Accessing Your Super for Dental Treatment: Patient FAQ
Straight answers to what patients ask about using super for dental treatment: eligibility, tax, costs, and red flags.
Eligibility & Qualifying
What conditions actually qualify me to use my super for dental treatment?
If you have a life-threatening illness or injury, or you have chronic pain or mental illness, you may be able to take some of your superannuation out before you retire to pay for treatment. This is called compassionate release of super. You cannot use your super to pay for purely cosmetic procedures.
↗ Dental Board of Australia — patient fact sheet, "Using your superannuation for dental treatment"
Do I have to prove I've got no other way to pay?
You can only use your super when there is no other way for you to pay for treatment.
↗ Dental Board of Australia — patient fact sheet, "Using your superannuation for dental treatment"
Does treatment get automatically excluded just because it's cosmetic-adjacent, like implants or veneers?
Treatments should not be precluded based on being a cosmetically associated procedure. ... Cosmetic dental procedures can improve patient aesthetics, while also improving the structural integrity of teeth, and be intricately linked with mental health conditions.
↗ Australian Dental Association — Guidelines for Compassionate Release of Superannuation
Is there an official list of which dental treatments are approved or excluded?
There is no defined list of procedures eligible under CRS. The appropriate treatment for patients, and reasons for such, will vary.
↗ Australian Dental Association — Guidelines for Compassionate Release of Superannuation
If my dental problem is linked to my mental health, do I need a different kind of report?
In cases of acute or chronic pain where dental treatment is required, individuals may get reports from two dentists. However, for an individual seeking treatment in association with acute or chronic mental illness, regardless of what the treatment is, a specialist report from a psychiatrist is expected.
↗ Australian Dental Association — Guidelines for Compassionate Release of Superannuation
Tax & Financial Impact
Will I have to pay tax on the super I release?
Unless for a terminal illness, super withdrawn early is generally taxed.
↗ Australian Dental Association — Guidelines for Compassionate Release of Superannuation
Could releasing my super affect Centrelink payments or child support?
Using your super for dental treatment can affect your finances now and later. It may reduce your retirement savings, affect your Centrelink or child support payments, and you may have to pay tax on the money you take out of your super.
↗ Dental Board of Australia — patient fact sheet, "Using your superannuation for dental treatment"
What could taking money out now actually cost me by the time I retire?
Analysis by Super Members Council shows a person who withdraws $20,000 from super at age 30 can result in $93,000 less at retirement.
For context, independent commentary puts the same modelling slightly differently: "It is estimated that a 30-year-old who withdrew $20,000 from superannuation now would be nearly $100,000 worse off by retirement." — Matt Hopcraft, "Accessing superannuation to fund dental treatment" (independent commentary, not a regulator).
Could releasing my super put insurance I hold inside my super fund at risk?
Withdrawal of funds may jeopardise linked insurance cover held within the super fund.
↗ Australian Dental Association — Guidelines for Compassionate Release of Superannuation
Should I get financial advice before doing this — and can my dentist give me that advice?
Doctors and dentists do not have a role in providing financial advice but should encourage patients to seek independent financial advice.
Costs & Paying for Help
Is it legal for my dentist or a third-party company to charge me a fee to fill out the application?
Your dentist should not charge fees to help you to prepare or submit applications, as they are not a registered tax agent. Be cautious of businesses who claim they can help you with the paperwork.
↗ Dental Board of Australia — patient fact sheet, "Using your superannuation for dental treatment"
Does my dentist have to complete the application for me?
Applications for CRS should be completed by the patient, not by the dental clinic or practitioner. Dentists are responsible for the associated report and sections of the CRS application only.
↗ Australian Dental Association — Guidelines for Compassionate Release of Superannuation
If I use a paid facilitator company, what am I entitled to know before choosing one?
Patients seeking assistance with completing a CRS application may be provided a list of firms offering that service, to support a selection that is not directed by the dental practitioner or clinic. If a clinic has a financial conflict of interest in using one of these firms, this needs to be disclosed.
↗ Australian Dental Association — Guidelines for Compassionate Release of Superannuation
What does my treatment quote or invoice legally need to include?
Your invoice or quote includes: an itemized list of expenses and their respective costs – lump sum quotes or invoices won't be accepted; provider's name and contact details; the provider's letterhead; addressed to the individual intending to apply for CRS; the date; all dollar values are in AUD.
↗ Australian Dental Association — CRS compliance checklist for dentists
Choosing a Provider & Red Flags
What are the official warning signs that a dentist or facilitator might be exploiting me?
Other common red flags include: telehealth appointments, rather than physical, in-person examinations being conducted by practitioners for compassionate release of superannuation dental conditions; recommending more expensive treatments when there may be cheaper effective treatments available; encouraging use of super to pay for treatment, rather than other payment options, such as a payment plan; third parties or practitioners that require you to use a specific provider to prepare your second compassionate release of superannuation medical report, or require you to use a specific third party to submit your application; requiring treatments to be fully paid upfront and withholding information about the ongoing costs of the treatment; charging fees to assist you with preparing or submitting a compassionate release of superannuation application without being a registered tax agent.
