A guide to dental insurance in New Zealand
Learn about dental insurance in New Zealand, including treatments covered and benefit caps. Know how health insurance with dental cover add-ons can help.
Good oral health is essential to everyone, but financing your dental care can be tricky. And while the New Zealand government offers free (simple) dentistry services to eligible children and adolescents up to their 18th birthday, as of December 2024, more than 3,800 patients had waited longer than four months for dental treatment in the public health system.
These delays mean individuals often seek private dental care, where costs for procedures like root canals, extractions, implants, or complex fillings are high.
For patients wanting prompt dentistry treatment at a reasonable price, dental insurance can be a lifesaver. Policywise can help you compare health insurance plans that have dental cover, and find the best option for your specific needs and budget.

Health | Life | Trauma | Total and Permanent Disability | Income Protection
Learn more on different types of insurance from an expert licenced financial adviser and see what's best for your circumstances.

Learn more about different types of insurance from a licenced financial adviser and see what's best for your circumstances.
Health | Life | Trauma | Total and Permanent Disability | Income Protection
How much you’ll pay for dental treatments without insurance
Dental treatments and oral surgeries can quickly become expensive without insurance. Below are price estimates for some typical dental procedures and devices in New Zealand, giving you an idea of what you might pay out of pocket.
Dental procedures/devices |
Average cost (NZD) |
Dental exam | $89 |
Dental exam and simple prophylaxis | $159 |
Scaling | $96 |
Amalgam filling, one surface | $201 |
Tooth extraction | $291 |
Panoramic X-ray | $105 |
Ceramic crown | $1,624 |
Single tooth implant | $3,001 |
Full upper and lower dentures | $3,358 |
Wisdom tooth extraction | $200 - $550 (per tooth) |
Dental braces | $6,000 - $15,000 |
Best health and dental insurance options in New Zealand
Dental insurance is available via two main options: adding dental cover to a comprehensive health insurance plan or opting for an everyday plan. Both have unique features and benefits, cover other medical treatments in addition to dental, and cater to different levels of care and budget.
Comprehensive health insurance with dental cover add-ons
Comprehensive health insurance plans provide in-depth cover for many medical services. Some plans include oral surgeries in private hospitals, such as the surgical removal of impacted or unerupted teeth, as part of the standard cover. For routine dental care, such as check-ups, fillings, and X-rays, an optional dental cover add-on can also be included in the plan.
Benefits
- Extensive cover beyond dental: These plans provide a wide range of health benefits, not just for dental care but also to cover major surgical costs, hospitalisations, specialist consultations, cancer care, and other treatments. For instance, the best plans can cover hospital surgical and cancer care costs of up to $500,000 (or even higher).
- Skip long wait times: Comprehensive health insurance lets you bypass the long wait times associated with New Zealand’s public healthcare system, ensuring timely access to dental care, surgeries, and other major medical treatments.
- Enjoy loyalty benefits: Some dental add-ons have loyalty benefits, providing cover for treatments such as orthodontics after a few years of continuous cover.
Limitations
- Pre-existing conditions: Most plans impose certain restrictions on pre-existing conditions or exclude them.
- Benefit caps and out-of-pocket costs: There’s a cap on the amount covered each policy/claims year for dental care. While insurers typically cover most (75-80%) of the cost, you still need to pay for a portion, plus any expenses above your benefit limit for the year.
- Waiting periods: Dental add-ons may have waiting periods or stand-down periods during which you cannot make a claim.
The table below looks at comprehensive health insurance dental add-ons from some of New Zealand’s best insurers.
Policy |
What’s covered |
Fortnightly premium for a 30-year-old female, non-smoker ($500 excess) |
nib Ultimate Health Max dental treatment add-on | Covers 80% of the cost up to the benefit limit ($500 per policy year) - Dental examination, scaling, cleaning, fillings, x-ray, tooth extraction, dental crowns - 6 months waiting period - Orthodontic treatment is included after 2 years’ continuous cover under the dental option |
Health insurance premium: $65.41 plus Dental & optical add-on: $25.84 |
Accuro SmartCare+ dental cover add-on | Covers 80% of costs up to the benefit limit ($500 per policy year) - Dental checks, cleaning, scaling, fillings, X-rays, teeth removal - Initial stand-down period of 90 days - Orthodontic loyalty benefit: $750 per policy year (80% of cost) after 3 years’ continuous cover |
Health insurance premium: $37.88 plus Dental & optical add-on: $16.59 |
Southern Cross Wellbeing One with Vision and Dental Module add-on | 75% of cost up to the benefit limit ($750 per claims year) - Tooth extraction, root canals, root fillings, new dentures, denture repair/bridgework, X-rays, dental crowns, fissure seals, bite splints, braces and plates, implantation of teeth, bacteriology assay |
Health insurance with Chemotherapy 300 premium: $35.73 plus Dental & optical add-on: $15.41 |
Everyday health plans
Everyday health plans are a more budget-friendly option focusing on routine and day-to-day medical procedures, including some dental. This often includes:
- Dental check-ups
- Cleaning and scaling
- Tooth removal
- Fillings
- X-rays.
Some plans go further by covering more complex services, like root canals, and orthodontic treatments, such as braces.
Limitations of everyday cover
- Most everyday plans cover only a percentage of the dental procedure costs, leaving you to pay the remaining amount yourself.
