month waiting period.
In 2025, our Money.com.au database found that 85.13% of health insurance customers chose general dental when reviewing their dental cover options, while 53.67% also requested major dental.
Chris Whitelaw, General Manager - Health Insurance at Money.com.au
“Most health insurers have agreements with specific care providers, which means you may not receive the full benefits of your coverage if the dental practice you choose isn’t affiliated with your insurer. Insurers usually have a network of healthcare providers, so it’s a good idea to check which ones they partner with before scheduling an appointment.”
Chris Whitelaw, General Manager - Health Insurance at Money.com.au
Having dental cover can be a great way to maintain your oral health without facing high out-of-pocket expenses. Regular check-ups and cleanings help identify problems early, potentially saving you from more expensive treatments later.
A recent Money.com.au survey found 52% of Australians chose Extras cover for dental check-ups and cleans, the most popular reason. This was far higher than taking out cover for optical care (26%) or physiotherapy and chiropractic treatments (14%). By generation, 59% of baby boomers chose Extras for dental, followed by 53% of Gen X, 50% of Millennials, and 45% of Gen Z.
The growing focus on dental care is reflected in the numbers, with private health insurance subsidising over 50 million dental services in 2022-23, according to the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA).
Data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) also revealed that 52% of Australians aged 15 and over visited a dental professional in 2022-23. However, the cost of dental services can vary significantly, even for common procedures, which is why having private dental cover can help manage gap expenses. For example:
Chris Whitelaw, General Manager - Health Insurance at Money.com.au
“Preventive dental check-ups can help you stay ahead of serious health issues. Many health insurers offer at least one free scale and clean with their preferred providers each year, and some even cover multiple visits. Taking advantage of this service is a great way to protect your teeth while getting more value from your Extras health insurance. In fact, a recent Money.com.au survey found that 24% of people ranked routine dental care as the top health or wellbeing service they’d invest more in.”
Chris Whitelaw, General Manager - Health Insurance at Money.com.au
The cost of dental insurance in Australia depends on factors such as your level of coverage, health fund and the services included in your Extras policy. On average, you can expect to pay anywhere from $20 to $280 per month for Extras, which includes dental cover.
A basic policy usually covers just one dental check-up per year, while a top-level policy offers a wider range of benefits, including major dental work and orthodontics, along with higher annual limits and sublimits.
However, having dental cover doesn’t always mean you won’t face out-of-pocket expenses.
According to the latest numbers from Australia’s private health data agency, AIHW, the costs charged to policyholders, the rebates provided and gap payments vary across each state. The chart below breaks down the median charge, benefit paid and out-of-pocket cost for a comprehensive oral examination in 2021-22.
We recently asked Australians if they’ve ever switched dentists to take advantage of no-gap dental benefits (dental insurance that fully covers treatment with no out-of-pocket costs).
Our survey found:
Dental insurance
Medicare
Here are some key points to consider when choosing the best dental insurance in Australia:
Look at the range of dental services included in the policy, such as general/preventative care (check-ups, cleanings, fillings), major dental (bridges, crowns, root canals), and orthodontics (braces, aligners). Ensure the cover matches your dental care needs and budget, whether you want basic coverage or more extensive treatment options.
Check the annual limits on claims for dental services. Some policies may have higher limits and sublimits for major procedures, while others may focus more on preventative care. Compare how much you can claim each year and whether these limits meet yours or your family’s needs.
Most health funds have a network of preferred dentists and oral specialists, which can offer higher rebates or reduced out-of-pocket costs. If you already have a preferred dentist, confirm if they are part of the health fund’s network before switching.
Most Extras policies have waiting periods. For general and preventative dental, you’ll typically wait two months, while major and orthodontic treatments usually have a 12-month waiting period. If you’re switching to the same or lower level of cover and have already served the waiting periods with your previous provider, they may be waived. Some funds also offer dental cover with no waiting periods for general dental treatments to attract new customers.
Many health funds offer sign-up deals and perks to encourage new eligible customers to switch. These offers can include credits, cashback, waiting periods on Extras waived, and even gift cards. Additionally, some providers offer multi-policy discounts if you bundle your health cover with travel insurance, car insurance or home insurance.
To check what’s included in your dental cover, start by looking at your policy’s Product Disclosure Statement (PDS). This document will outline exactly what treatments and services are covered, including any limits, sublimits, exclusions and waiting periods.
It’s a good idea to review them carefully so you know what to expect and can make the most of your dental insurance. If you’re still unsure, don’t hesitate to reach out to your insurer for clarification.
Dental benefits are typically paid in one of two ways: percentage-based or set benefits.
With percentage benefits, your health insurer will cover a certain percentage of your treatment bill, up to your annual limit. For example, they might cover 60% of the cost of a filling or clean, but you’ll need to pay the rest.
On the other hand, set benefits work differently. With these, you’ll get a fixed amount back for eligible treatments, regardless of what your dentist charges. For example, for a check-up or clean, your insurer might reimburse you a set amount of $60, whether your dentist charges a bit more or less.
Deciding if private dental insurance is right for you depends on your needs and what matters most when it comes to your dental health. If you’re the type of person who values regular check-ups and wants to keep treatment costs manageable, private dental cover could be a great fit.
