If you feel like you experience bill shock each time you visit the dentist, you’re not alone. The cost of dental services has long been a major concern for patients who don’t have dental cover, but the good news is there is a simple way to keep your dental costs down.
Let us fill you in on what you need to know about dental care in Australia and how to reduce dental costs.
Why Are Dentists So Expensive in Australia?
There’s no denying that a trip to the dentist can be expensive—but there’s good reason why.
Firstly, it costs a lot to establish and operate a dental clinic in Australia.
Did you know that it costs over $30,000 just to purchase a single reclining dental chair? Then there’s the cost of equipment including drills, scalers and suction units, specialised lighting, x-ray machines, sterilisation equipment and other specialised tools. In fact, it’s not uncommon for the initial start-up costs of establishing a dental practice to enter the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Then when it comes to providing treatment, quality dental products such as polishing paste, filling materials, adhesives, etchant, crowns, veneers, bridges, splints, mouthguards, dentures, whitening trays and even impression material all add a considerable amount to the cost of delivering dental care.
Dentistry is also a highly skilled occupation which typically requires 7+ years of study to become qualified to practice in Australia. Many dental procedures are very complex and require a great deal of skill and expertise to be able to be performed successfully, and this needs to be reflected in the way the dentists are remunerated.
Then add to this the cost of paying for reception staff and dental assistants, and you’ll start to get an idea of why dental fees can seem so high.
How to Reduce Dental Costs: Our Preventative Approach
While average dental costs in Australia are high, we believe the simplest way to reduce dental costs is to adopt a proactive approach to managing your dental health.
Let us paint a picture for you…
On average, a standard dental exam, scale, clean and fluoride treatment will set you back a little over $200 if you don’t have dental cover. While this may seem like a lot, it’s important to take a longer-term view.
Imagine you forgo your regular dental check-ups and instead wait until you think something might be wrong before your next visit, only to find out you’ve developed gum disease or tooth decay, you require a root canal, or you need prosthodontics. The cost of treating these conditions can quickly add up to thousands of dollars.
Having regular dental check-ups is the smarter approach that will help you maintain good oral hygiene and ensure any potential issues are picked-up and addressed before they have the opportunity to develop into more serious (and more costly to treat) problems.
Is It Time to Pay Your Dentist a Visit?
If it’s been a while since you last saw a dentist, it pays to see them sooner rather than later. Even if you’re not experiencing any pain or discomfort, if you think something could be wrong, don’t delay your visit to the dentist.
When addressed quickly, most dental and oral health issues can be managed easily and relatively affordably. However, waiting too long to get checked can result in what could’ve been a simple dental issue getting worse and far more expensive to treat.
If you live in or around the Coburg area, why not get on the front foot and schedule an appointment with the experienced team at Coburg Hill Oral Care to keep your dental and oral health in check.
