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If you’ve just been told you’ve got a cavity, the first question is rarely “what caused it” — it’s “what’s this going to cost me”. That’s a fair question, and it’s one Brisbane dentists get asked almost every day. The honest answer is that there’s no single number, because a filling isn’t a fixed-price item the way a haircut or an oil change is. It depends on the tooth, the size of the decay, the material used, and where you’re sitting when you ask.
This guide breaks down real 2026 pricing for cavity fillings in Brisbane, what actually moves the price up or down, and how health fund rebates, CDBS and payment plans change your out-of-pocket cost. By the end, you’ll know roughly what to budget before you’ve even sat in the chair.
Quick answer: In Brisbane, a single-surface composite (tooth-coloured) filling typically costs $180–$280. A larger, multi-surface filling on a back tooth usually runs $250–$400. Amalgam (silver) fillings are cheaper, from around $100–$250, though fewer practices still offer them. These are practice-set fees, not a government schedule — always confirm with a written quote after an exam.
Why There’s No Fixed Price for a Filling
Unlike Medicare-funded medical care, adult dental treatment in Australia sits almost entirely outside the public system. There’s no regulated fee schedule that every dentist must follow — each practice sets its own prices based on overheads, location, equipment and the dentist’s experience. That’s why the same filling can cost noticeably more in Brisbane’s CBD than it does in an outer suburb or a regional town, and why one clinic’s quote might look quite different from another’s for what sounds like the same job.
That’s frustrating if you’re trying to budget in advance, but it’s not arbitrary. A handful of specific factors explain almost all of the variation, and once you understand them, a quote stops feeling like a mystery.
What Actually Affects the Cost of a Filling
1. The filling material
This is usually the biggest single factor. Materials differ in durability, appearance and how long they take to place.
| Material | Typical Brisbane Price Range* | Best For |
| Composite resin (tooth-coloured) | $150–$400 | Front and back teeth; the most common choice today |
| Amalgam (silver) | $100–$250 | Back molars where appearance matters less; less commonly offered now |
| Glass ionomer | $120–$220 | Small fillings, baby teeth, or as a temporary measure |
| Porcelain/ceramic (inlay or onlay) | $400–$1,200+ | Larger restorations needing extra strength and a natural look |
| Gold | $300–$1,000+ | Long-lasting back-tooth restorations; rarely requested today |
*Ranges are indicative market estimates for the Brisbane metro area in 2026, not a quote from any specific practice. Always get a written quote after an examination.
2. How many tooth surfaces need filling
Dentists usually price fillings by the number of surfaces involved — think of a tooth as having a top, front, back and two sides. A cavity confined to one surface is a straightforward, quicker job. Decay that’s spread across two or more surfaces (very common between teeth) takes longer to clean out and rebuild, and the fee reflects that extra time and material.
- Single-surface filling: generally the cheapest option, often under $250
- Two-surface filling: a step up, typically $250–$320
- Three or more surfaces: the most involved, often $300–$450
3. Which tooth is involved
A cavity on a front tooth is usually smaller and easier to access, but it also needs to look good — so a slightly more meticulous (and sometimes pricier) composite technique is used to match the shade and shape of the tooth next to it. Molars take heavier biting force, so the filling has to be built to withstand that, and back teeth are harder to reach and keep dry during the procedure, which can add to the chair time.
4. Size and depth of the decay
A cavity caught early, while it’s still confined to the enamel, is a genuinely simple fix. Left longer, decay spreads into the softer dentine underneath and can approach the nerve. At that point, a straightforward filling might not be enough — you could be looking at a root canal or a crown instead, both of which cost considerably more than a filling ever would. This is really the single biggest reason dentists push regular check-ups: catching decay early keeps the bill small. If you’re unsure whether the dark spot or sensitivity you’re experiencing is actually tooth decay, learning What Does a Cavity Look Like? can help you recognise the early warning signs before the problem becomes more expensive to treat.
