Why Is Dental So Expensive?

Have you ever skipped out on dental work because of the cost? We understand – and you’re not alone.

Although the cost of dental in Australia can be scary, it’s important to get treatment early to avoid more serious, expensive procedures later on.

Did you know… 41% of Australians avoid dental because of the cost?

But Why Is It So Expensive In The First Place?

There are a few reasons why…

• Australia has a higher standard of care than most of the world.
• Dentists only use high quality materials which are expensive.
• Medicare doesn’t help with the cost of dental.
• Running a dental practice is expensive in Australia. The chair you sit in? That alone can cost over $30,000!

But, dental doesn’t have to be expensive, and we can show you how!

What Are My Options?

1. Dental Cover

smile.com.au is creating a new era of dental cover - it’s both simple and affordable. With smile.com.au, you save 15% to 40% off all dental treatments with quality dentists.

There’s no limit to how much you can save. You can save as many times as you want, and you don’t have to wait! It’s total freedom.

2. Payment Plans

Payment plans can be a great solution to avoid paying for your dental upfront. Payment plans allow you to pay the full cost of treatment off over time.

The best news? You can use a payment plan in combination with smile.com.au.

By reducing your initial treatment fees, smile.com.au also reduces the instalments of your payment plan, making your dental more affordable.

Unlike many payment plans, smile.com.au does not have any credit and income checks. There are no requirements to be a citizen and no hidden costs.

3. Extras Insurance

With extras insurance (such as Medibank or Bupa) you pay a high monthly premium and then ‘claim back’ some of your treatment costs from your insurer.

What’s the catch?

• High monthly premiums – expect to pay an average of $850 per year for extras.
• Waiting periods – if you need major dental, you likely have to wait 12 months before you can make a claim.
• Benefit limits – there is a limit to how much you can save. Once you reach that limit, you pay the full fees.
• Pre-existing conditions – you may not be able to claim on treatment for a condition you had before beginning your policy.
• Treatment exclusions – only medically necessary treatment is covered. You still pay full price for cosmetic dental like whitening, veneers, and orthodontics.

4. Have Extras Already?

From $79 a year, make dental more affordable by using dental cover together with your extras.

smile.com.au reduces your fees on the spot. This means that when you claim, you’re claiming on reduced fees instead of full fees, which reduces your out of pocket!