Children's dentistry

Children's dental care in South Africa: prices and what to ask

Updated 4 November 2026

A dental consultation for a child aged 13 or younger is listed at about R 450 in South Africa, and a children's dental visit typically costs R 500 to R 6,000, depending on the treatment (approximately, according to sellers' websites, November 2026). Describe your child's age, the issue and your city on BlaBlaPrice to get local quotes.

What the price depends on

• the child's age and the issue, such as a check-up, a filling or an extraction
• which teeth are treated and how many
• whether pain relief or sedation is needed
• how calm the child is in the chair, which can need more time
• the dentist's experience with children

Registration and specialist training

Check that the dentist is registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). Its fees schedule lists the registration fee for a dentist at R 3,824. Paediatric dentistry is not yet a recognised specialty, according to the South African Association of Paediatric Dentistry, so ask about the dentist's training with children.

Medical aid and family rates

Some children's practices in Pretoria and Sandton work at medical aid rates, and some offer a family discount for more than one child. Ask whether the practice works with your medical aid, and what the consultation costs before the first visit.

Season: school holidays

Summer, December to February, includes the school holidays, from mid-December to mid-January. Book a check-up in November, or in late January when school has restarted, so the child is not in a rush.

How children's dental care is bought here

Quotes are per visit or per treatment, so ask for the check-up and the treatment separately, and whether X-rays are charged on top. Families in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban and Gqeberha can book children's care close to home.

What to write in the request

Give the child's age, the problem (pain, a chipped tooth or a routine check-up), which teeth are involved, whether the child is nervous, whether you want sedation discussed, the city or area, and your budget.

BlaBlaPrice reads your request, asks for the missing details and checks dental price lists in South Africa for children's care. Practices registered on BlaBlaPrice reply in the chat with their price and terms, and your contact details stay hidden until you choose to share them. See Dental treatment and Tooth extraction.