Some insurers offer coverage for dental implants, often listed under Major Dental.
While you may be able to claim up to $800 of the cost, you’ll still need to pay the remaining balance.
Certain major dental treatments may be listed as a sublimit, a combined benefit limit or lifetime benefit limit. Review your PDS for more details.
Dental implants: Your health insurance coverage options
While we’re all taught to keep our pearly whites in top shape, some of us need a bit of help along the way. Dental implants can be a fantastic solution to fixing missing teeth, allowing you to create a natural and durable smile.
If you have a private health insurance policy, you may be able to claim back a portion of the procedure. Dental implants typically fall into the Major Dental category in your Extras cover.
Learn more about dental implants and how you could use your health insurance policy to tap into this procedure.
What are dental implants?
A dental implant is a strong, durable replacement tooth and root system that is implanted permanently into the jaw. It looks, acts and feels like a natural tooth. It consists of 3 major parts:
A titanium implant. This is a screw-like device that is drilled into the jawbone and will eventually fuse with the bone creating strong foundational support for the new tooth.
Small metal post. When the implant has healed and fused to the bone, a small metal post is inserted into the implant so that it is partially inside and partially outside of the gum line.
The artificial tooth crown. This is the actual "tooth" that is placed onto the outer part of the metal post.
The entire process requires multiple visits over the course of several months since the initial implant needs time to heal and merge with the jawbone before the crown can be placed on top.
The growing dental implants market
Analysis from iData Research revealed in 2024 the Australian market for dental implants and related products was valued at a whopping $137 million!
Dental implants are a great solution for anyone who has experienced tooth loss.
A report by the Australian Dental Association found that more than 40,000 Australians received dental implants in 2023, making the procedure highly accessible for everyday Australians.
What is the cost of dental implants in Australia?
Dental implants cost between $3,000 and $7,000 in Australia but you'll find that costs vary based on what kind of treatment you require and how much your dentist charges.
For example, complicated procedures involving a bone graft or sinus lift are likely to cost you more, as are all-on-4 dental implants, a procedure that uses 4 titanium implants that are placed into the jawbone and holds a full arch of new teeth.
Single implants
$3,000-$7,000
All-on-4 implants
$17,000-$30,000
Why are dental implants so expensive?
Dental implants come with a high price tag for a few reasons.
Getting dental implants involves several steps and a lengthy recovery period, which must be undertaken and managed by experienced dental professionals. Each implant will also need to be customised to fit your needs. Titanium itself is also a costly material to work with, which can contribute to the procedure’s total amount.
Does Medicare cover dental implants?
No. Medicare largely does not cover dental work, and that includes implants. However, there are 2 major exceptions where they may cover a portion of the expense. They are:
Your oral health is impacting your overall health. In this case, you would need a referral from your GP under a GP Management Plan and Team Care Arrangement.
You're a concession card holder. Certain concession card holders are eligible for state-based dental vouchers that may be applied toward medically-necessary dental implants.
Yes, you can get health insurance for dental implants with some extras policies. You'll often find it included under "major dental" and more specifically periodontics (the treatment of diseases around gums and teeth structure).
If your policy covers periodontics and doesn't specifically exclude implants, you may be covered. You'll have to check with your insurer to be certain, and be ready to pay some out-of-pocket expenses because your benefit almost certainly won't cover the whole amount.
Remember that even if your policy does cover dental implants, there is usually a 12-month waiting period before you can submit a claim for major dental.
Most implants are done in an outpatient setting, so in order to be covered on a policy like this, you would have to have special anesthetic needs or extensive bone grafting.
Is there a limit to the amount I can claim?
Yes, depending on your insurer and their policy details, you may only be reimbursed up to a specified limit or percentage. Major dental limits generally sit around the $500 to $800 mark with more comprehensive policies offering limits of up to $1,000 or more.
It’s worth revisiting your product disclosure statement (PDS), as some policies may offer certain major dental treatments under a sublimit, a combined benefit limit or lifetime benefit limit.