For families, especially those with kids, private cover that includes orthodontics can be a game-changer as braces can get pricey, and insurance can help ease that burden. If you’re someone who takes pride in your smile and wants to stay ahead with preventative care like cleanings, fillings, or even teeth whitening, private dental insurance can help you keep those treatments affordable.
While it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of health insurance, private dental cover offers more flexibility and fewer surprises when it comes to dental care.
We recently surveyed over 1,000 Australians, uncovering some interesting dental health statistics:
If you're wondering whether Medicare will cover your dental costs, the short answer is no. However, public dental services are available through state and territory health departments for eligible individuals, including children and adults, according to Healthdirect.gov.au. To access these services, adults typically need to have a Health Care Card or a Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card.
Eligibility rules vary by location, and while public dental care can include emergency treatments and specialist referrals like orthodontics, the waiting times can be lengthy, sometimes over a year. For detailed information on the specific dental services available in your area, it's best to check your local state or territory health department’s website.
Here are the relevant links:
It's worth noting that non-residents are unlikely to be eligible for any dental services provided through the public system. If you want to be covered for dental while visiting Australia on a visa, you will need a high level of Overseas Visitor Health Cover.
Yes, health funds occasionally waive certain waiting periods on Extras cover. These offers usually apply to two or six-month waiting periods for benefits like general dental. Our analysis shows that most of these deals are available to those who take out combined Hospital and Extras cover, rather than a standalone Extras policy.
How often you can claim on your dental cover depends on your policy and what the cover limits specifically for dental are. Usually this will be a dollar-based limit rather than specifying how many times you can claim. Remember too that you may not be able to claim 100% of the cost of dental care. Instead your insurer will pay a percentage of the cost. If you use a dentist from your insurance preferred network you may be able to claim a higher benefit percentage of the cost.
A recent Money.com.au survey found that 24% of Australians would invest more in their dental care if they could afford it. Having right dental insurance policy could mean being able to visit the dentist more often.
Not as standard. Most dental Extras come with a waiting period – typically two months for general dental and 12 months for major dental or orthodontics. However, some insurers will waive the shorter wait periods on Extras cover (including dental) as a sign up incentive to new customers who switch their policy to them.
You can still go to a dentist even if they are not in your insurer’s network. But you may get a lower rebate or have to pay more out-of-pocket. Insurers usually offer better benefits with preferred providers.
Most dental policies do not cover teeth whitening, or other cosmetic treatments. That said, it may be covered under some of the highest-level Extras policies. These policies are typically quote expensive.
Yes, most family and single-parent policies include dental cover for children. Some even include orthodontics for teens, depending on the policy.
Yes, policies set annual limits for general, major and orthodontic dental. Once you hit your limit, you’ll have to pay the full cost until the new policy year. Depending on the policy, the dental limit may either be per person covered by the policy or an overall limit.
If you’ve got major dental included in your Extras policy, a root canal may be covered. Just be aware of waiting periods (usually 12 months) and annual limits.
Generally, no. Australian health insurers only pay benefits for treatments done in Australia by registered providers. If you are overseas and need emergency dental work done, you may be covered if you have an appropriate level of travel insurance.
Your health insurance will only cover you if orthodontics is included in your cover (it is not covered by dental cover as standard). Even then, the benefit is often capped over multiple years (or the lifetime of your policy), not just annually.
Yes, major dental cover often includes dentures, but there may be specific limits or lifetime caps depending on the insurer.
They can be, if your policy includes orthodontics. There’s usually a 12-month waiting period and a lifetime limit that applies.
General dental covers routine care like check-ups and cleans, while major dental is for complex work like root canals, crowns or bridges. General dental is included in most Extras policies, but you’ll probably need a higher level of cover to get major dental included.
Yes you can. You can take out an Extras-only policy that includes either general or major dental or both.
Not always. If you're switching to a similar level of Extras cover, many funds will recognise the waiting periods you’ve already served.
Most do, but not all have HICAPS (the on-the-spot claiming machine). If that’s the case you may need to claim the benefit from your insurer after you’ve paid the dentist. Check with your dentist first, or ask your insurer for a list of partnered providers.
Insurers only pay a portion of your dental bill, either a set benefit or a percentage. The difference between that and what your dentist charges is the gap you’ll pay.
In most cases annual dental claim limits don’t roll over. If you don’t use them, you lose them. That’s why it can pay to get regular check-ups.
Money.com.au research shows that only 36% of Aussies visit the dentist at least once a year, which suggests a lot of people may not be getting full value from their dental health insurance if they have it.
Jared Mullane is a finance writer with more than a decade of experience at some of Australia’s biggest finance and consumer brands. His areas of expertise include energy, home loans, personal finance and insurance. Jared is qualified with a Certificate IV in Finance and Mortgage Broking (FNS40821).
Sean Callery is the Editor of Money.com.au. He has over 15 years of international experience. He is qualified with a Certificate IV in Finance and Mortgage Broking (FNS40821) and is compliant to provide general advice in Tier 1 General Insurance (RG 146) products.
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