Costs, price factors and 2026 schemes
ADA dental item numbers explained: how to read a dental quote in Australia
What ADA item numbers mean, the codes you will see on implant, crown and denture quotes, and how to use them to compare quotes and get a health fund benefit estimate.
ADA item numbers are three-digit codes from the Australian Schedule of Dental Services and Glossary, published by the Australian Dental Association. Each code describes one dental service (for example 012 is a periodic oral examination, 688 is insertion of a one-stage endosseous implant, and 671 is a non-metallic crown attached to an implant). Dentists use them on treatment plans and invoices, and health funds use them to decide benefits. The codes describe what is done, not what it costs: every practice sets its own fee for each item. The current edition is the thirteenth, published in 2022. If you can read the item numbers on a quote, you can compare two quotes properly and ask your fund exactly what it will pay. This guide is part of the implant cost overview.
How the numbering works
The first digit groups services by type:
| First digit | Group | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Diagnostic services | 011 comprehensive oral examination, 012 periodic oral examination, 013 limited examination, 014 consultation, 022 intraoral radiograph, 026 cone beam CT scan acquisition, 037 panoramic radiograph |
| 1 | Preventive, prophylactic and bleaching | 111 removal of plaque and/or stain, 114 removal of calculus (first appointment), 115 subsequent appointment, 121 topical remineralisation agents, 118 external bleaching |
| 2 | Periodontics | 250 active non-surgical periodontal therapy (per quadrant), 243 osseous graft (per tooth or implant), 246 and 247 maxillary sinus augmentation, 233 surgical treatment of peri-implant disease |
| 3 | Oral surgery | 311 removal of a tooth, 314 sectional removal, 322 and 324 surgical removal, 393 surgery involving the maxillary antrum |
| 4 | Endodontics | 415 and 416 root canal preparation, 417 and 418 root canal obturation |
| 5 | Restorative services | 531, 532, 533 adhesive (tooth-coloured) restorations on posterior teeth by number of surfaces |
| 6 | Prosthodontics: crowns, bridges and implants | 613 ceramic crown, 615 veneered crown, 618 metallic crown, 625 post and core, 643 bridge pontic, 661 implant abutment, 671–673 implant crowns, 684 and 688 implant insertion, 691 second-stage surgery |
| 7 | Prosthodontics: dentures and related services | 711 complete upper denture, 712 complete lower denture, 719 complete upper and lower, 721 and 722 partial resin dentures, 727 and 728 partial dentures with metal frame, 743 reline |
| 8 | Orthodontics | Braces, aligners, retainers |
| 9 | General services | 941 local anaesthesia, 942 intravenous sedation (per 30 minutes), 915 after-hours callout |
The full descriptions are in the ADA's published schedule. Descriptions matter: "per tooth", "per implant", "per arch" and "per appointment" tell you how a line should multiply.
The implant codes in detail
| Item | Description (ADA schedule) | What to check on a quote |
|---|---|---|
| 026 | Cone Beam Computed Tomography: scan acquisition, per appointment | Is the analysis (087–091) charged separately? |
| 678 | Diagnostic template | Not every case needs one |
| 679 | Surgical implant guide | Guides are optional in some cases; ask why it is planned |
| 684 | Insertion of the first stage of a two-stage endosseous implant, per implant | Usually followed later by 691 |
| 688 | Insertion of a one-stage endosseous implant, per implant | No separate 691 |
| 687 | Insertion of a mini-implant, per implant | Small-diameter implants, often for retaining dentures |
| 689 | Provisional implant | Temporary implant intended for later removal |
| 691 | Second-stage surgery of a two-stage implant, per implant | Uncovering the implant to attach a healing abutment |
| 661 | Fitting of implant abutment, per abutment | One per implant crown |
| 671 / 672 / 673 | Full crown attached to an implant: non-metallic, veneered or metallic | Material affects fee |
| 665 | Removable prosthesis with resin base attached to implants, per arch | Implant-retained overdenture |
| 666 | Fixed prosthesis with metal frame attached to implants, per arch | Fixed full-arch bridge |
| 668, 669, 692–696 | Screw replacement, removal and reattachment, repairs, cleaning of implant prostheses | Long-term maintenance costs |
| 663 | Removal of implant and/or retention device | Relevant if an implant fails |
Using item numbers to compare quotes
- List the items side by side. Put each quote's item numbers in a table with quantities and fees.
- Check what is missing. If one quote has 684 + 691 and the other only 688, they use different techniques; neither is wrong, but compare the totals.
- Check the quantities. Two implants should show 684 or 688 twice, and two abutments (661 ×2).
- Look for bundled lines. A single line called "implant package" makes comparisons and fund claims harder. Ask for it to be itemised.
- Ask about items that may be added. Grafting (243, 244), sinus augmentation (246, 247) and extra X-rays are often "if required".
See how to estimate dental treatment costs for a full method.
Using item numbers with your health fund
Give your fund each item number and fee, and ask for the benefit on each. Funds pay per item, and some items (for example 679 surgical guides or 026 scans) may be covered differently from the implant itself. For the reasons, see extras for major dental and implants.
Common confusions
- Item numbers are not Medicare item numbers. ADA codes are a dental coding system. Medicare's MBS uses different, longer item numbers.
- Same code, different fee. The ADA does not set fees. A 615 crown can cost very differently in two practices.
- Old editions. Older quotes may use codes or descriptions from an earlier edition of the schedule. If a code looks unfamiliar, ask the practice.
- Tooth numbers. Quotes also show a two-digit tooth number (for example 36 for the lower left first molar). That is the tooth, not the item.
Frequently asked questions
Can I look up item numbers myself?
Yes. The ADA publishes the schedule and glossary; it is available from the ADA website.
Why does my quote have 941 local anaesthetic as a separate line?
Some practices itemise local anaesthesia separately. Funds may pay a benefit for it under general dental.
Is 688 cheaper than 684 plus 691?
Not necessarily. They are different techniques. Compare the complete totals for equivalent results, and ask the dentist why a technique was chosen.
What item number is a bone graft?
Osseous grafts are 243 (particulate) and 244 (block); sinus augmentation is 246 (trans-alveolar) or 247 (lateral wall). See bone grafts, sinus lifts and CBCT costs.
Sources
- Australian Dental Association — The Australian Schedule of Dental Services and Glossary, 13th edition (2022)
- privatehealth.gov.au — how extras benefits are paid
- Dental Board of Australia — practitioner standards
