Dental Loans in Australia: Loan Options for Dental Work
Going to the dentist may not be the most enjoyable experience, and in some cases, the cost could make your visit extra painful. Canstar breaks down your dental loan options and more.
28 May 2025
Going to the dentist may not be the most enjoyable experience, and in some cases, the cost could make your visit extra painful. Canstar breaks down your dental loan options and more.
KEY POINTS
- Dental loans can help to pay for dental treatments or fill the gap left over by private health insurance.
- Personal loans for dental treatments may be secured or unsecured, and repaid with interest over a period of anywhere from 6 months to several years.
- Alternative finance options for dental treatments include payment plans, Buy Now Pay Later services, and public health cover in some cases.
What is a dental loan?
In Australia, a dental loan is typically a personal loan that is structured to pay for dental work. This may take the form of an unsecured or secured personal loan. If you’re able to secure your loan against an asset, such as your house or car, lenders typically offer more competitive interest rates for a secured loan compared to an unsecured loan.
You may wish to take out a dental loan to help pay for the whole cost of a dental procedure or to fill the gap left over after private health insurance.
What can dental loans be used for?
A loan for dental work can typically be used to finance a range of dental procedures, including general dental, cosmetic dental and orthodontic treatments.
For example, a dental loan could help fund some of the more costly dental procedures, such as:
- fillings and repairs
- root canals
- dental crowns
- dentures
- dental implants
- braces
Dental loans may be used for cosmetic procedures such as teeth whitening and veneers.
How much does it cost to go to the dentist?
According to the Australian Dental Association, average cost of common dental treatments and services are:
- Fillings: between $167-$323
- Single root canal treatment (without a dental crown): base cost is around $838 (not including consultations, screening or additional procedures)
- Dental crown: between $1,642-$1,730
- Full upper and lower dentures (standard acrylic): on average $2,765
If you’re looking for braces, Orthodontics Australia advises you can expect to pay:
- Traditional metal braces: $6,000 to $9,000
- Ceramic braces: $6,500 to $9,500
- Lingual braces (braces behind your teeth): $9,500 to $15,000
It should come as no surprise then, that the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has reported around one-third of people aged 15 years and over have avoided or delayed visiting a dentist even when treatment was recommended, 16% of which reported it was due to cost. The Australian Dental Association backs these claims, with a survey report revealing even higher numbers amidst the growing cost of living crisis – 61% of people delayed dental treatment in the last 12 months, with affordability accounting for 63% of respondent’s reasons for the delay.
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How do dental loans work?
Loans for dental work typically work similarly to most other personal loans. You borrow a pre-set amount of money, to be repaid with interest over a fixed period of time, such as over six months, one year or two years. You may also need to pay fees, such as an establishment fee, monthly service fees, late repayment fees and an early repayment fee.
To be eligible for a dental loan, you typically need to be 18 years old or over, an Australian citizen or permanent resident and you may also need to meet certain income requirements. Your credit score may also affect your loan amount, loan interest rate, and even your ability to take out a loan.
It’s important to carefully consider whether you can afford the repayments on a personal loan for dental work before you apply. Each loan application you make is typically recorded on your credit report, as well as your repayments on the loan. So if you make too many credit applications or you fail to make repayments on time, this may negatively affect your credit score.
What are some other ways to pay for dental work?
If you can afford to pay for the dental work using savings, that may ultimately be the cheapest option, as there should be no extra interest charges or fees involved. But if you don’t have the cash saved and instead need dental finance, some dental practices also offer dental payment plans or let patients pay for dental treatment using Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) services like Afterpay and Zip Pay.
Some people may be eligible for public dental treatment, such as children and concession card holders. Otherwise, you may be able to reduce your out-of-pocket costs by taking out private health insurance with dental cover.
Dental payment plan
A dental payment plan lets you pay for dental work in instalments. Plans may be offered by dental practices through third parties, directly through third parties, or by dental practices themselves.
You may also find interest-free dental loan payment plans. This means that if you can repay the loan within a certain amount of time, you won’t be charged interest. However, be aware that fees often may apply, such as an establishment fee and a monthly account-keeping fee. Some dental payment plans also require an upfront deposit e.g. 20%.
Public health insurance
State governments provide public dental treatment to eligible people, such as those with a health care card or pensioner card. For example, eligible children and adults in NSW can access free publicly funded dental care for services such as fillings, tooth removal and dentures.
Eligibility for public dental treatment can vary depending on the state or territory you live in. Be aware that waiting lists are often long.
Learn more: Does Medicare Cover Dental?
Private health insurance
Taking out private health insurance with dental cover can help to reduce your out-of-pocket expenses for a range of medical services, which could include dental. Extras policies with ‘general dental’ typically cover routine dental treatments like dental examinations, scale and cleans and small fillings.
Extra policies with ‘major dental’ typically cover more complex and expensive procedures, such as surgical gum treatments, crowns, bridges and dentures. Endodontics and orthodontics may also fall under ‘major dental’ but some providers offer them separately.
Keep in mind that waiting periods and annual benefit limits will normally apply. Health insurers typically apply a two-month waiting period from when you take out your policy before you can claim for general dental care, and a 12-month waiting period before you can claim major dental treatment. But health funds often offer health insurance deals that waive certain waiting periods.
Insurers will typically only allow you to claim back a percentage of your dental costs, subject to yearly limits. Check with any health insurers you’re considering for more details and to see what terms and conditions apply to their policies.
Want to keep your pearly whites clean? You can also compare electric toothbrushes with Canstar Blue.
Cover image source: 4 PM production/Shutterstock.com
This article was reviewed by our Finance Editor Jessica Pridmore before it was updated, as part of our fact-checking process.
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