General dental vs major dental: what level of coverage best fits my needs?
If you’re exploring health insurance and want to add on dental insurance as an extra benefit on your policy, you’ll have your pick between general and major dental coverage.
General dental cover. General dental coverage is available as an extra for most low or mid-tier health insurance policies. This benefit offers coverage for a range of treatments, including routine check ups and cleaning, X-rays, fluoride treatments and some fillings and extractions.
Major dental cover. You’ll find most major dental benefits available in mid-tier and more comprehensive policies. Treatments under major dental coverage include dental implants, dental crowns, veneers, root canals (endodontics) and non-tooth related surgery (periodontics). Major dental treatments also come with a 12-month waiting period.
The “right” type of dental health cover will come down to your personal dental needs.
If you’re looking to have major dental work within the next year or so, opting for a health insurance policy with major dental coverage can help you slash your dental bill. On the other hand, if you’re looking for standard dental maintenance, a policy with general cover may be your best bet.
Compare private health insurance for dental implants
The table below compares policies from Finder partners that cover major dental, where dental implants are typically covered. It's sorted by value using the Finder score algorithm our experts use for the Finder health insurance awards. Prices are for a single person earning less than $101,000 living in Sydney, with a $750 excess - learn why this matters here.
The Finder Score ranks every health policy in our database on value for money. We updated this monthly with data provided by Ombudsman.
We consider the 38 hospital treatment categories, plus the covered extras categories and the total extras benefit. We also use the average price for each product. Here's the breakdown of factors we consider.
Factors that affect your health insurance premiums
There are several factors that will change the price of your health insurance premiums, whether you get hospital or extras cover. Here are the main ones to consider.
Private Health Insurance Rebate: The price of your policy can vary by over 25% due to rebate. It's mainly based on your age and income.
Lifetime Health Cover Loading: If you don't have hospital cover after age 31, a 2% loading will be added to the price each year you don't have it.
State: The cost of medical care is different in every state, and that's reflected in your premiums.
Policy Excess: A policy with a larger excess will have lower premiums, but you will have more out of pocket costs when you claim.
Dental implants are expensive because it's often a lengthy and complex procedure that requires surgery. It's often also not considered a cosmetic procedure which means Medicare won't pay a benefit towards it. The dental implants themselves are also costly because they are made of titanium and need to be tailored to suit your requirements.
Not usually. Medicare doesn't cover most out of hospital treatments like dental implants unless they're having a serious impact on your overall health. Even then, you will still need a referral from your GP under a GP Management Plan and Team Care Arrangement.
There are 2 main types of dental implants in Australia: a single implant and an all-on-4 implant. The former is a single tooth replacement consisting of a single root, post and crown; the latter is when 4 implants are used to replace an entire row of teeth. The implants will be spaced apart, then 10-14 artificial crowns are joined together with 4 crowns attaching to the implant and the rest attached to each other. This is sometimes called an implant-supported bridge.
Almost anyone who has one or more missing teeth is a candidate for an implant, as long as you have healthy gums and your facial structure is fully developed. A man's facial structure is usually developed by age 18, and a woman's at 16.
A person can have all of their missing teeth replaced with dental implants either with individual or all-on-4 dental implants. All-on-4 dental implants tend to be the more cost-effective option.
With the proper care and maintenance, dental implants can last up to a lifetime. The good news is there’s no demanding upkeep either. Simply continue to care for the implants as if they were your own teeth with regular brushing, flossing and routine visits to your dentist.
Ceyda Erem is Finder’s senior writer for insurance and has almost 10 years of experience writing about personal finance. Formerly a copywriter for several business and finance clients, Ceyda has written hundreds of articles, guides, blogs and more to ensure Australians stay in the loop about how to best manage their money. She has a Bachelor of Arts, Majoring in Writing from Macquarie University.
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If you want that perfect smile, you need to be aware of what your private health fund offers you.
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