Family dental budget calculator
Budget routine dental care for the whole household.
This tool budgets routine dental care for the whole household, with a line for orthodontics because braces or aligners for one child can outweigh everything else in the year. The thing families in Australia most often miss is the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, which can cover much of a child's basic care and should be entered as a rebate. Budget adults and children separately, since children usually need less restorative work but may need sealants and orthodontic assessment.
- Set aside per month
- $133
- Total before rebate
- $1,600
What affects the cost
- The number of adults and children, and how often each needs to be seen.
- Public schemes for children, which can reduce the child line to almost nothing in some countries.
- Orthodontics: braces or aligners for one child can cost more than the rest of the household's care combined.
- Fillings and sealants for children, and older restorations needing replacement for adults.
- Family insurance limits, which usually apply per person and may include a separate lifetime orthodontic limit.
- Whether the family uses one practice, which may offer a family discount or membership plan.
- Emergencies: a knocked-out tooth from sport is common in children and can be covered by accident schemes in some countries.
How this is calculated
- Total = adults × adult cost + children × child cost + orthodontics.
- Out-of-pocket = total − rebates.
Insurance and rebates in Australia
Eligible children aged 0 to 17 can claim up to $1,158 of basic dental care over two calendar years under the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, covering check-ups, x-rays, cleans, fillings and extractions but not orthodontics or cosmetic work. Family extras policies cover general dental after a two-month wait and orthodontics after a twelve-month wait, usually with a lifetime orthodontic limit per person. Adults get nothing from Medicare, so their line is either fully private or rebated through extras up to the annual limit.
Frequently asked questions
Are children's dental visits free anywhere?
Yes in several countries: NHS treatment is free for under-18s in the UK, New Zealand funds basic care until 18, Australia's Child Dental Benefits Schedule covers eligible children up to a two-year cap, and Canada and the US have public programmes for lower-income families. Check your local scheme before budgeting the child line.
How much should we set aside for orthodontics?
Braces or aligners commonly run into the thousands, paid over one to two years, so a monthly amount from the time an assessment is recommended is the least painful approach. Insurance orthodontic benefits are usually a lifetime cap per child rather than an annual one.
Is a family insurance policy worth it?
Compare the premium with what you would claim across every family member, including orthodontics if a child is likely to need it. It often pays for families with growing children and rarely for two healthy adults having routine cleans.
Do practices offer family discounts?
Some do, especially for booking several family members together or through a membership plan that covers the household. Ask, because it is rarely advertised.
How do we budget for dental emergencies?
Add a small emergency allowance to the adult or child line; sports injuries and cracked teeth are common. Mouthguards for children playing contact sport are cheap compared with the injury they prevent, and accident schemes in some countries cover injury treatment.
Related calculators
All patient calculators- Annual dental care costBudget a year of routine dental care for one person.Open calculator →
- Braces costEstimate what a course of braces will cost you after any insurance or rebate.Open calculator →
- Clear aligner / Invisalign costEstimate what a clear aligner course will cost you after any insurance or rebate.Open calculator →
Ranges researched to 7 Sept 2026. Last updated 18 Sept 2026. See our methodology.