5. Whether you need anaesthetic, a build-up, or extra imaging
Most fillings are quoted as an all-in fee that includes local anaesthetic. But if the cavity is large enough to need a core build-up (extra material to support the filling before it’s shaped) or additional X-rays to check how close the decay is to the nerve, those are usually itemised separately. It’s worth asking your dentist to spell out exactly what’s included before you agree to a quote.
Brisbane Pricing in Context: How It Compares Nationally
Brisbane sits in the middle of the national pricing spread — generally a touch below Sydney and Melbourne CBD rates, and above what you’d typically find in regional Queensland. As a rough guide across Australia, a single-surface composite filling runs from around $150 up to $350, with capital-city practices tending to sit toward the upper half of that band. Brisbane fees tend to track close to the national average, with inner-city and specialist practices at the higher end and suburban family practices generally more affordable.
Does Private Health Insurance Cover Fillings?
If you hold extras (ancillary) cover with ratings for general dental, fillings are typically included under that category, alongside check-ups and simple extractions. Most policies apply an annual limit — commonly somewhere between $500 and $1,500 per person — and pay a percentage of the item fee rather than the whole thing, so there’s almost always some gap to cover yourself. HICAPS terminals let many Brisbane practices process the rebate on the spot, so you only pay the difference at the counter rather than claiming it back later.
It pays to check two things before you book: whether your fund has a “preferred provider” arrangement with the practice (this can shrink the gap further), and whether you’ve already used up your annual limit on other treatment this year.
What About Kids? The Child Dental Benefits Schedule
For families, the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) is worth checking before you assume you’ll be paying full price. Eligible children and teenagers aged 0–17 (where the family receives certain Centrelink payments, such as Family Tax Benefit Part A) can access a set amount of government-funded benefit over a two-year period, which covers basic services including check-ups, X-rays and fillings. Many Brisbane family dental practices bulk-bill CDBS-eligible treatment, meaning no out-of-pocket cost at all for a straightforward filling. It’s worth confirming your child’s eligibility through Services Australia (formerly Medicare) before the appointment, and asking the practice directly whether they bulk-bill under the scheme.
What Happens If You Put Off Getting a Filling?
It’s tempting to leave a small cavity if it isn’t causing pain yet, especially with the cost in mind. But tooth decay doesn’t pause — it keeps spreading, and the treatment needed tends to escalate faster than most people expect.
The typical escalation:
- Small cavity, caught early: straightforward filling, often under $300
- Decay reaches the nerve: root canal treatment plus a crown, commonly $1,500–$3,500 combined. If you’re concerned about the financial impact of advanced tooth decay, our guide to Root Canal Cost explains the factors that influence pricing and what you can expect to pay.
- Tooth can’t be saved: extraction, and possibly an implant or bridge to replace it, often $4,000 or more
That’s not scare tactics — it’s simply how the biology works. A $200 problem today has a habit of becoming a $2,000 problem in a year or two if it’s ignored. If cost is the reason you’re avoiding the dentist, it’s genuinely worth having that conversation with the practice directly; most will work through payment plan options rather than have you delay treatment.
Questions to Ask Before You Agree to a Filling Quote
- Is the quoted price all-inclusive, or are X-rays and anaesthetic itemised separately?
- What material is being used, and why is it recommended for this particular tooth?
- Will my health fund rebate be processed on the spot, or do I claim it back myself?
- Is my child eligible for CDBS, and does the practice bulk-bill it?
- What’s the expected lifespan of this filling, and what would replacing it cost down the track?
The Bottom Line
A cavity filling in Brisbane will typically set you back somewhere between $150 and $450, depending mainly on the material used and how much of the tooth needs rebuilding. The number that actually matters, though, is the one you get after an exam — not an average pulled from the internet. If you’ve noticed sensitivity, a rough edge, or a dark spot on a tooth, the most cost-effective move is booking a Dental Check Up and Clean sooner rather than later. Early examinations allow your dentist to detect cavities before they require more complex and costly treatment. Catching decay early is consistently the difference between a simple, affordable filling and a much larger bill down the track.
