Forget Newtown.

They cost. Bomb

Expect a large variation. You'll have to ring, as none will have prices online.

Personally, I wouldn't expect cheaper in the suburbs. I'd start ringing a few places around Haymarket.

Just as aside, many Australians have no cover for dental work. It's not covered by Medicare, or the most common private health - only by extras cover. You won't be the first to ring asking for a price.

Thanks for the replies. I'll just monitor it day by day and watch for symptoms. If it's asymptomatic, then I'll just wait when I get back home.

I find dentists extremely expensive in Sydney.

I had 3 implants in Europe done 3 years ago for the price of 1 implant here. And the work was first class.

I don't know how they compare to dentists in USA, but if you can wait till you get home, I suggest you do.

Where are you now? In my experience it is cheaper in regional towns, with better service, than in Sydney.

Check up and clean is around $170.

I have no idea of the cost of dentistry in the USA, but in Australia it's very expensive. With still two months to go you'll need to monitor the situation very carefully. It will certainly be worthwhile doing a ring around for the cost of a consultation, but that usually is only the thin edge of the wedge and the final all up price would depend on what work was needed. Could cost you a bomb.

It's a shame that this didn't happen while you were in Asia. I always wait for our trips to Thailand to go to the dentist as not only are they a very great deal cheaper, in the main I've found that they do a better job.

Personally I have had all my dental work done in Thailand including extensive restorative surgery - in preference to ever setting foot in an Aus dental office.

For the work you think you need doing it would be cheaper to get a quick flight to Phuket and have someone like Sea Smile look after you while you have a relaxing break. All their pricing is on the Bangkok smile website. Simple enough to get a quote in Aus and then compare with online pricing and tack on the flight and you will still have leftovers for a swish hotel and flights.

Affordable and dentist are two words that don't really go together in Sydney. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Australia is one of the most expensive countries in the world for dental treatment. So expensive that if you require any serious, detailed work it can be cheaper to fly to Asia and have it done there.

If you have a health fund check to see what they provide, you may have access to a 'gap free' dental examination.

<Affordable and dentist are two words that don't really go together in Sydney>

Or anywhere else in Australia for that matter. Even with health insurance extras the benefits are not all that good.

<If you have a health fund check to see what they provide, you may have access to a 'gap free' dental examination>

The OP has said he doesn't have health cover in the US. That leaves him with 2 choices IMO - leave it for the moment and monitor the situation or do as others have suggested and ring around for quotes. A temporary filling may not be as expensive as expected and could last until the OP returns home.