How much does it cost to go the dentist?
Trips to the dentist can be painful, and it’s something many Police Health members do.
In the 2023-24 financial year, Police Health Limited members used just over $39 million in Dental benefits.
Furthermore, Dental Scale and Clean and Dental Intraoral Radiograph were the 4th and 5th most common Extras service used by members.
To help, we’re going to explain what’s covered by your private health cover, how often you should go to the dentist, and how you can save money.
On this page
- Are you covered?
- What does Police Health cover?
- How much the dentist costs with private health cover
- How to reduce your out of pocket
- Choosing a dentist
- How often you should go to the dentist
- Young children and teenagers
Are you covered?
Before you claim dental with Police Health, you need to make sure you have the right cover and that you’ve served waiting periods.
Only members with Rolling Extras or Gold Combined can claim. You can see if you’re eligible to join on this page.
Excluding accidents, you also may have to serve waiting periods (generally 2 months), but you should read more about waiting periods and pre-existing conditions here.
Continuity of cover
It is important to note that if you’re transferring from another insurer, waiting periods only apply to the level of cover that is greater than previously held.
This means you won’t need to re-serve waiting periods that you’ve already served with your old fund.
So what does Police Health cover?
We cover General Dental and Major Dental. Different services and treatments fall under these two benefit categories and there are very good reasons why our cover works like this.
| Waiting Period* | Includes | Annual Max Per Person | Rollover Max Per Person1 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Dental | 2 months | Benefits are paid at up to 80% of the provider charge, at your choice of provider, up to the set item limit for the following:
Maximum of 2 Oral exams/consults, 2 Scale and Cleans, 1 Mouth Guard per person per calendar year. |
Unlimited2 | N/A |
| Major Dental | 12 months Rollover Maximums available after 2 years membership. |
Benefits are paid at up to 80% back, at your choice of provider up to the item limit for the following:
|
$1,500 | $3,000 |
* Waiting periods do not apply to benefits for treatments in relation to accidents.
1 Rollover Maximum available after 12 months membership with extras cover, except major dental which requires 2 years of membership.
2 Some service limits apply.
Why are General Dental and Major Dental separate?
It removes the impact that costly procedures can have on your annual maximum. This means your Major Dental category is not exhausted by these services and is available if you need more complex dental services.
While most funds structure their dental cover in a similar way, we create great value by offering benefits on more services under General Dental (which has no annual limit^). You can see how we compare below.
*All benefits may be subject to Waiting Periods, Limits and other conditions.
^Some service limits apply.
General Dental inclusions comparison
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Most other health funds |
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General dental explanations |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Check ups | Checking your teeth for cavities and gum disease | |||
| X-rays |
Seeing inside your teeth and gums to diagnose issues not visible during a regular exam |
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| Extractions |
Teeth removal (e.g. wisdom teeth) |
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| Endodontic treatment |
Procedures relating to the soft tissue of teeth, like root fillings |
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| Periodontic treatment |
Treating periodontitis (gum disease) |
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| Oral exams/consults |
Discussing a plan of action for your oral health needs |
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| Scale and clean |
Removing plaque and calculus, and cleaning and polishing |
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| Mouth guard |
A protective device for the mouth that covers the teeth and gums to prevent and reduce injury to the teeth, arches, lips and gums. |
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Major dental explanations |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crowns | Dental restoration that completely caps or encircles a tooth or dental implant | |||
| Dentures |
Prosthetic devices constructed to replace missing teeth |
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| Inlays |
A pre-moulded filling fitted into the grooves of your tooth, most often used as restoration for cavities |
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| Implants |
A dental implant is a device used to replace missing teeth |
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Teeth whitening
Teeth whitening may make you think of cosmetic procedures like over-the-counter whitening strips, at-home bleaching kits, and LED whitening devices.
However, what Police Health covers is quite different. We specifically cover Internal teeth whitening, commonly called internal bleaching, as it offers great results in a less invasive way.
External whitening vs internal whitening
External
External whitening is the method most people are familiar with. The dentist may apply bleach to bleaching trays or possibly use a laser to whiten the teeth.
