Australian Dental & Optical Cost Guide — Not Covered by Medicare, Extras Cover, Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS)

Dental & Optical Costs — Areas Medicare Doesn't Cover, and How to Reduce Them

In Australia, dental treatment and glasses are barely covered by Medicare, making them a classic area where people get caught off guard by high bills without preparation. This is general information explaining what is and isn't covered, and how to reduce the burden using private Extras cover, the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, and public dental.

This article is general information for foreigners living in Australia and is not medical, dental, insurance, or tax advice. Amounts, eligibility requirements, program names, and phone numbers change frequently and vary by store and clinic, so before making any actual decision always re-check directly on the official sites below.

Medicare barely covers dental

The point most often missed

This is what surprises foreigners most when they start living in Australia. Medicare does not, as a rule, cover general dental treatment for adults (check-ups, scaling, fillings, extractions, root canals and so on). In other words, dental costs must mostly be paid out of pocket or covered by private insurance.

However, the following two cases do have exceptional public support.

Children (0–17): If the family receives certain government payments, the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) covers part or all of basic dental costs (see section 4 below).
Low-income / concession card holders: If you hold a Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card and the like, you may be able to use public dental services run by your state (see section 5 below). However, wait times can be long.

Optical items such as glasses and contact lenses are likewise not covered by Medicare (an ophthalmologist's medical treatment is partly separate). So to reduce dental and glasses costs, the starting point is to first check whether you have private Extras cover and whether you or your family qualify for public support.

How much do dental and glasses cost?

The amounts below are rough estimates for reference only. Australian dental and glasses costs vary greatly by clinic, store, area, and treatment complexity, and there is no official fixed price list. For exact costs, always get a quote before treatment from the relevant clinic.

It helps to understand the general order of cost when budgeting.

Basic care: Regular check-ups, scale and clean, and x-rays are relatively inexpensive.
Fillings: This varies with the extent of the decay and the material used.
Extraction, root canal, crown: These items cost considerably more. A root canal plus crown in particular adds up to a heavy burden.
Implants and orthodontics: The most expensive areas, commonly running into thousands of dollars.

Compare quotes from several clinics, and before any major treatment it's wise to get a written treatment plan and itemised costs. Some clinics offer payment plans, so it's worth asking.

Private Extras cover — partial rebate on dental and glasses costs

The most common way to reduce dental and glasses costs is the Extras cover (general/everyday treatment cover, also called 'extras' or 'ancillary') of private health insurance. It is separate from hospital cover and rebates part of everyday treatments such as dental, glasses, and physiotherapy.

It covers only part, not the full amount. For example, it may rebate only a certain percentage of the fee (e.g. 50%), or there is often an annual limit set per item.
It is generally split into routine (basic) dental (check-ups, x-rays, scaling, simple fillings) and major dental (complex fillings, crowns, dentures, implants); major dental usually has a lower or separate limit.
Many Extras products also cover glasses and contact lenses under the 'optical' item.

Before joining, compare the cover limits and rebate percentages across products for the items you often need (e.g. regular check-ups vs major treatment). You can compare objectively on the government comparison site privatehealth.gov.au.

You may not be able to claim immediately on joining. Extras cover usually has a waiting period after you join, so it often takes several months for basic dental and around a year for major dental before you can claim. 'I need major treatment, so I'll join now and claim right away' is mostly not possible, so the key is to arrange insurance in advance.

Free children's dental — the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS)

If you have children, this is a program you must check. The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) covers basic dental costs for eligible children up to a set limit.

Limit: Up to about $1,158 over 2 calendar years per child (as of 2026 — indexed to inflation each 1 January). If costs are within the limit, treatment may be received with no out-of-pocket payment.
Eligible age: 0–17 years (eligible if the child is this age on any day during the relevant year).
Where to use it: It can be used at general (private) dental clinics or public dental that bill CDBS. When booking, first confirm 'whether it is billed through CDBS'.

Eligibility

The child must meet all of the following.

