It's tempting to compare your doctor's bill with the fee you pay your dentist. But for most of us a trip to the doctor is heavily subsidised by the government - so of course it costs less. A visit to the dentist is free until you turn 18, but after that you have to pay the full cost of treatment. And it's not cheap.

David Crum, executive director of the New Zealand Dental Association (NZDA), says that dental treatment costs stack up very well when compared with other forms of medical surgery in private practice or private hospitals. He points out that dentists have to pay for expensive imported materials and equipment and the costs associated with maintaining mandatory standards of patient safety and continuing professional development.

Fees survey

Each year the New Zealand Dental Association carries out a survey of the fees charged by its members. The association has just published the results of its 2009 nationwide survey, summarising responses from more than 400 dentists.

On average, midpoint dental fees had increased by four percent since the 2008 survey.

Guide to the table 

• Fees are from a survey conducted by the New Zealand Dental Association during April 2009. The survey requested standard fees (assuming no complications) and GST is included.
• Lower is the lower quartile: 25 percent of fees were lower than this.
• Upper is the upper quartile: 25 percent of fees were higher than this. 

Differences

As our table shows, a wide range of fees can be charged for a single procedure. Half the dentists in the survey charged between $95 and $150 for an examination and X-ray. Auckland fees were the highest.

Many factors influence hourly rates. One is the level of “hi-tech” in the practice: new technology may save time, but the equipment is expensive and the dentist needs to cover the cost of buying it. Rents are likely to be higher for a mid-city practice than for a small-town or suburban dentist.

You can find more information on other procedures and regional prices on the NZDA website, www.healthysmiles.org.nz.

Different treatments

It's not only fees that can vary. One Consumer member told us that when she changed dentists her new dentist recommended a range of treatments - fillings and re-mineralisation - that her old dentist hadn't even suggested were necessary. Why the difference?

It may come down to the way the dentist checked for tooth decay. Some dentists now use dye to look for decay; others shine a laser on the teeth to look for changes in the enamel. Both these approaches may find patches of decay smaller than what can be picked up by the traditional "mirror and probe" technique.

As well, some dentists may treat decay early to avoid large fillings later. Other treatments aim to prevent decay occurring. A re-mineralising agent or a fluoride- or calcium-based gel can reverse the loss of minerals in enamel dissolved by sugary foods.