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Have you been looking for ways to save money on your dental work, but are not quite sure where to start?

Many people before COVID-19 struck, were going overseas in order to save money on their Dentistry, but things have changed due to pandemic restrictions etc. 

Did you know that we have a lot of resources available for your use, right here in Australia?

In this post, I’ll discuss cheaper dentistry options, ways to get discounts on dentistry and even in some cases, free Dentistry.

What makes this news even more exciting is, I will be sharing all of the information on how to find these resources with you today.

I have done the research, and all you have to do is choose the option that seems preferable to you!

Is there such a thing as Free Dental?

Yes! In Australia, you can get free Dentistry for your children! How you wonder?

Well, you will have to do a means test and do your own research with the Government to see whether you are eligible or not.

You will find that the policies may change every time we get a new politician, who then changes the regulations.

However, it is worth looking into if you are interested in gaining free Dentistry for your children.

In regard to adults, unfortunately, it is a little harder for us to receive free Dentistry.

You can always go to the Dental Hospital, which is funded by our Government.

However, the work you will receive here really depends on how much funding they have been provided.

If they have enough funding, they will repair your teeth. Unfortunately, most of the time, they do not have enough funding, and in this case, they will just remove your teeth and give you dentures, as this is the cheapest option.

Nevertheless, this still gets you out of pain, so it is an option you can choose to take.

There are clinics all over Australia that provide this type of work for free, and they are usually located in most of the major cities.

The easiest way to find one is to just jump on the internet and look up the “Dental hospital Near Me” – this will point you in the direction to locate one near you.

An individual Dentist may often choose to provide charity work to somebody who is really struggling and cannot afford any dental work – for example, the homeless.

However, it is up to that individual Dentist to make their own decision as to whether they would like to reach their hand out for that cause.

Is there such a thing as a Cheap Dentist – and if so, are they Worth Paying a Visit?

Before international travel got put on hold because of the pandemic, a lot of people would go overseas to get their dental work done.

Overseas dentistry was seen as a much cheaper alternative to visiting your local dentist.

However, with times changing and travel restrictions in place, I suggest that you pick a good and honest Dentist and stay with them.

I suggest this because your Dentist will try, to the best of their abilities, to fix any problems they see within your mouth on a regular basis.

For example, if your tooth has a hole, your Dentist may fix it, but there are other issues that arise due to that tooth, and over time things may have the tendency to get worse.

Therefore, if you stay with the same Dentist, they will get to know your teeth and the problems surrounding them, and they will work on any issues that arise for you.

You will find, however, that all your major health funds – such as HCF, Bupa and more – have recently started to set up their own dental clinics in Australia.

These clinics will only take the money from your health fund in order to provide your services.

Similarly, there is also corporate Dentistry – that is, a company that has joined forces with one of the larger corporate groups, rather than operating independently.

These Dentists tend to buy in bulk, so they can lower the price of their services. So, you will find that if you shop around for your Dentist practice, you may find ways of finding cheaper Dentistry close to home.

Student Dentists

Student Dentists are another option – these Dentists train/work in the hospitals that are attached to universities.

To get in to see a student Dentist, you will, however, have to put yourself down on the waiting list, and you will find these are quite long, and growing longer every day.

But if you are happy to wait your turn for cheaper Dentistry, to find out where these are located just go to your local Dental hospital, and they will guide you on where to find them in your area.

Another company worth taking a look at is “Smile” – simply visit www.smile.com.au and you can get yourself a discount on your dental services.

You pay a small price to join, under $100 per person, and then find a Dentist who is approved by “Smile”. A small price to pay to then find yourself getting anywhere from 15% to 40% off your dental treatments every time.

Dental Warranties

Dental warranties have just started coming on the market as well, and these are definitely something to keep your eye on.

With these, you will find yourself going to get a health check, and depending on the outcome, you will pay a certain amount of money, such as $200, and this will get you up to $5000 to $6000 worth of dental treatments in return.

So now you see – there are far more options for cheaper Dentistry in Australia than you may have realised, all it takes is a little bit of research and you have plenty of options up your sleeve!

An example of one company that provides warranties is Robina Dental Group who offer an Annual Dental Shield membership for $199.

What are the Pros and Cons of the Treatment at a Dental Hospital?

The advantages of having your treatment done at a Dental hospital include;

• Cheaper, or even free, treatment
• You can get rid of all your infection straight away – there will be no waiting of any kind, as you will have your treatment performed immediately
• No waiting on the waiting list also means that you rid yourself of any pain without delay

As mentioned before, however, the main disadvantage is that you may not always get the treatment that you wish to receive.

Depending on the funding available at the hospital at the time, you may find yourself with a set of dentures rather than any teeth with crowns or fillings.

Why are the Dental Treatments in Australia more Costly than those Overseas?

The main motivation behind people who travelled overseas to get their dental work performed is the cost – treatments can be up to a third of the price of those performed in Australia.

There was also the added benefit of having a holiday at the same time.. win, win?

Don’t be so sure!

There are a lot of reasons behind the difference you pay for dental work overseas, and the price you pay for dental work in Australia. These include;

• The wages paid to Dentists and their staff in Australia are much higher than those paid to Dentists’ overseas, which leads to a higher expense behind the cost of your procedures.
• Australia’s sterilisation procedures are far more thorough, so you can be comfortable with the safety of your treatment. Our Dentists’ are also heavily monitored, and we have strict follow-up procedures through complaints commission boards or courts, that will cover you if you do not gain satisfaction from the results of your procedure.
• The cost of living in Australia is much more expensive – Dentists’ pay a lot more for a cleanlier, friendlier environment for your dental work to be performed.
• Manufacturing work in Australia is far more expensive – our Dentists’ pay much more for their tools, technicians and laboratory costs, meaning the outcome of these procedures can be far more efficient than those performed overseas.

There can also be high risks involved with getting your treatments performed overseas. These include;

• As you are on a holiday, your treatment may be performed on a limited timeframe. This may mean it is rushed, when complex dental work should definitely not be rushed. You may also not receive all the follow-up appointments you require before you return home.
• Not all overseas Dentists’ have received the amount of training that Australian Dentists’ have or have the same amount of experience. This leads to a higher chance of something going wrong with your treatment, and you may end up paying more money than intended when you have to get the work fixed when returning back to Australia.

Conclusion

If you take a short moment to have a look around, there are options for cheaper Dentistry in Australia that you may not have known about.

Free options include Dental work for children provided by the Government, and for adults at the Dental hospital, also funded by the Government. You can also research Dental clinics set up by your health funds or corporate Dentistry.

For discounts on Dentistry, try visiting www.smile.com.au, or keep your eye out on the market for Dental warranties. Or, if you have the time and patience to wait on the waiting list, the Dental hospital can point you in the direction of student Dentists who need patients to operate on.

All of these options are cheap, safe and easy, minimising any risks involved with travelling overseas (when able to do so) to have any dental work performed, as your local dentist is, just that, local and accessible!

Have you been to a Dental Hospital? Let us know what your experience was like in the comments below.