How much does a dentist cost in Cape Town without medical aid?

There is no fixed national price list for dental treatment in South Africa. Each dental practice sets its own fees, and the cost of a check-up, a filling or more complex treatment depends on the practice, the treatment needed and your own examination. A written quotation from the practice, before treatment starts, is the only reliable way to know what your own treatment will cost.

In short

• Each dental practice sets its own fees. There is no government price list for private dental treatment.
• The cost of treatment depends on what is needed, from a routine check-up to more complex work such as root canal treatment or a crown, and on the practice itself.
• Medical aid schemes pay claims according to their own tariff, which can be higher, lower or the same as what an individual practice charges.
• A written quotation from the practice, before treatment starts, is the only reliable way to know the cost of your own treatment.

What drives the cost of dental treatment?

A dentist’s fee reflects more than time in the chair. It covers the practice’s running costs, such as rent, sterilisation and infection control, and dental materials, and, for items such as crowns and dentures, an outside dental laboratory’s fee. The complexity of the case matters too. A molar with several roots takes longer to treat than a single-rooted front tooth, and a large or deep cavity takes more time and material than a small one. Where the practice is located plays a part as well, since running costs differ between a suburb and a city-centre professional building.

What is the difference between medical aid rates and private rates?

A medical aid scheme pays dental claims according to its own tariff, which it sets itself rather than government, and this can differ from what an individual practice charges for the same procedure. Many dentists charge more than the scheme’s tariff, and where that happens, the medical aid pays its tariff amount and the patient pays the difference themselves, as a co-payment. Can I use my medical savings account for a check-up or a filling? explains how this works for everyday treatment.

How does medical aid change what you pay?

If your plan includes day-to-day or savings benefits, basic dental treatment is usually paid from that benefit first, at your scheme’s own tariff, until the available amount is used up. Specialised treatment is often handled separately, and cover for a dental emergency depends on your specific plan. See Does medical aid cover emergency dental treatment in South Africa? and What dental work does medical aid usually not cover? for more detail. Cover differs from scheme to scheme and plan to plan, so check your own plan, or ask about a written quotation.

What does a written quotation usually cover?

A written quotation from a dental practice is normally given after an examination, since the dentist needs to see the tooth or teeth involved before pricing the work accurately. It typically sets out the treatment recommended, the fee for each part of it, and any laboratory or material cost that applies. If X-rays or further tests are needed first, these are usually quoted and charged separately, and a treatment plan involving more than one visit may be priced stage by stage rather than as a single figure. Ask the practice to explain anything in a quotation that is not clear before you agree to treatment, since this is the point at which you can still ask questions or consider your options.

How do I reach Dr Davies?

For a figure for your own treatment, call the practice’s reception, where fees are discussed, and ask for a written quotation after an examination. BRS Dental is not registered with medical aids, so it does not claim from them directly, but reception can help you submit your claim to your medical aid. For anything clinical, contact Dr Davies. If you are in pain now, see the dental emergency guidance on this site rather than researching the cost first.