Another option is where the dentist sends the patient home with custom whitening trays for at-home treatment.
External bleaching whitens the surface of the teeth. Usually, the procedure applies to all the teeth.
Internal
On the other hand, internal whitening targets a single tooth, or maybe a few specific teeth, that were discoloured due to a root canal or trauma.
During this internal bleaching procedure, the tooth is whitened from within. It is a more invasive process, compared to external tooth whitening.
Coverage and limits
Internal teeth whitening is covered under our General Dental, however it’s important to note that this service does have service limit of 2 per person, per calendar year.
We encourage you to talk to your Dentist or speak to us to get a better idea of how much it will cost and how much Police Health will pay a benefit for.
Why do people use it and how does it work?
According to eDental Perth, Internal teeth whitening is a procedure that uses a laser to whiten teeth from within.
It is the only form of whitening that can penetrate and remove stains from the dentin or inner layer of your teeth.
The technology used in this procedure is similar to that of traditional tooth whitening. However, it has several advantages over traditional tooth whitening:
- Laser technology allows us to target the discoloured area more precisely for maximum results
- It can eliminate stains on your gums and teeth that are not visible from the surface but which may be causing problems with your oral health
- Internal bleaching takes just one visit and requires no replacement trays or solutions
Costs – what to expect and how to reduce them
In Australia, private health insurance offers comprehensive dental coverage that complements Medicare.
While Medicare provides limited dental services, private health cover ensures broader access to preventative and major dental treatments.
This means you can receive benefits for regular check-ups, cleanings, fillings, and more extensive procedures, helping to maintain your oral health and reduce out-of-pocket costs.
But there are two things we’re often asked;
- How much will I have to pay when I go to the dentist?
- Can I choose which dentist I go to?
What are out of pocket costs?
An out-of-pocket cost, or gap, is money you pay over and above what you get back from your private health insurer for dentist charges.
What you pay depends on what you’re going to the dentist for, and which state or territory you’re in.
Also, dentists are free to set their own fees.
Unlike medical services covered by Medicare, which have prescribed rebates and for which the Australian Medical Association provides their members with recommended fees, there are no standard fees for services provided by dentists or other dental professionals in Australia.
Consumer group, Choice, has a breakdown on the average differences in what dentists charge.
How to reduce costs
There are many things that you can pay less at the dentist, including;
- Choosing your own dentist
- Asking for and comparing quotes
- Regularly going to the dentist
Choosing a dentist
With Police Health, we don’t have preferred providers. You can access full benefits at a dentist of your choice , as long as they’re a recognised dentist.
By not being restricted to a specific network, you have a wider range of options to choose from, which can be particularly beneficial if you live in an area where preferred providers are not conveniently located.
This can save you time and travel expenses, making it easier to attend regular check-ups and necessary treatments.
Additionally, the ability to choose any recognised dentist can lead to better competitive pricing and quality of care.
Dentists outside of a preferred network might offer different pricing structures or specialised services that suit your needs better.
Shop around
Now that you have a wider range of dentists to choose from, don’t be afraid to ring ahead and get prices for a comprehensive check-up, clean and fluoride treatment.
If the dentist recommends extensive work, get the item numbers of the proposed work so you can ring around for quotes.
How often should you go to the dentist?
The comparison is extra important when you consider how often you need to go the dentist.
The Australian Dental Association NSW (ADA NSW) says regular routine check-ups are important - not just for the teeth but also the gums and the mouth as a whole.
Regular visits can also help identify risks so that preventive strategies can be put in place.
Most dentists recommend a routine dental check-up every 6 to 12 months.
Young children and teenagers
ADA NSW says it’s also important to consider young children and teenagers, who face unique challenges when it comes to oral health.
Low risk children should visit their dentist at least once a year, while other children may need to visit the dentist every 3 to 6 months until their risk of decay has been stabilised.
Timing can be important for correction of orthodontic (bite) problems, so regular dental check-ups are important during the transition from baby teeth to adult teeth.
Meanwhile, teenagers are more at risk of other issues such as poor brushing habits and regular checks up can help identify the needs for braces.