Does Medicare cover dental treatments?

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Does Medicare cover dental?

Am I eligible to get dental treatments covered by Medicare?

What dental treatments are covered by Medicare?

What doesn’t Medicare or public dental cover?

How long is the wait for government-funded dental treatment?

Are there out-of-pocket costs for public dental?

What’s the alternative to Medicare and public dental services?

Where can I find and compare health insurance?

Long story short

Medicare and public dental cover some dental services if you’re eligible

Eligibility requirements vary depending on the service, like your age or if you have a concession card.

A limited number of dental services are covered in these arrangements

Expensive treatments and those for cosmetic purposes are unlikely to qualify. Think more like emergency dental care, fillings and dentures.

Private health insurance is another way to get money back on dental care

Which dental treatments you claim, how often and how much depends on your health insurance policy, like 6-monthly no-gap cleans.

Does Medicare cover dental?

Medicare generally doesn’t cover dental treatment, except as part of the Child Dental Benefits Schedule and Category 7: Cleft and Craniofacial Services of the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS). You’ll need to meet eligibility requirements for Medicare-funded dentistry, like being under 18 years old or being diagnosed with a certain condition, like a cleft palate.

Medicare sometimes helps cover some dental-related diagnostic imaging and other hospital-related costs.

Outside of Medicare, you might be able to access your state’s or territory’s government-funded public dental system. This operates independently to Medicare, so MBS rebates don’t apply.

Am I eligible to get dental treatments covered by Medicare?

Children and people with conditions like a cleft lip could be eligible for Medicare dental treatments, as well as those getting diagnostic imaging or going to hospital for dental treatment. If you don’t fall into any of these categories, you might still be able to use your state’s or territory’s public dental system.

Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS)

The CDBS is for kids aged up to 17 years old who or whose parents receive a government payment, like the Parenting Payment or Family Tax Benefit Part A. It helps ensure they have good dental health early on in life.

Category 7: Cleft and Craniofacial Services

Category 7 is part of the Medicare Benefits Schedule; it’s for people who’ve been diagnosed with an eligible condition, like a cleft lip or palate, or a hereditary condition that means they have either too many or not enough permanent teeth.

Diagnostic imaging

Medicare can cover clinically relevant dental-related diagnostic imaging. Usually, a formal request (referral) for the service must have been made by a practitioner, too.

In hospital

Medicare might cover clinically necessary dental treatments when you’re admitted to hospital. These need to have a Medicare Benefits Schedule number. Sometimes, the treatment may not be covered, but related services may be, like anaesthesia. If you’re admitted to a public hospital, Medicare covers other hospital-related costs, too, like accommodation.

Public dental services

About one in 3 Aussies is eligible for public dental care, according to the Australian Dental Association.¹Australian Dental Association – Government dental care This eligibility varies based on which state or territory you call home, but a Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card is often enough.

What dental treatments are covered by Medicare?

Medicare can cover diagnostic and preventative dental care, like exams and cleans, as well as general dental procedures, like fillings and tooth extractions. In rare cases, it can cover more complex dental treatments, too.

Exams, check-ups and cleans

The Child Dental Benefits Schedule means eligible children get subsidised dental care to look after their oral health, including dental check-ups and cleans.

General dental treatments

The Child Dental Benefits Schedule covers standard dental fare, like simple fillings and pulling out the odd tooth.

Public dental services tend to cover these procedures, too, as well as dentures. Your state’s public dental service might also cover emergency dental care, like toothaches and infections.

Complex dental treatments

Medicare usually only covers bigger dental treatments, like implants, orthodontics and dental surgery, as part of Category 7 of the Medicare Benefits Schedule.

What doesn’t Medicare or public dental cover?

Unfortunately, Medicare doesn’t cover general dental treatments for adults, like fillings and extractions, while the public dental system typically doesn’t cover more expensive treatments, like orthodontic braces, and cosmetic dental work, like veneers or teeth whitening.

At the end of the day, Medicare and public dental focus on basic dental services, as relevant for eligible patients, like concession card holders.

How long is the wait for government-funded dental treatment?

Across Australia, the median wait to see a public dentist can range from 126 to 1,392 days.²Australian Institute of Health and Welfare – Oral health and dental care in Australia The table below shows the median wait times for each state and territory, but your wait can easily be up to a year or more.

Waiting a long time for dental treatment can lead to more significant dental problems. For instance, tooth decay can be reversed if caught early enough, but, if left alone, it can spread through your mouth until the best option is to remove the affected teeth entirely.

Median wait for public general dental treatment by state in 2023–24 financial year

Note: These figures reflect median public general dental waits by state and territory in Australia in the 2022–23 financial year, based on data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Actual waits may vary depending on personal circumstances and public dental waiting lists at the time. Data retrieved April 2026.

Are there out-of-pocket costs for public dental?

Public dental care can come with out-of-pocket costs, with co-payments for general dental consults, like for a comprehensive oral examination, ranging from $0 to $183 for adults.³NSW Health – Public dental services – Information for patients; Victoria State Government Department of Health – Victoria’s public dental care fees; Queensland Government – Public dental services; SA Dental – What will my dental care cost?; Tasmanian Government Department of Health – Dental health service for adults; Government of Western Australia North Metropolitan Health Service Dental Health Services – General Dental Service; Australian Government Department of Veterans’ Affairs – Fee schedule of dental services for dentists, dental specialists & other dental practitioners; Nt.gov.au – Oral health services Out-of-pocket expenses can vary depending on your state and territory, as well as the type of dental treatment you’re having. Often there is a limit or cap to how much you can need to pay for a course of treatment.

The table below shows the general dental co-payment per visit for different state and territory public dental services.

General dental co-payments per visit for public dental services in Australia

Note: These figures reflect indicative co-payments for general dental consultations at public dental clinics in different Australian states and territories, based on data from relevant state and territory government bodies. Figures include internal iSelect calculations applied to this data. Actual costs may vary depending on your circumstances. Data retrieved April 2026.

Helpful tip

Even when Medicare is applicable for dental treatments, you can still have out-of-pocket costs. If your practitioner bulk-bills you, that means they’re only charging the Medicare Benefits Schedule item fee (the amount Medicare agrees to cover). When you aren’t bulk-billed, the difference is up to you to pay.

Andres Gutierrez

General Manager – Health

What’s the alternative to Medicare and public dental services?

Private health insurance is an alternative to public dental services and Medicare for dental treatments. With private health insurance, you can claim back money on your dental costs at private dental practices. This includes claiming on extras policies and some hospital policies, although extras cover is usually the one people associate with dental claims.

In these instances, your health fund helps pay for some of or all your treatment, like how Medicare helps pay for a visit to your GP. This can include if you’re admitted as a private patient to hospital.

Extras cover can include:

• general dental, like exams, simple tooth fillings, cleans and polishes
• major dental, like complex fillings, crowns, veneers, implants, root canal treatment and dentures
• orthodontics, like braces and clear aligners.

Gold- and silver-tier hospital policies (and sometimes lower-tier options) include in-hospital dental surgery cover, like having your wisdom teeth removed.

With plenty of options to choose from, it’s important to thoroughly compare policies. This can include checking:

• what dental coverage a policy offers, like preventative treatments
• how much your insurer will pay
• if you need to see a preferred provider for your claim to be successful
• if there are any annual limits
• what waiting periods you’ll need to serve before you can make a claim.

Where can I find and compare health insurance?

We know there’s a lot to think about when it comes to comparing health insurance. So, we’re here to make things easy, helping you compare a range of health insurance options in one fell swoop. All you need to do is speak with one of our health insurance comparison experts on 1800 784 772 or use our online comparison tool.