Patient guide
How to choose the right dentist for you
Practical questions to help you find care that fits your needs, your budget and your life.
The short answer
Check registration, ask how treatment and costs are explained, and consider how easily you can attend. There is no single “best” dentist for everyone.In this guide
What matters to youBefore you bookCosts and health fundsYour first visitA practical guide to making an informed choice.Start with what matters to you
Choosing only on location
Convenience matters, because a clinic that is hard to reach is easy to put off. But the closest clinic is not automatically the right one. Shortlist the practices that are practical to reach, then compare them on the points below.Reading reviews without context
Reviews may describe communication, waiting times and service experiences. They cannot establish clinical quality or predict your own result. Use them alongside registration checks and a conversation with the practice.Choosing only on price
A low headline price does not always mean lower total cost. What matters is whether you understand what is included, what is not, and what any recommended treatment will cost before it starts. A good practice will explain fees and give you a written estimate for larger treatment.Not thinking about the care you may need
If you have older dental work, missing teeth, dental anxiety or children who will also need care, it helps to choose a practice that can look after those needs or refer you appropriately. Ask how referrals and the transfer of your records would work if you need care elsewhere.
What to check before you book
- Registration. Every dentist practising in Australia must be registered with the Dental Board of Australia. Check their name on the Ahpra register of practitioners. Registration is a basic check, not a guarantee of treatment outcomes.
- Recommendations. Ask family, friends or colleagues about their experience: how clearly things were explained, whether they felt rushed and how problems were handled.
- Services offered. Check whether the practice provides the care you are likely to need, such as check-ups and cleans, fillings, children’s dentistry, emergency appointments or replacement of missing teeth.
- Experience with your situation. It is reasonable to ask how often a dentist treats a particular problem and what the options are, including the option of waiting or doing nothing.
- Communication and comfort. You should feel able to ask questions and stop for a break. If you are anxious, ask how the practice supports nervous patients. Some people also have a preference about the dentist they see, and it is fine to ask.
- Urgent care. Find out how the practice handles toothache, swelling or a broken tooth, and what its opening hours are.
- Access. Consider parking, public transport, accessibility and appointment times that suit you.