Find a Dentist in New South Wales

3,401 dental practices in New South Wales are listed on Find a Dentist.

New South Wales is Australia’s most populous state, with an estimated 8.67 million people at 31 March 2026. Whether you live in Sydney, on the Central Coast, in the Hunter or out in the Riverina, choosing a dentist usually comes down to a few practical things: where the practice is, whether it offers what you need, how you will pay, and whether you feel comfortable there.

Use the search at the top of this page to describe what you need in your own words, for example “check-up for two kids near Parramatta, after school” or “nervous adult, need a filling, Newcastle”. Below, you will find plain information about public dental care in NSW, children’s dental benefits and what to do if something is urgent.

Finding a dentist in NSW

Most dental care in NSW is provided by private practices. Public dental clinics also exist, usually in public hospitals and community health centres, but they are for people who meet eligibility rules (see below).

When you compare practices, it helps to write down what matters to you before you start: location and travel time, opening hours that suit work or school, services you know you need, payment options, and anything that makes visits easier for you, such as a calm approach for anxious patients or access needs. Our search lets you say all of this in one sentence.

Public dental care in NSW: who is eligible

NSW Health provides public dental services for eligible residents. According to NSW Health:

Children and young people under 18 who live in NSW and are eligible for Medicare can receive public dental care. A parent or guardian signs a Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) consent form. Children who are not eligible for CDBS, or who have used their CDBS benefit, can still be seen.
Adults (18 and over) must live in NSW, be eligible for Medicare and hold, or be listed as a dependant on, a Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card or Commonwealth Seniors Health Card. A NSW State Seniors Card on its own does not make you eligible.

Public dental patients are triaged, so urgent problems are seen sooner and routine care can involve a wait. To contact a NSW public dental service, call 1800 679 336. Have your Medicare card and concession card ready.

Public vouchers to see a private dentist

Under the NSW Oral Health Fee for Service Scheme, the public dental service may issue an eligible patient with a voucher to be treated by a participating private practitioner. Patients are triaged first and cannot request a voucher directly. NSW Health describes three voucher types: urgent care (valid for 1 month), general care (valid for 3 months) and denture care (valid for 3 months).

If you hold a voucher, ask a practice whether it participates in the scheme before you book.

Medicare, health funds and payment options

Most dental care is not covered by Medicare, so adults who are not eligible for public care usually see a private dentist, and private health insurance extras cover may help. Extras (general treatment) cover can help with many dental services, within your insurer’s limits.

A few questions help you plan:

Can I have a written treatment plan before we start?
Do you claim my health fund on the spot, or do I claim it later?
Do you offer payment plans or staged treatment?
If my child is eligible for CDBS, can you claim it?

Our search can look for practices that list payment plans or on-the-spot health fund claiming. Always confirm the details with the practice.

Children’s dental care and the Child Dental Benefits Schedule

The Australian Government’s Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) helps pay for basic dental services for eligible children aged 0–17 whose family receives certain government payments. Benefits apply over two consecutive calendar years. It covers services such as check-ups, x-rays, cleaning, fissure sealing, fillings, root canals and extractions, but not orthodontic or cosmetic work or dental services in hospital.

You do not need to apply: Services Australia writes to you if your child is eligible. In NSW, children can also use public dental services as described above, and NSW Health runs a Primary School Mobile Dental Program in participating local health districts.

Dental emergencies in NSW

Call 000 straight away if there is swelling that makes it hard to breathe or swallow, bleeding that will not stop, or a serious injury to the face, head or jaw, or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.

For a painful but not life-threatening problem, such as a broken tooth or toothache, contact a dental practice as early in the day as you can and say it is urgent. If you are eligible for public dental care, call 1800 679 336, where your problem will be triaged. If you are unsure what to do, healthdirect’s registered nurses can advise any time on 1800 022 222.

Checking a dentist’s registration

Every dentist, dental hygienist, oral health therapist, dental therapist and dental prosthetist practising in Australia must be registered. You can check any practitioner on the Ahpra Register of practitioners by name or registration number; the register also shows any conditions on their registration.

In Australia the title “specialist” is protected. The Dental Board of Australia recognises 13 dental specialties, such as orthodontics and endodontics, and titles like “orthodontist” may only be used by dentists with specialist registration in that field. If a practice describes a dentist as a specialist, you can confirm it on the Ahpra register. Find a Dentist does not describe practitioners as specialists unless that registration has been checked.

Questions to ask before you book

A short phone call can tell you a lot. You might ask:

Are you taking new patients, and how soon is the next appointment?
Who will I see, and can I see the same person next time?
I get anxious at the dentist. How do you usually help with that?
Is the practice accessible for prams, wheelchairs or walking frames?
What happens if I have a problem after hours?

How Find a Dentist matches you

Type what you need in your own words: your suburb in NSW, the kind of care you are after, and anything that matters to you, such as hours, payment plans, children, nerves, access needs or language. The search matches this against the details practices provide and explains each match in plain language.

We do not show star ratings or reviews, and we cannot give dental or medical advice. Please do not enter personal details such as your name, phone number or Medicare number.

Frequently asked questions

Who can get public dental care in NSW?

NSW Health provides public dental care to children under 18 who live in NSW and are eligible for Medicare, and to adults who live in NSW, are eligible for Medicare and hold (or are a dependant on) a Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card or Commonwealth Seniors Health Card.

How do I book a public dental appointment in NSW?

Call 1800 679 336. You will be asked about your dental problem so it can be triaged. Have your Medicare card and, for adults, your concession card ready.

Does Medicare cover dental care for adults in NSW?

Generally no. Most dental care is not covered by Medicare. Eligible adults can use public dental services, and private health insurance extras cover may help with private dental care.

Can a NSW public dental voucher be used at a private practice?

Yes, if the public dental service issues you a voucher under the Oral Health Fee for Service Scheme and the practice participates. You cannot request a voucher directly; the public service decides after triage.

What does the Child Dental Benefits Schedule cover?

Basic dental services for eligible children, over two consecutive calendar years. It does not cover orthodontic or cosmetic work.

What should I do in a dental emergency at night in NSW?

If there is swelling affecting breathing or swallowing, uncontrolled bleeding or a serious face or head injury, call 000 or go to a hospital emergency department. For advice on a less serious problem, call healthdirect on 1800 022 222.

How can I check that a dentist is registered?

Search the Ahpra Register of practitioners. It shows whether a dental practitioner is registered and any conditions on their registration.

Does Find a Dentist show reviews or star ratings?

No. We show what each practice has told us about its services, hours and payment options, and explain why it matches your search. We do not show ratings or reviews.

Sources and last checked

Facts on this page were checked on 26 October 2026 against these sources. Fees, phone numbers and eligibility can change, so please confirm with the service.