Be enrolled in Medicare.
The family (or the child) must receive a certain government payment. A typical example is Family Tax Benefit Part A.

Eligibility is assessed at the start of each year and is valid for that year. You can check your eligibility in your Services Australia (Medicare) account or by enquiring.

What is and isn't covered

Covered: Basic dental services such as examinations, x-rays, scale and clean, fissure sealing, fillings, root canals, and extractions.

Not covered: Orthodontics, cosmetic treatment, and dental services performed in hospital are excluded.

Public dental — cheap if you qualify

If you are on a low income or hold a concession card, you may be able to use the public dental clinics run by states and territories. The cost is free or much cheaper.

Adult eligibility: Generally holders of a Health Care Card or Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card are eligible. The specific eligibility and scope differ by state.
Children: Children eligible for the CDBS above can also use the benefit at public dental.
Applying: Contact your state's health department or a local public dental clinic directly to register and book.

Wait times can be long. For non-emergency general care, the wait at public dental can be over a year. If pain is severe or it is an emergency, there are separate priority/emergency pathways, so explain your situation accurately to the clinic.

Glasses & optical costs

Eye test

A basic eye test by an optical store or optometrist is sometimes partly covered by Medicare, so many stores offer 'bulk-bill' eye tests (at no extra cost). When booking, check in advance whether the test incurs an additional fee. (An ophthalmologist's medical treatment and surgery are a separate area.)

Glasses & contact lenses

Frames, lenses, and contact lenses are paid out of pocket, and prices vary greatly by store, brand, and lens options. Compare the prices and promotions of large chains like OPSM and Specsavers with local optical stores.

If you have the 'optical' item under private Extras cover, you can get part of your glasses and lens costs rebated (an annual limit applies).
Some stores run cheaper packages or '2-for-1' promotions, so after getting your prescription you can save money by comparing several places.

Dental emergencies — what about nights and weekends?

If a dental emergency arises — sudden severe toothache, a broken tooth, a lost filling/crown, bleeding and so on — respond in the following order.

First, contact your usual (or nearest) dentist to ask whether an emergency appointment is available. Many clinics keep same-day or priority slots.
If you are eligible for public dental, emergencies may be given priority separately from the regular queue.
If you're unsure where to go, you can get guidance from the 24-hour health advice line healthdirect 1800 022 222.

For life-threatening emergencies, call 000

Life-threatening situations — severe swelling of the face or neck, difficulty breathing, bleeding that won't stop, loss of consciousness from injury and so on — call 000 (triple zero) immediately or go to a hospital emergency department, not a dentist. Do not hesitate.

Official source links

The amounts, eligibility requirements, program names, and phone numbers above may change. Before any actual decision, always re-check the latest information on each official site.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is dental treatment free through Medicare too?▾

No. General dental treatment for adults (check-ups, fillings, extractions, root canals and so on) is, as a rule, not covered by Medicare and is paid out of pocket. As an exception, public support is available only to eligible children (CDBS) and concession card holders (public dental). Re-check the exact scope on official sites such as healthdirect.

If I join insurance now, can I get a dental rebate right away?▾

Mostly not. Extras cover has a waiting period after joining, so it often takes several months for basic dental and around a year for major dental such as crowns and implants before you can claim. So it's best to arrange insurance in advance, before you need major treatment. Check the exact waiting period in the policy terms of the product you join.

Who can get the free children's dental benefit (CDBS)?▾

Children aged 0–17 who are enrolled in Medicare and whose family receives a certain government payment such as Family Tax Benefit Part A are eligible. The limit is about $1,158 over 2 calendar years per child (as of 2026, changes each January) and can be used for basic dental services. Check your eligibility with Services Australia (Medicare).

How long do you have to wait for public dental?▾

For non-emergency general care, the wait can be over a year. However, if pain is severe or it is an emergency, there are separate priority/emergency pathways, so explain your situation accurately to the clinic. For accurate eligibility and wait status, re-check with the health department of the state where you live.