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Without health insurance, the cost of dentures for pensioners and other Australians is likely to be between $1,350 and $3,500, according to the latest Australian Dental Fee Survey costs. Fortunately, a mid-range extras policy can knock $800 off that and only costs around $7 a week. If you're happy to pay a little more, a comprehensive extras policy can reduce the cost of dentures by around $1,200.
Compare health insurance for dentures
Here are a few policies from Finder policies that will cover dentures. You can compare private health insurance from 30+ companies here, or just check our best health insurance page for a selection of great policies. All prices are based on a single individual with less than $90,000 income and living in Sydney.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
The costs vary depending on the type of dentures that you need. The table below outlines the average costs according to the 2019 Australian Dental Fee Survey.
Full Dentures
Upper and lower dentures average cost
$2,448
Upper denture average costs
$1,350
Average cost for lower denture
$1,350
Average cost for mid-range acrylic dentures (upper and lower)
$3,500
Keep in mind that these are just averages; you may pay more or less depending on what you need and the clinic you use.
Are dentures covered by Medicare?
Only in some circumstances. States' public dental programs do provide some public dental services, such as dentures, to people who can't afford them, but you'll have to go to a specific clinic and there may still be some costs associated. By and large, however, Medicare does not cover any dental services.
The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) gives eligible children access to dentures.
You can find out whether you or your child might be eligible here.
In most cases though, if you can afford to pay for dentures, you probably won't be eligible for the Medicare benefits.
Does private health insurance cover dentures?
Yes, you can get cover for dentures with most mid-range extras policies which cost around $7 a week. It's likely to pay you around $600 towards the cost of treatment. A more comprehensive policy should be able to reimburse you for more than $1,200.
A mid-range policy will also give you health insurance for general dental as well. You'll also be covered for things like dental care, optical and physio – most of which isn't covered by Medicare.
You should find dentures covered under major dental. Major dental includes more complex procedures than general dental (which covers things like check-ups and cleaning and scaling) such as wisdom teeth removal, crowns, bridges and dentures.
Are there waiting periods for dentures?
Yes. When you sign up to a policy that covers dentures, you'll usually have to serve a 12-month waiting period before you're eligible for cover.
It may seem like a while, but it's so that insurance companies aren't overwhelmed with people buying policies only when they need treatment for something. If you need treatment now, it might be possible to get health insurance without waiting periods.
Luckily though, there are lots of other services including general dental, physio, optical and chiro that don't have as long a waiting period, so there are still lots of ways you can benefit from having an extras policy before you're eligible for dentures cover.
How can I pay for dentures?
Some of the ways you can pay for dentures include:
Taking out an extras policy that covers dentures. You'll find that it's included with most major dental services.
Taking out combined cover. It may be a smart idea to take out combined hospital and extras cover, particularly if you're a senior. It's often better value for money and lets you receive private care in a private hospital. It also ensures you're not left on a public waiting list. You can find health insurance policies for seniors here.
Medicare. If you're not able to afford an extras policy or to pay for dentures outright, you might be eligible for dentures through Medicare.
Medical loan. If you can't pay for treatment up-front but don't want to wait, a medical loan is worth thinking about – just be sure you can make the repayments.
Pay the full price. If you don't want private health insurance, you can pay for dentures on your own. Just remember they won't be cheap.
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Gary Ross Hunter is an editor at Finder, specialising in insurance. He’s been writing about life, travel, home, car, pet and health insurance for over 6 years and regularly appears as an insurance expert in publications including The Sydney Morning Herald, news.com.au, The Telegraph, Explore Travel and Escape. Gary holds a Kaplan Tier 1 General Insurance (General Advice) certification and a Kaplan Tier 1 Generic Knowledge certification which meets the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146).
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