Dental services

Dental services in South Africa

Updated 31 October 2026

A dental check-up in South Africa currently costs roughly R 300 to R 900, depending on the city and the practice, and a root canal about R 3,500 to R 10,000. Practices set their own fees, so the quickest way to compare them is to describe your treatment in a request on BlaBlaPrice and ask for a written quote.

Registration and what to check

Dentists in South Africa must be registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa, through its Medical and Dental Professional Board, and that registration is the licence to practise and treat patients. Ask the practice for its registration number before you book. Also ask whether the fee includes the consultation, X-rays and a clean, because price lists often add them separately. Many dentists set their own fees, and medical aid rates do not always cover the full amount.

Timing through the year

Summer runs from December to February, and practices in Cape Town and Johannesburg fill up in the weeks before the December break. October and early November are a good time to book a planned treatment such as a filling or a check-up. If you have pain now, say so in the request, so a practice can see you sooner.

Cities and how the price is quoted

Prices change between cities. A general check-up in Cape Town is typically quoted from R 400 to R 800, a consultation and examination in Johannesburg from R 450 to R 900, and a filling in Pretoria between R 800 and R 2,500. X-rays and a professional clean are often charged separately, so ask for the total. Quotes are per visit or per tooth, and a written treatment plan lets you compare two practices in the same area.

What to write in your request

Name the treatment you need, the number of teeth involved and their condition, and the material you prefer. Give the patient's age if it is a child, when the treatment is needed and your budget. Tell the practice your city or area, so you are quoted by clinics you can reach. The practice can then answer with a price and a possible visit date.

On BlaBlaPrice you describe the treatment in your own words in a chat, and a photo can be added. BlaBlaPrice's AI asks for missing details, looks through practice price lists in your area and shows the clinics it found. Registered dental practices receive the request and reply in the chat with their price and terms. The request is free for buyers, and you can also invite a clinic you already use by sending it the request link. Browse the dentistry section or start a request from the home page.