How much does a filling cost in Perth in 2026?
As a guide, a single-surface filling in Perth typically runs $180–$300, a two-surface filling $230–$380, and a larger three-or-more-surface filling $320–$550 or more. These are ranges, not quotes the exact fee depends on the tooth, how big the cavity is, the material used and whether decay has reached the nerve. A written quote only follows a dental exam, and your health fund rebate is calculated separately from the dentist's fee.
How much does a filling cost by number of surfaces?
The biggest single driver of a filling's price isn't the material it's how much tooth structure has to be rebuilt, measured in "surfaces." A small nick on one surface (say, a chewing surface) takes less time and material than a filling that wraps around two or three surfaces of a back tooth.
As a rough 2026 Perth guide:
1 surface: $180–$300
2 surfaces: $230–$380
3 or more surfaces (including cusp rebuilds): $320–$550+
These bands sit close to the benchmarks published by independent fee comparisons: filling costs for an anterior tooth with one surface average around $167 with a range of $121–233, two surfaces average $202 with a range of $153–285, and posterior fillings run somewhat higher. West Australian figures compiled from the ADA and published clinic data put a simple front-tooth filling in WA between $159 and $207, while a complex back-tooth filling ranges $312 to $417. Fees have generally moved up since those figures were published, which is why we're presenting 2026 as a slightly wider, higher band but treat every number here as a planning guide. For a broader sense of where fillings sit against other common procedures, see our Perth dental costs overview for 2026.
A single filling at the top of a tooth is a very different job to a filling that has spread between two teeth, or one that's replacing an old, failing filling. Multi-surface fillings take longer in the chair, need more careful shaping and shade-matching, and use more material all of which is reflected in the fee.
Does composite, amalgam or glass ionomer change the price?
Material matters, but usually less than surface count does. Here's how the three options typically compare in a Perth practice:
Composite resin (white/tooth-coloured) is now the standard choice for most adult and child fillings, front or back teeth. It's matched to your tooth shade, bonds directly to the remaining tooth structure, and is what most Perth clinics quote as their default filling.
Amalgam (silver) is rarely placed as a first option in Perth clinics today. Some dentists still use it in specific situations, but most patients are offered composite or glass ionomer instead, partly on cosmetic grounds and partly because fewer labs and practices stock it as routine.
Glass ionomer is a tooth-coloured material often used for smaller fillings, for children's teeth, or as a base layer under a composite restoration. It releases fluoride and is quicker to place in some situations, but isn't always considered as durable for larger, load-bearing fillings in back teeth.
If you want a full side-by-side comparison of how these materials perform not just what they cost our detailed breakdown is here: white fillings in Perth: how tooth-coloured fillings compare with amalgam. This cost guide is deliberately the companion piece — that article explains the "which material," this one answers the "what will it cost."
What does my health fund actually give back?
Most Perth patients with extras cover get something back on a filling, but the amount varies a lot by fund, policy tier and whether you've met your annual limit. A few things to know before you assume a number:
General dental typically covers check-ups, cleans, examinations, X-rays and small fillings, which is the category most simple and two-surface fillings fall into.
A rebate is the amount of money you get back from your private health insurer when you make a claim, and an average rebate is about 50% of the cost of dental treatment though this varies significantly between funds and policies.
The amount you get back is determined by your policy and your level of cover, not by the dentist, so two patients having the same filling can receive very different rebates because their policies differ.
General dental extras typically cover check-ups, teeth cleaning, fluoride treatments, X-rays and small fillings, and this is usually included even on basic extras policies.
In practice, this means the "filling cost with health fund" figure you actually pay out of pocket is the dentist's fee minus whatever your specific policy pays on that item number, up to your annual limit. The clinic's front desk can usually process the claim on the spot through HICAPS so you only pay the gap, but the exact gap isn't something we can quote here it depends on your fund. For more on how check-up and clean rebates work (which is often the same mechanism), read our guide to dental check-up and clean cost in Perth and how health fund cover works.
What makes a filling quote go up?
A filling quote can move well beyond the ranges above for a few common reasons:
Number of surfaces involved. As covered above, each additional surface adds time, material and technique difficulty.
Which tooth. Back teeth (molars and premolars) generally cost more to fill than front teeth because they carry more biting force and the cavity shape is harder to access and finish.
Size of the cavity. A cavity that's barely into the enamel is a much smaller job than one that's eaten deep into the dentine.
Whether decay has reached the nerve. If decay or an old, failing filling has reached the pulp (the nerve and blood supply inside the tooth), a simple filling may no longer be enough. In that case you may need root canal treatment instead of, or before, a new filling and that is a different and more expensive procedure. Our guide on root canal treatment and costs in Perth explains what that involves.
Whether too much tooth structure is lost for a filling at all. If a cavity or an old filling has broken down so much of the tooth that a filling won't hold, a crown may be recommended instead. See our dental crown cost guide for Perth for what that step up in treatment typically costs.
Replacing an old filling. Removing failed material and preparing the tooth again can take longer than a first-time filling on virgin tooth structure.
X-rays and exam. If you're coming in with pain or haven't had a recent check-up, the dentist will usually need an exam and X-ray first to see the extent of the decay this is a separate item to the filling itself.
None of this can be confirmed until a dentist has actually looked at the tooth, ideally with an X-ray. That's why every figure in this article is a guide, and why a written quote only follows an exam not the other way around.
What does Hocking Dental Care offer for fillings?
If you're in Perth's northern suburbs, Hocking Dental Care in Hocking (within the City of Wanneroo) offers general and family dentistry, check-ups and cleans, children's dentistry, and laser dentistry. Laser dentistry is used across many of the practice's treatments, from removal of decay through to gum disease treatments. For families, the clinic's children's dentistry covers first visits, check-ups, fissure sealants and mouthguards, which is useful if a filling is being considered for a child's tooth alongside preventive work.
Because every quote depends on your tooth, your X-rays and your health fund details, the only reliable next step is a proper exam. You can learn more about the procedure generally on our dental fillings treatment page, view Hocking Dental Care's profile via our Hocking clinic page, or go straight to booking an appointment.
FAQ
How much is a filling in Perth without insurance?
As a guide, expect roughly $180–$550 depending on the number of surfaces and which tooth is involved, before any health fund rebate. This is a planning range, not a quote your dentist will confirm the fee after an exam.
How much is a filling in Australia generally?
Costs are broadly similar across most states, with simple single-surface fillings usually cheaper than multi-surface back-tooth fillings. Western Australian figures for a simple front-tooth filling have ranged from around $159 to $207, and a complex back-tooth filling from $312 to $417 in published fee comparisons figures that have likely moved higher since then.
Does a composite filling cost more than amalgam?
Not necessarily by a huge margin surface count and tooth location usually matter more than material. Composite is the material most Perth dentists use by default now for both front and back teeth, so most quotes you receive will already be composite pricing.
Will my health fund cover the whole cost of a filling?
Rarely in full. An average rebate is about 50% of the cost of dental treatment, though this depends entirely on your specific policy, your annual limit and whether you've served any waiting period.
What if the dentist finds the decay is deeper than expected?
If decay has reached the nerve, a filling alone may not be enough and root canal treatment could be recommended instead which costs considerably more than a filling. This is exactly why a firm price can't be given before an exam.
Can a filling quote turn into a crown quote?
Yes, if too much of the tooth has been lost to decay or an old filling has broken down significantly, a crown may be the better long-term option instead of a large filling. Your dentist will explain the reasoning and the cost difference before any work begins.
