Cleanbill reveals dental clinics in Australia with best discounts

Prices for a dental check-up can vary by hundreds of dollars depending on where you go. A new report reveals where to find the cheapest dentists in your area. Search and see the list.

Sydney dentist Dr Jack Hodgkinson said practices are facing rising costs. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Exclusive: Australians could save more than $200 on a visit to the dentist by simply shopping around and taking advantage of special discounts available to new patients.

A survey of all 6268 publicly-listed dental clinics in Australia has found wild price differentials, with some charging $400 more than others.

The report by Healthcare directory Cleanbill identified the Local Government Area (LGA) of North Midlands in Tasmania as the cheapest with an average price of $185. Narromine in NSW, Mt Isa in Queensland and Mid Murray in South Australia were the next cheapest at around $199 for a first visit.

The most expensive clinic in the country was in remote East Pilbara, WA, where the one dental clinic charges $640 for the same initial consult.

In most capital cities the price varied by around $200.

Cleanbill founder James Gillespie. Picture: Supplied

Cleanbill founder James Gillespie said he was amazed at the huge cost variants when he pulled the survey data together.

“We can see that the LGA’s of Mosman and Strathfield are only separated by a 30 minute drive but they’re separated in average new patient costs by over $200 which is unbelievable for localities that are so close to each other,” Mr Gillespie said.

The other surprise was that one in four dental clinics had special offers for new patients. “In order to get new patients to come to their clinic and bring new patients in on their books they would charge a reduced rate,” he said.

News Corp found some dental clinics were also offering $20 supermarket gift vouchers to attract new patients.

Search the table below and see the fees in your local area:

Dr Jack Hogkinson who works at Sydney’s City Dental which has a special $220 offer for a first visit, said like other Australian businesses, dental practices were facing rising costs. The cost of masks and other equipment used in clinics had skyrocketed during Covid and never returned to pre-Covid levels, he said. As the cost of living rises, many people are putting off expensive dental work.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics found nearly one in three (29.7 per cent) Australians delayed or did not see a dentist in 2023.

More than 2.28 million Australians said cost was the reason they delayed seeing a dentist. “I have noticed that a lot of new patients I see haven’t been to dentist for up to five to 10 years.

Everything can become quite a bit worse over that time, particularly their gum health,” Dr Hogkinson said.

“With regular check-ups you will need less than to work long term. So it ends up cheaper.”

Sydney dentist Dr Jack Hodgkinson recommends regular check-ups. Picture: Justin Lloyd

For those wanting to find the cheapest clinics in their area, Cleanbill offers a free directory service where you can put in your suburb or postcode and find every single dental clinic around you and what they charge for basic services.

The Australian Dental Association (ADA) said the ACCC did not allow it to set or recommend fees for dental treatment.

“Members base their individual fees on a range of variables including the complexity of the procedure, the cost of running a practice which can vary greatly based on location, rent, wages, utilities, costs of raw materials, workforce overheads and necessities like PPE,” ADA President Dr Scott Davis said.

Between 2017 and 2022 ADA surveys show fees rose below or in line with inflation “Inflation went up 14.5 per cent but dentistry fees only went up 2.14 per cent over the same time,” he said.

Dental visits can vary as much as $200, depending where you live. Picture: Supplied

WHERE ARE THE CHEAPEST DENTAL SERVICES

NEW SOUTH WALES

LGA’s with the cheapest average initial visit price NSW

Narromine $199

Strathfield $205

Leeton $207.50

Narrandera $225

Hawkesbury $239.10

LGA’s with the most expensive average initial visit price NSW

Coolamon $431

Mosman $429.45

Warren $421

Murray River $400

Bega Valley $385.08

VICTORIA

LGA’s with the cheapest average initial visit price VIC

Surf Coast $241.33

Wyndham $246.48

Corangamite $249

Hume $251.80

Greater Dandenong $252.70

LGA’s with the most expensive average initial visit price VIC

Alpine $414.50

Indigo $401

Glenelg $380

Wangaratta $375.70

Ararat $367.50

QUEENSLAND

LGA’s with the cheapest average initial visit price QLD

Mount Isa $199

Redland $236.75

Logan $254.78

Burdekin $255.50

Ipswich $257.81

LGA’s with the most expensive average initial visit price QLD

Isaac $395

Bundaberg $378.18

Maranoa $375

Whitsunday $363

Goondiwindi $353.33

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

LGA’s with the cheapest average initial visit price SA

Mid Murray $199

Wakefield $257

Yorke Peninsula $277.56

Playford $278.50

Port Adelaide Enfield $280.99

LGA’s with the most expensive average initial price SA

Clare and Gilbert Valleys $417.87

Tatiara $389.50

Mount Gambier $379.83

Adelaide Hills $365

Berri Barmera $362.33

TASMANIA

LGA’s with the cheapest average initial visit price TAS

North Midlands $185

Brighton $295

Launceston $295.05

Huon Valley $300

West Tamar $315

LGA’s with the most expensive average initial price TAS

La Trobe $419.50

Circular Head $390

Waratah-Wynyard $388.70

Derwent Valley $385

Sorrell $384