The benefits of dental insurance in NZ
Dental care for adults in New Zealand can be expensive
In New Zealand basic dental care is free up until the age of 18 for eligible children. This sets the stage for adults to have a healthy relationship with their dentist and drives home the importance of looking after your teeth.
Unfortunately, for adults a trip to the dentist can come with a bigger bill than many people expect. While New Zealand’s public health system helps fund many medical services, most adults pay for dental care out-of-pocket.
The prices dentists charge in New Zealand are not regulated by the government as they are in the UK for example, so the cost of treatments can vary from one dentist to another.
The table below gives an idea of approximate, average dental treatment costs in New Zealand*:
Procedure | Average cost |
|---|---|
Check up with x-rays | $129 |
Fillings | $181-456 |
Extraction | $317 |
Root canal | $1,038 - $1,185 |
Ceramic crown | $1,725 |
Dental implant - single tooth | $2,856 (excluding site preparation) |
* New Zealand Dental Association (NZDA) Fees and Dental Workforce Survey 2025: Fees tables - All Respondents (national and regional breakdowns)
Why avoiding the dentist can lead to higher costs
Dental costs can push a dentist visit further down the list of household priorities, not only for regular check-ups but also for urgent treatment, as people may be concerned about unexpected costs.
It can be easy to delay a dental check-up when there are no noticeable symptoms. However, dental issues can develop gradually and may become too severe or complex to treat at a routine check-up if left unchecked. While delaying check-ups may save money in the short-term, the risk of developing significant issues can lead to higher costs compared to visiting the dentist for a check-up while things seem okay.
Pushing out treatment for dental issues may lead to:
Tooth decay
Fillings
Broken teeth
Missing teeth
Gum disease
Root canal
Dental pain.
Without health insurance that includes cover towards dental costs, treatment costs can quickly add up. For example, a root canal can typically cost, on average, around $1,000. So while people may save money in the short-term by skipping dentist visits, the long-term costs can outweigh waiting.
Benefit of nib dental insurance
Dental insurance in New Zealand is often offered as an add-on to a wider health insurance plan, so comparing dental insurance options may feel overwhelming, especially when you're trying to understand what's included and whether you're getting good value for money.
At nib, our Standard Everyday plan includes cover towards some routine dental and orthodontic procedures. Please visit our website for up to date pricing information.
Having dental-inclusive health insurance can ease the cost of regular yearly checkups and a six monthly/yearly clean. At nib, depending on your specific policy, dental work is usually classed under ‘everyday’ benefits and with nib’s Standard Everyday policy you can claim 60% back on a range of dental treatments up to your annual limit of $750 including examinations, cleaning, fillings and x-rays.
So why not lower the stress associated with paying for dental care in the future? Get a dental insurance quote from nib now.