Over time, people have realised that going to the dentist saves us a lot of future pain, time and money. The only problem is, most people think dental care is expensive in Australia! The truth is, there are dental clinics that offer affordable services — and it could be just within your neighbourhood. 

We reached out to 2,700 dentists nationwide and what resulted was a rich collection of relevant, helpful information, which we present in this article. Here’s everything you need to know about dental care in Sydney.

Facts about Dental Care in Australia

Globally, Australians rank fifth on the sugar consumption scale. Here are some interesting questions and statistics.

How much sugar do Australians consume daily?

Australians consume roughly 96.5 grams of sugar daily

What ratio of Australian adolescents consume excessive amounts of sugar?

7 out of 10 children or adolescents consume an excessive amount of sugar daily

What percentage of adults brush their teeth more than once a day?

55.5% of adults (15+ years old) report brushing their teeth two or more times every day

What percentage of children brush their teeth more than once a day?

68.5% of children (5–14 years old) report brushing their teeth two or more times every day

In light of these facts, it’s not surprising that many Australians have experienced tooth pain. In fact, over 90% of adults have experienced decay in permanent teeth. Whether it be cavities, tooth decay or something more extreme, tooth pain makes seeing the dentist necessary. But how come we don’t?

Why We Avoid Going to the Dentist

Some of us may avoid check-ups because we’re lazy or scared, but most of us simply can’t afford the visit. In fact, 41% of Australians, or 12.6 million people, say it’s too expensive. That’s nearly half of our country avoiding important care due to money. 

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, in 2017, about 70,200 people were hospitalised for dental problems that may have been prevented with earlier treatment. We believe we can help our society avoid these outcomes by providing reliable city-wide guides of dental practices. The aim is to help you shop for the best and most affordable care. 

Let’s take a deep dive into Sydney’s dental care.

Common Dental Procedures in Sydney

Our survey reveals that Sydney is ripe with dental practices and procedures. Here are the most common dental procedures that patients sought in Sydney. 

General Dental Check-Ups

We need dental check-ups mostly for preventive care. The idea is to invest now to avoid serious future pain. When unchecked, we may experience some early signs of dental trouble like jaw pain, mouth sores, bad breath or swollen gums. 

During a dental check-up, the dentist will remove excess build-up from your teeth and gum line with special tools. They may also take X-rays to ensure everything looks good under the surface. 

The general recommendation is to visit a dentist every 6 months. However, if you take good care of your teeth, you may be able to stretch that to once every year. 

The average cost of a dental check-up in Sydney region is $70. Thinking of visiting the dentist for a dental check-up today? You can get it at very affordable prices in clinics in the following suburbs:

• Granville – $40
• Parramatta – $60
• Glebe – $62.50
• Sydney CBD – $165.83
• Milperra – $70

White Fillings

One of the most common dental procedures is filling a cavity. Most people, even with great oral health, develop cavities. Fillings are the practice of restoring a damaged tooth by replacing decayed parts with a new material. 

There are many types of fillings on the market. White fillings are a mix of plastic and glass materials and are often chosen for their ability to blend with the tooth colour. The dentist bonds the filling directly to your affected tooth. Then the dentist carefully shapes and colours the filling to match perfectly with the surrounding natural teeth.

The average cost of white fillings in Sydney is $223.91. But you can get this procedure at a very affordable price in clinics in the following suburbs:

• Granville – $130
• Merrylands – $140
• Woodford – $145
• Holsworthy – $150
• Wamberal – $190

Wisdom Tooth Extraction

Wisdom teeth are the molars positioned furthest back in our mouths. We each have four wisdom teeth, and they are the last ones to develop. Some people’s wisdom teeth never erupt, and others simply don’t have the room in their jaws to accommodate them. When there’s not enough space, or if the teeth don’t emerge, we need to have a dentist extract them. 

A minor surgical procedure is required to remove wisdom teeth. 

• After the application of anaesthesia, the dentist will slightly trim the dense bone surrounding the tooth 
• Then, the tooth is sectioned and removed in several pieces in order to preserve as much bone as possible and prevent nerve damage
• Post-procedure, swelling will occur, and the dentist will provide medications and guidelines to ensure healthy healing

The average cost of wisdom tooth extraction in Sydney is $365.60, which is the most expensive nationwide. In Sydney’s surrounding suburbs, there are clinics that offer this procedure at a very reasonable price:

• Woodford – $150
• Wamberal – $180
• Peakhurst, Parramatta, Holsworthy – $250
• Kirrawee – $300
• Ryde – $335

Teeth Whitening

Nobody wants a yellow, coffee-stained smile. Unfortunately, eating sugary foods and drinking beverages like coffee take a toll on our shiny white pearls. The good news is, modern technology allows us to get our teeth whitened. So how does it work?

Teeth whitening is a simple cosmetic procedure. It works by applying bleach to our teeth, which essentially breaks down surface stains. There are several types of bleaching options, and not all options work on all types of teeth. 

The most common type of procedure is one in which the dentist applies a protective gel to your gums and then bleaches your teeth. 

For the DIY kind of consumer, there are also at-home options with easy instructions from the dentist. Finally, there are over-the-counter options, which contain less bleach, but are cheaper. 

The average cost of teeth whitening in Sydney is $470.04, which ranks as the second cheapest nationwide (second to Adelaide). In the following suburbs, there are clinics that offer this procedure at a low cost: 

• Wamberal – $150 
• Holsworthy – $150 
• Woodford – $200
• Parramatta – $200
• Saint Ives – $300

Root Canals

Our teeth decay over time, and a root canal is needed when a section of our tooth essentially dies. When this happens, a dentist removes the dead part of our tooth, then replaces it with a filling. During the procedure, you’ll be put under anaesthesia and won’t feel any pain. Once finished, your tooth is as good as new!

The average cost of a root canal in Sydney is $1,225. Visit a dentist in one of the cheapest suburbs to get a root canal: 

• Surry Hills – $550
• Baulkham Hills – $800
• Kirrawee – $800
• Saint Ives – $850
• Woodford – $885

The Most Common Dental Procedures in Sydney

As for the most common dental procedures in Sydney, dentistry saturates 96% of the market, while dental hygiene (check-up and clean) saturates 4%.

Average Prices for Dental Procedures in Sydney

Now that we’ve taken a deep dive into the different procedures, let’s do a quick high-level comparison.

• Professional teeth whitening in Sydney costs $470.04 on average
  • The surrounding suburbs offer it for as low as $150
  • Sydney is the second cheapest area in Australia for teeth whitening (second to Adelaide)
• General check-ups in Sydney cost $165.83 on average
• Wisdom tooth removal in Sydney costs $365.60 on average
  • NSW is the most expensive area in all of Australia for wisdom tooth removal 
• A filling in Sydney costs $223.91 on average
• Root canals in Sydney cost $1,225 on average

This article is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. If in doubt, HealthEngine recommends consulting with a registered health practitioner.