Why It Makes Sense to Get a Dental Implant Before the Year-End Holidays Begin
Dock Dental Team | November 7, 2025 | 4 min read
If you’ve been thinking about replacing a missing tooth, there’s no better time than right now to start your dental implant journey – not just because you are going into the festive season.
Here’s why so many people choose the end of the year to begin treatment — and how you can make the most of your private health fund benefits before they reset.
Use Your Health Fund Before It Resets
Most health funds in Australia reset on December 31, which means any unused dental benefits don’t roll over. If you’ve been paying for your cover all year, you’ve earned those benefits — so it makes sense to use them before they expire.
Starting your dental implant treatment before the end of the year means you can use this year’s remaining dental cover for your dental implant. It isn’t just about getting ahead — it’s about making your health fund work smarter for you – that means less out-of-pocket expense. We will explain how that benefits you in the sections below.
Split the Cost Across Two Years to Get a Better Health Fund Benefit
Dental implants are completed in stages over several months — typically between three to six months apart. This allows time for the implant to heal and fuse naturally with your jawbone before the final crown or restoration is placed. For most of the health funds, both of these phases are part of Major Dental which will have an annual limit. Depending on your health fund, you will most likely hit the limit in the first phase, with no health fund benefit left for the second phase.
By starting right before the year ends, you can spread the cost across two benefit periods, using:
- your current year’s benefits for the surgical stage (implant placement), and
- your next year’s benefits for the final crown or restoration.
This natural treatment timeline makes it easy to plan your appointments, maximise your health fund rebates, and reduce your out-of-pocket costs. This simple timing strategy can significantly reduce your out-of-pocket costs.
How Much Could You Save?
Every health fund is different, but most offer major dental limits between $800 and $2,000 per year, depending on your level of cover.
Here’s an example of how the savings might work based on a typical cost for dental implant and an assumed annual limit of $1200.
Treatment Stage Typical Cost Health Fund Rebate Out-of-Pocket Implant placement
(this year)$3,500 $1,200
(this year limit)$2,300 Crown & abutment
(next year)$2,500 $1,200
(next year limit)$1,300 Total $6,000 $2,400 $3,600 Now, let’s look at what happens if you wait until next year to start:
Treatment Stage Typical Cost Health Fund Rebate Out-of-Pocket Both phases
(next year)$6,000 $1,200
(next year limit)$4,800 So, you would end up spending $1,200 more if you do it together next year rather than start end of this year and finish next year.
* Just a reminder that the cost above are just an example and the actual cost of implant may differ. Similarly, the health fund limits are also an example and your actual health fund benefits will depend on your cover.
Beat the End-of-Year Rush (and Holiday Closures!)
The end of the year is always busy — everyone’s trying to use their health fund before it resets. On top of that, many dental clinics close for a few weeks over the Christmas and New Year break, meaning appointment availability can get tight.
Booking your consultation early ensures you secure your preferred appointment times and gives your dentist plenty of time to plan your treatment before the holidays.
Waiting Periods
If you’ve recently upgraded your private health cover, keep in mind that major dental treatments often come with a 12-month waiting period. Starting your implant consultation and planning now helps ensure you’re ready to go as soon as your waiting period ends — instead of having to delay treatment well into next year.
You might also find offers to waive off waiting period if you switch to certain health fund providers. It might be a good idea to explore and take advantage of those offers. Learn more about health fund in our article on how dental health funds work.
Set Yourself Up for a Healthy New Year
Dental implants don’t just replace missing teeth — they also help maintain a healthy bite and prevent jawbone loss. Starting treatment now means you’ll be well on your way to a stronger, healthier smile in the new year.
Don’t let your health fund benefits go to waste!
If you’ve been putting off getting a dental implant, now’s the perfect time to take action.
Book your gap free implant consultation today and find out how to make the most of your remaining dental benefits before December 31st. Call our team at 02 7253 0333 and they will be able to book you in for health fund only consultation. You save the out of pocket cost here as well!
The ideas expressed in the above article are solely meant for general guidance to understand your conditions. While we have made attempts to ensure that the information contained are up to date, it should not be taken as a professional advice for your conditions. We cannot guarantee the accuracy and results of the suggested ideas for your conditions. Dock Dental or the author is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of the above information.
We strongly advise you to talk to your dentist about your condition to get a proper solution. If you do not have a regular dentist, you can also book an appointment online or call us at 02 7253 0333 to talk to our dentist.
