Costs, price factors and 2026 schemes
Dental implant cost in Australia: what you pay for and who pays which part
Why dental implant prices vary so much in Australia, the items that make up a quote, and what Medicare, public dental and health funds do and do not pay.
A dental implant in Australia has no set price. Each practice sets its own fees, Medicare does not pay for implants placed by a dentist, and public dental services rarely provide them. So for most adults the cost is the practice's total fee for several separate items (planning scans, the implant itself, the abutment and the crown, plus any extraction or bone grafting) less whatever an extras policy pays, which is often a modest share. To understand a price, you need to understand what is in it. This guide explains each part, what moves the total, and which funding routes exist, and it links to the more detailed guides in this section.
What a single-implant quote is made of
Australian dental fees are itemised with the Australian Schedule of Dental Services and Glossary, published by the Australian Dental Association (ADA); the current edition is the thirteenth, published in 2022. Health funds pay benefits against these item numbers, so a proper quote lists them. A typical single-tooth implant plan includes some or all of the following.
| Stage | Typical ADA items | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Assessment | 011 or 014, 022, 037 | Examination or consultation, intraoral and panoramic X-rays |
| 3D planning | 026, 087–091 | Cone beam CT scan and its interpretation |
| Planning aids | 678, 679 | Diagnostic template, surgical implant guide |
| Removing the tooth | 311, 314, 322, 324 | Simple or surgical extraction, if the tooth is still present |
| Bone or soft tissue | 243, 244, 246, 247, 235, 236 | Bone grafts, sinus augmentation, gum grafts, guided tissue regeneration |
| Placing the implant | 684 or 688 | First stage of a two-stage implant, or a one-stage implant |
| Uncovering it | 691 | Second-stage surgery on a two-stage implant |
| Connecting the tooth | 661 | Fitting of the implant abutment |
| The tooth | 671, 672 or 673 | Implant crown: non-metallic, veneered or metallic |
| Temporary tooth | 689 or a provisional denture | While the implant integrates |
Not every plan uses every line. The ADA item numbers guide explains how to read each one.
Why prices vary so much
Two quotes for "one implant" can differ by thousands of dollars without either being wrong. The main drivers are:
- Bone and gum condition. If there is not enough bone, grafting (243, 244) or a sinus augmentation in the upper back jaw (246, 247) may be needed, adding surgery, materials and sometimes months. See bone grafts, sinus lifts and CBCT costs.
- Who does the work. A general dentist may place and restore the implant, or the surgery may be done by a specialist (periodontist, oral surgeon or oral and maxillofacial surgeon) and the crown by a prosthodontist or your own dentist. Specialists usually charge more, and two practices means two sets of fees.
- Where it is done. Most single implants are placed in the chair under local anaesthetic. Sedation (item 942) or a hospital admission adds anaesthetist and hospital charges.
- Materials and laboratory. Implant systems, abutment types and crown materials (671 non-metallic, 672 veneered, 673 metallic) differ in cost, as do dental laboratories.
- Location and practice costs. Rent, staffing and demand differ between capital cities, regional towns and remote areas.
- Number of teeth. Multiple implants, implant bridges and full-arch work are priced differently from single implants. See the full-arch worked example.
An illustrative total
The figures below are illustrative only, chosen to show the arithmetic, not current prices.
| Item | Illustrative fee |
|---|---|
| 014 consultation and 037 panoramic X-ray | $250 |
| 026 CBCT scan with interpretation | $350 |
| 688 one-stage implant insertion | $2,600 |
| 661 abutment | $900 |
| 671 non-metallic implant crown | $1,900 |
| Review visits | Included in this example |
| Total | $6,000 |
If your extras policy covered implants at 50% up to a $1,500 major dental limit, the fund would pay $1,500 (the limit, because 50% of $6,000 is $3,000), leaving you $4,500. If the policy excluded implants, you would pay the full $6,000 less any small benefit on the consultation and X-rays under general dental. The single implant worked example goes through this line by line, and the implant cost estimator lets you plug in your own figures.
Who pays which part
| Route | Does it help with implants? |
|---|---|
| Medicare | Not for implants placed by a dentist; see what Medicare covers for dental |
| Child Dental Benefits Schedule | No; it covers general dental services for eligible children, not implants. See the CDBS guide |
| State public dental | Rarely; focus is general, emergency and denture care. See public dental by state |
| Extras cover | Sometimes, under major dental, often with long waiting periods and limits. See extras for major dental and implants |
| Hospital cover | Only the hospital charges if the surgery is done as an admitted patient and the policy includes dental surgery |
| Veterans' cards | Possibly, under DVA arrangements and approvals |
Because the funded share is usually small, many people also compare implants with a bridge or a denture on cost grounds. The implant, bridge and denture comparison shows how to compare them over time.
Common mistakes when pricing an implant
- Comparing a quote for the implant surgery alone with another quote that includes the abutment and crown.
- Assuming "implants covered" on a fund brochure means the whole fee: check the benefit per item and the annual or lifetime limit.
- Starting treatment before the extras waiting period ends, so the first stages earn no benefit.
- Forgetting the costs of a temporary tooth, review visits and long-term maintenance.
- Not asking what happens to fees if the dentist finds, during surgery, that a graft is needed.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a government price list for dental implants?
No. The ADA schedule defines what each item number means, not what it costs. Fees are set by each practice. Health funds publish their own benefit amounts, which are not prices.
Why does my quote list several item numbers for one tooth?
Because an implant restoration is several procedures: placing the implant, connecting an abutment and making a crown, often with scans and sometimes grafting. Each is a separate item, which lets your fund assess its benefit on each line.
Should I always go to a specialist for an implant?
That is a clinical question about your case. From a cost point of view, a specialist usually charges more, and splitting surgery and the crown across two practices means two sets of fees, so ask for a combined estimate.
Can I claim implants on tax?
Generally no for individuals; private dental costs are not tax deductible. Check the ATO or a registered tax agent for your circumstances.
Sources
- Australian Dental Association — the Australian Schedule of Dental Services and Glossary (13th edition) and patient information
- privatehealth.gov.au — what extras and hospital cover can include, and waiting period rules
- Services Australia — Medicare and the Child Dental Benefits Schedule
- Ahpra — check a dentist's or specialist's registration
- Dental Board of Australia — dental specialties and professional standards
