The check-up and clean cost at North Sydney Dentistry is $219 in total for new patients without private health insurance, or no gap for eligible health fund members, depending on your level of cover. Returning patients pay $199 in total, with the gap depending on your health fund rebate. Current terms are on our new patient specials page.
Below, we explain what those totals include, what can add to the cost, and how health fund cover affects what you pay. For an overview of the visit itself, see what a dental check-up involves.
What’s included in the price
For new patients, the check-up and clean includes:
- a comprehensive examination and consultation
- bitewing X-rays and a panoramic (OPG) X-ray, as needed
- a comprehensive scale and clean
- fluoride treatment
Your first appointment usually takes about 45 to 60 minutes. Returning patients pay $199 in total for a check-up and clean, and your dentist will let you know if anything else is recommended before it’s done. You can read more about teeth cleaning in North Sydney.
Understanding dental item numbers
Dental services in Australia are listed using standard item numbers, and your health fund uses these to work out your benefit. Some you may see on a check-up invoice or quote include:
- 011 comprehensive oral examination, often used at a first visit
- 012 periodic oral examination, for routine check-ups of existing patients
- 013 limited oral examination, focused on a specific problem
- 114 removal of calculus (tartar)
- 121 topical fluoride treatment
Your fund pays a set benefit for each item under your policy, so asking about specific item numbers is the most reliable way to estimate what you’ll get back.
What can add to your check-up and clean cost?
The totals above cover a standard visit. Your costs may be higher if:
- You need extra X-rays. For example, a close-up X-ray of a single tooth that’s been aching.
- You need a deeper clean. Heavy tartar or gum disease may need cleaning over more visits, and each visit has its own fee.
- Treatment is found at the check-up. Fillings, crowns, root canal treatment or extractions are always quoted first, so you can check your rebate and decide.
- You need a separate visit for a new problem. A problem-focused appointment between check-ups is charged on its own.
Your dentist will give you a written quote with item numbers before any extra treatment is booked. For larger treatment, ask about our payment plans, or see our price guide for other services.
How health fund rebates affect what you pay
If you have extras cover that includes general dental, your fund pays a benefit for each eligible item. How much you get back depends on your level of cover, whether you’ve finished any waiting period (often around 2 months for general dental, so check your policy), and how much of your annual limit is left.
Annual limits reset at different times. nib’s reset on 1 January, while other funds may use different dates, so check with your fund. Hospital-only cover doesn’t usually pay for check-ups.
We have HICAPS, so eligible members can claim on the spot and pay only any gap. We’re also a preferred provider for Bupa Members First, Medibank Members’ Choice and nib First Choice. Medicare doesn’t generally cover routine adult check-ups; for children, ask us whether the Child Dental Benefits Schedule applies.
Why prevention usually costs less
A regular check-up and clean is one of the more predictable dental costs you’ll have. Skipping visits can feel like a saving, but problems that aren’t caught early tend to cost more to fix. For example:
- A small area of decay found early can often be treated with a simple filling.
- Left for longer, the same decay may reach the nerve and need root canal treatment and a crown.
- Tartar left in place can lead to gum disease, which may need deeper cleaning over several visits.
That’s the thinking behind preventive dentistry: regular, smaller visits to help you avoid larger bills later. Many people at our North Sydney practice time their check-ups so they use their extras cover before their annual limit resets.
Tips to keep your costs predictable
- Ask your fund what it pays for the item numbers on your quote before you book treatment.
- Check your waiting periods and remaining annual limit.
- Ask for a written quote for anything beyond your check-up.
- Book in at the first sign of trouble, such as sensitivity or bleeding gums, rather than waiting.
If you have severe pain, swelling or a broken tooth, don’t wait for your next check-up: see a dentist promptly through our emergency dentist page. Call 000 or go to hospital if you have difficulty breathing or swallowing, or facial swelling that is spreading quickly.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a check-up and clean for new patients?
New patients without private health insurance pay $219 in total. Eligible health fund members can have it with no gap, depending on their level of cover.
How much is a check-up and clean for returning patients?
Returning patients pay $199 in total for a check-up and clean. Your gap depends on the rebate your health fund pays under your policy.
Why might my costs be higher than the listed price?
Extra X-rays, a deeper clean over more visits, or treatment found at the check-up can add to the cost. Your dentist will explain and quote these before going ahead.
Will I have to pay for extra treatment on the day?
Only if you agree to it. If your dentist finds something that needs treatment, you’ll receive a quote first so you can check with your fund and decide.
Book your check-up
North Sydney Dentistry is at Level 1, Suite 102/71 Walker St, North Sydney, a two-minute walk from North Sydney station. We’re open Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm. Call (02) 8090 1108 or book online.
This article is general information only and is not a substitute for advice from your own dentist or doctor. Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.