Dentist treatment costs: What you can expect to pay in New Zealand

New research shows dental costs went up again in 2025, and they're expected to rise even more in 2026.

We compare costs across the regions so you know what to expect when budgeting for your next dentist trip.

Treatment costs

Dentist fees have risen yet again, according to the latest survey by the New Zealand Dental Association (NZDA).

Results from the Fees and Dental Workforce Survey 2025 show the cost of every procedure - from a check-up, X-ray and a scale and clean to fillings, implants and extractions - became more expensive in the past year.

Consumer NZ last reported on the NZDA survey in February 2024. This showed that the cost of going to the dentist rose 23% after the Covid-19 pandemic.

The new survey shows costs went up another 3.7% throughout 2025. It also warns prices are estimated to go up another 3.6% in 2026.

What the NZDA survey shows

In 2020, visiting a dentist for an exam, X-ray, 15-minute clean and composite filling over two surfaces would have set you back $428. In 2023, that same treatment would have cost you $526.

Now, in 2026, depending on where you live in Aotearoa, the new NZDA survey estimates you’re looking at paying $559. That’s another increase of 6% on a routine dental visit in just one year.

Prices are up for almost every dental procedure, including exams, X-rays, cleaning, fillings and root canals.

Mo Amso, the NZDA’s chief executive, says higher dental prices results in fewer people going to the dentist for regular check-ups. They may also not go for more urgent treatment because they’re scared of what it might cost them.

For the first time, the survey asked its network of dentists why it kept putting prices up. It found that while inflation, equipment, rent and wages were partly to blame, it was also getting harder to fill vacancies.

The NZDA survey found that, on average, it takes 24 weeks to recruit a new dentist, with 25% of recruitments taking longer than 40 weeks. It also found it can take months to recruit a dental hygienist, with 25% of recruitments taking more than a year.

Things are even harder in the provinces, where, on average, it’s taking 49 weeks to recruit a hygienist.

That, says Amso, leads to higher wage costs as companies compete to hire the few staff that are available, and are then passed on to the consumer.

Dental FAQs

Do you need to see both a dentist and a dental hygienist?

A dentist assesses your teeth, gums and medical history, as well as your oral hygiene.

They may refer you to the clinic’s dental hygienist if your teeth need a thorough clean. The hygienist cleans, scales and polishes teeth.

A hygienist visit is more expensive than a dentist visit – about $102 on average for a 15-minute appointment. However, an appointment could be up to 1 hour if you need an extensive clean.

Not everyone needs a separate hygienist appointment though.

If you have healthy teeth and good oral hygiene, brushing and flossing daily, you may only need a clean and polish during a check-up.

“Other patients, for a variety of reasons, need extensive scaling, sometimes under local anaesthetic,” Amso said.

If you’ve had gum disease in the past, regular cleaning by a hygienist can help to prevent a flare-up.

Do you need regular X-rays?

An X-ray helps a dentist detect issues with your teeth that aren’t visible during an oral exam. Finding these problems early can avoid costly and invasive treatments down the track.

On average, the cost of an exam with a bitewing X-ray (showing decay) is $129. A panoramic radiograph (showing the entire mouth) is $111.

Dr Jonathan Broadbent, University of Otago associate professor in dental public health, says X-rays also help show whether existing fillings are in good shape.

“An X-ray helps dentists see underneath fillings,” he says.

It also helps track the progression of early decay.

If a patient doesn’t have active cavities or decay, they probably don’t need an X-ray every year.

“If you have a mouthful of fillings and have issues with tooth decay, it would be important to take X-rays regularly,” Dr Broadbent says.

Electric or manual toothbrush?

“The wow of a professional clean feel every day.” That’s how Oral B touts its electric toothbrush range. But with electric brushes costing anywhere from $40 to $699, are they worth it?

Electric toothbrushes do a better job than manual brushes at reducing plaque and gingivitis, according to a 2014 review by the independent Cochrane Collaboration.

The main advantage of an electric toothbrush according to Broadbent is that it does the work for you. By comparison, a manual toothbrush relies on your brushing technique. Whatever toothbrush you use, it’s important to choose a fluoride toothpaste, he said.

The drawbacks of an electric toothbrush are the cost and having to charge it. If everyone in your household has one, there’s also the extra clutter on the bathroom vanity.

Should you floss?

A 2019 review by the Cochrane Collaboration found using floss may help reduce gingivitis (gum disease), but it’s unclear whether it reduces plaque.

The review found some evidence that oral irrigation – using a water flosser – may be better than flossing for reducing gingivitis. However, there was no evidence it reduced plaque.

Water flossers, or oral irrigators, are hand-held devices that shoot water along your gum line and between your teeth. They range in price from $119 to $280.

The same review also looked at interdental cleaning brushes, finding they “may reduce gingivitis and plaque in the short term”.

Interdental brushes cost about $10 for a pack of 20.