↗ ATO and AHPRA, joint media statement, "ATO and Ahpra sound the alarm on dodgy super dental offers"
Can a dentist or facilitator ask for my myGov login to "help" with my application?
You should be extremely wary of any facilitator or practitioner who asks for your myGov sign-in so they can 'apply for you'. You should never share your myGov details with anyone. Sharing your myGov details puts your identity security at significant risk.
↗ ATO and AHPRA, joint media statement, "ATO and Ahpra sound the alarm on dodgy super dental offers"
Is my dentist allowed to advertise or actively push me toward using my super?
Dentists should not advertise the CRS or unduly recommend CRS as a manner of accessing funds to afford dental treatment.
↗ Australian Dental Association — Guidelines for Compassionate Release of Superannuation
Do I have to accept the treatment plan and financing my dentist suggests, or can I get a second opinion?
You do not have to agree to having treatment or using your super to fund treatment just because your dentist has suggested it. You can see another dentist if you're feeling pressured or unsure.
↗ Dental Board of Australia — patient fact sheet, "Using your superannuation for dental treatment"
Is there real enforcement when a practitioner crosses the line, or are these just guidelines with no teeth?
Between 2019 and 2025, Ahpra received 95 complaints about medical and dental practitioners involved in the compassionate release of superannuation. Most complaints related to treatment outcomes or payment disputes. Two practitioners, both doctors, have been referred to tribunals for allegedly providing false documentation to the ATO. Another doctor has been given a formal caution, while a dentist has had conditions imposed on their registration.
↗ ATO and AHPRA, joint media statement, "ATO and Ahpra sound the alarm on dodgy super dental offers"
Do I have to tell a new dentist that I paid using released super?
You don't have to tell the dentist who wrote the report if your super application was approved.
The Process & After Approval
Once my super is released, am I stuck getting treatment from the dentist who wrote my report?
Individuals who successfully access their superannuation are also not obliged to undergo treatment with the dental practitioner/s who wrote the report/s.
↗ Australian Dental Association — Guidelines for Compassionate Release of Superannuation
Can I change my mind about the treatment after being approved?
You can change your mind about the treatment you want.
Do I have to pay for the whole treatment upfront?
Paying for your treatment upfront payment is not a requirement for compassionate release of super. You should not be pressured to pay for your treatment upfront.
↗ Dental Board of Australia / Ahpra, joint statement, "Compassionate release of superannuation"
What happens if my dentist's report to the ATO doesn't match what they actually told me?
Check that the report your dentist and any other practitioners give the ATO matches what they told you about your treatment and keep copies of your application and paperwork, because you may be responsible if a false report is made to the ATO.
↗ Dental Board of Australia — patient fact sheet, "Using your superannuation for dental treatment"
If my dentist retires, moves, or things break down mid-treatment, do they have to help me keep going?
If you are no longer able to receive care from your dentist because you move, they retire, your relationship with your dentist breaks down, or any other reason, then they should support you to access another dental practitioner to ensure continuity of care.
↗ Dental Board of Australia — patient fact sheet, "Using your superannuation for dental treatment"
What should my dentist tell me about future or ongoing costs before I agree to treatment?
It's a good idea to ask your dentist about any longer-term costs or need for recurring maintenance that might apply, as these can be significant.
↗ Dental Board of Australia — patient fact sheet, "Using your superannuation for dental treatment"
Can I use the released money for anything other than the approved dental treatment?
You can't use the money for non-dental things e.g. a new car.
Getting Help & If Something Goes Wrong
What can I do if I've had a bad experience with a dental practitioner — dishonesty, poor care, or lying about costs?
Worried about the performance or conduct of your dentist? For example, they were dishonest or unprofessional, they lied to you about costs or they provided poor quality of care. You can make a complaint to: Ahpra...
↗ Dental Board of Australia — patient fact sheet, "Using your superannuation for dental treatment"
If I complain to AHPRA, can they get my money back?
Ahpra cannot help you recover lost superannuation or money spent on treatment. If you think your dentist or third party has given the ATO false information about release of super, you can notify the ATO.
↗ Dental Board of Australia — patient fact sheet, "Using your superannuation for dental treatment"
Could I be the one penalised, not just my dentist, if a report turns out to be false?
Penalties can apply to individuals and health practitioners who make false or misleading statements on medical reports to the Commissioner to access compassionate release of superannuation.
↗ ATO and AHPRA, joint media statement, "ATO and Ahpra sound the alarm on dodgy super dental offers"
Where can I get free, independent financial advice before I apply?
Get informed before accessing your super. For information about the financial and tax implications of withdrawing super, seek independent financial advice. Here are some government websites you can use for more information: Centrelink's free Financial Information Service... Moneysmart... ATO: www.ato.gov.au
↗ Dental Board of Australia — patient fact sheet, "Using your superannuation for dental treatment"
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