- These plans also have annual dental benefit limits, so funding expenses beyond this maximum amount will be up to you.
- Waiting periods typically apply, during which you cannot file claims.
- Moreover, should you need hospital treatment, everyday plans cannot cover private surgeries and other expensive medical expenses.
Other dental care payment options
While dental insurance is a great way to manage your dental costs, it's not the only option. If you don’t qualify for free dental services, and you’re on the fence about adding dental care to your insurance portfolio, there are other ways to help cover the expense of dental treatments.
ACC (Accident Compensation Corporation)
ACC may help cover a portion of your dental costs if your treatment is due to an accident, a sporting injury, or a complication arising from a medical or dental procedure performed by a registered dentist.
Buy now, pay later options from dental clinics
Many dental practices in New Zealand are affiliated with ‘buy now, pay later’ services, allowing you to spread the cost of treatment over several weeks or months. This option can be particularly helpful for those needing immediate or high-cost care (such as braces) but lacking upfront funds. However, please read the terms and conditions carefully to avoid unexpected fees if payments are missed.
Payment plans
Some dental practices offer their own payment plans, giving you the flexibility to pay off your treatment costs over a set period. You can talk to your dentist about their payment options and see if they offer a plan that suits your needs.
WINZ dental benefits
The New Zealand government, through Work and Income NZ (WINZ), offers financial assistance to eligible individuals for urgent dental treatment. This support is primarily for low-income earners and those receiving government benefits.
RECOMMENDED READINGS
Comparing health insurance plans: 2025 buying guide and quotes
Long waiting lists in NZ's public health system: Causes and impacts on patients
Protect your smiles with Policywise
Policywise is a 100% free service which tells you which health, life, and disability insurance provider best fits your needs. We offer fast, comprehensive, and easy-to-understand comparisons of all leading providers, and a simple summary clearly recommending which insurer is best for your situation.
Not all insurance policies are the same. Policywise can help you sort out the duds, avoid the lemons, understand the fine print and exclusions, and get the right insurance for you and your family.
We make the important decision of where to buy your insurance super easy. We’ll answer your questions, provide experienced advice and quotes, and manage all the back and forth throughout the application process. Taking out your cover through us means you'll have our lifetime support and claims advocacy, and we'll help you negotiate a positive outcome at claim time. We can also take care of lodging any claims on your behalf and back you up if the going gets tough.
Check out the reviews on our homepage for how other New Zealanders have found our service, because now is the time to get your health and dental insurance sorted. Protect your and your loved ones’ pearly whites with the best financial support for dental care. Book a 5-minute callback with Policywise today; our service is fast and free.
Disclaimer: All information on this page or website is general information only, not intended as advice, and does not take into consideration your personal circumstances. We recommend consulting a Policywise adviser before making any insurance decision.
Please note: Policywise advisers are licensed by the Financial Markets Authority to provide financial advice in relation to health insurance, life insurance, and disability insurance. You can learn more about this on our Public Disclosure page. All insurance covers are subject to the insurer’s approval of your application.
Insurance policies and their built-in and optional benefits may be subject to stand-down periods, exclusions, terms and conditions, and premium loadings not listed on this website. Optional benefits also have additional premiums. Please refer to the insurance product’s policy document for full details. Insurers may alter these details at any time.
Therefore, nothing in our product pages is intended to be definitive or binding. Where there are discrepancies between any policy wording on this website and the policy wording provided by the insurance company at the time your cover is approved, then the insurance company’s wording will be deemed the correct version.
References
ACC. (2017, May). Dental injury: A guide to ACC and your dental injury. Retrieved 19/01/2025 https://www.acc.co.nz/assets/im-injured/32690e7220/acc7672-dental-injury-guide.pdf
Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora. (2024, August 27). Visiting a dentist. Retrieved 19/02/2025 https://www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/for-health-providers/publicly-funded-health-and-disability-services/visiting-a-dentist
Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora. (2025, February 19). Elective services patient flow indicators web tool. Retrieved 06/03/2025 https://tewhatuora.shinyapps.io/ESPI_app/
New Zealand Dental Association. (2024). 2023 Fee Survey. Retrieved 19/01/2025 https://assets.nzda.org.nz/files/Public/Fee_Survey_2023.pdf
nib. (2024, April 16). Dental costs NZ. Retrieved 19/01/2025 https://www.nib.co.nz/free-resources/article/dental-costs-nz-it-doesnt-have-to-be-expensive
nib. (2024, July 17). Wisdom teeth removal 101. Retrieved 19/01/2025 https://www.nib.co.nz/free-resources/article/wisdom-teeth-removal-101
Orthodontics New Zealand. (n.d.). How much do braces cost? Retrieved 13/02/2025 https://www.orthodontists.org.nz/how-much-do-braces-cost/
Work and Income Te Hiranga Tangata. (n.d.). Dental treatment. Retrieved 19/01/2025 https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/eligibility/health-and-disability/dental-treatment.html
Quickly find the cover that’s best for you
Policywise tells you which health, life or disability insurance best matches your circumstances, 100% free. Talk to one of our insurance advisers to find out which health or life insurance is best for you.
ON THIS PAGE
Download our insurance comparison chart
We need a few details before we can send you this content…
* All fields are required