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Best Dentists in Dunedin

We assessed 20 dentists in Dunedin and ranked the top 5 on their public review record: rating quality, review volume and how recent the reviews are. The 10 listed below hold 640 Google reviews between them. No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Last updated 13 August 2026. How we rank →

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Before you hire

Dental fees in NZ are unregulated and vary widely between practices, so the same treatment can cost very differently across town. Ask for a written treatment plan with itemised costs before agreeing to anything, check whether the dentist is registered with the Dental Council of New Zealand, and ask how after-hours emergencies are handled.

Top 5 Dentists in Dunedin

The top 5 dentists in Dunedin are Chew Dental, Dunedin Dental, Bell Hill Dental, Synergy Dental, and Pitt Street Dental, ranked by Top5 score. Scroll for our take on each, plus what to ask before you choose.

  • 1

    Chew Dental

    ★ 4.8 117 reviews +6 Top5 Score 158 +2
    5★ 111 3★ 2 1★ 4

    Chew Dental draws a steady stream of dental-anxious patients who leave willing to book again, covering routine care, wisdom tooth surgery, and implant consultations. Dentists like David, Fred, and Natalia talk through options and costs before proceeding, and patients consistently note they were not pushed toward procedures they did not need.

    Reviews most often describe: Anxious patients wanting honest, no-pressure dental care

    • ✓ Anxious patients report feeling calm during and after appointments
    • ✓ Dentists explain treatment options and costs before any work begins
    • ✓ Wisdom tooth extractions handled with local anaesthesia and patient updates

    location_on 2 Jenkins Street, Green Island, Dunedin

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  • 2

    Dunedin Dental

    ★ 4.9 86 reviews Top5 Score 156
    5★ 83 4★ 1 3★ 1 2★ 1

    Dunedin Dental builds long-term treatment plans for patients arriving with significant dental backlogs, seeing cases through from heavy remedial work to ongoing maintenance. Dentists Joel and Raquel are named repeatedly for taking time to explain findings in plain language and adapting their approach to patients with sensory sensitivities or dental anxiety.

    Reviews most often describe: Anxious or neurodivergent patients needing patient-centred care

    • ✓ Dentists explain findings clearly before starting any treatment
    • ✓ Patients with dental anxiety report leaving appointments at ease
    • ✓ Same-day or short-notice appointments available when needed

    location_on Dunedin Dental Building 1/169 Princes Street, Central City, Dunedin

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  • 3

    Bell Hill Dental

    ★ 4.9 82 reviews +4 Top5 Score 155 +1
    5★ 80 1★ 2

    Bell Hill Dental gets anxious and long-lapsed patients through fillings, extractions, root canals, and tooth repairs without pain, often on the same day they call. Dentists like Ally, Claudia, Harriet, and Kerri take time to walk patients through each step in plain language before proceeding, which reviewers credit for turning dreaded appointments into ones they willingly rebook.

    Reviews most often describe: Dental-anxious patients needing same-day or urgent care

    • ✓ Same-day appointments given for urgent tooth damage and pain
    • ✓ Procedures like root canals and extractions completed with zero pain reported
    • ✓ Each step explained clearly before and during treatment, in plain language

    location_on 109 Princes Street, Central Dunedin, Dunedin

    map Map Is this your business?
  • 4

    Synergy Dental

    ★ 4.6 102 reviews +1 Top5 Score 152 +6
    5★ 91 2★ 2 1★ 9

    Synergy Dental fits people who have avoided dentists for years, offering extractions, fillings, tooth repairs, and hygiene cleans, with late appointments that remove the need to take time off work. Dentists John, Hannah, and Robin are named for adapting to anxiety, low anaesthetic tolerance, and complex health needs, and the EMS water-based cleaning system has brought back patients who previously could not tolerate standard plaque removal.

    Reviews most often describe: Dental-anxious patients wanting late or urgent appointments

    • ✓ Late appointments available so patients skip no time off work
    • ✓ EMS water-based clean suits patients with severe teeth sensitivity
    • ✓ Urgent same-day appointments given to patients in acute pain

    location_on 8 Water Street Level 7 John Wickliffe House, 265 Princes Street, Dunedin

    map Map Is this your business?
  • 5

    Pitt Street Dental Dunedin | Lumino The Dentists

    ↑ 5
    ★ 4.6 66 reviews +15 Top5 Score 147 +11
    5★ 56 4★ 2 3★ 3 2★ 1 1★ 4

    Pitt Street Dental brings anxious and long-lapsed patients through routine hygiene, tooth repairs, and cosmetic work like composite bonding, with named clinicians Ken, Bhavya, Lee, Charlotte, and Abby each cited for putting nervous patients at ease. Weekend and same-day emergency slots mean out-of-towners and urgent cases get seen without a weeks-long wait.

    Reviews most often describe: Anxious or long-lapsed patients wanting trusted ongoing care

    • ✓ Weekend and same-day emergency appointments available for urgent dental needs
    • ✓ Dentists and hygienists repeatedly named for calming anxious or fearful patients
    • ✓ Long-term patient relationships spanning decades with consistent caring staff

    location_on 10 Pitt Street, Dunedin North, Dunedin

    map Map Is this your business?

Before you choose a dentist in Dunedin

Drawn from 171 customer reviews collected for this page. The first answer is what it costs.

What does dental treatment typically cost in New Zealand? expand_more

Adult dental care in New Zealand is largely user-pays, with no public subsidy for most adults. A standard check-up and clean runs between $100 and $250, while fillings range from $150 to $400 depending on size and material. Crowns cost between $1,500 and $2,500 or more, and root canals sit in a similar bracket. Children under 18 get free basic dental care through the Community Dental Service, and WINZ emergency dental grants are available for eligible adults facing urgent treatment costs.

How do I check that a dentist is registered and what to do if something goes wrong? expand_more

Every practising dentist in New Zealand must hold a current annual practising certificate issued by the Dental Council of New Zealand, and you can verify this for free on the public register at dentalcouncil.org.nz before you book. Dental hygienists and dental therapists are registered separately under the same Council, so check the correct category for whoever will be treating you. If something goes wrong, the Health and Disability Commissioner investigates complaints about care quality and patient rights, while the Dental Council handles conduct and fitness-to-practise matters. For billing disputes or minor concerns, raising the issue directly with the practice first is the standard first step in New Zealand.

How do I avoid being sold treatment I do not need? expand_more

Ask for a written treatment plan with itemised costs and alternatives before agreeing to anything, since a trustworthy practice will provide this without hesitation. Reviewers specifically noted appreciating dentists who did not push procedures that were unnecessary, which is a useful benchmark when assessing your own experience. X-rays and clinical photos should be shown and explained to you so you can see the evidence behind any recommendation. If a treatment feels premature or the cost is significant, a second opinion from another registered dentist is entirely reasonable and a good practice will not discourage you from seeking one.

What are the warning signs of a dental practice you should avoid? expand_more
  • –Pressure to commit to expensive treatment in the same appointment, without time to consider options or seek a second opinion.
  • –No written itemised quote before work begins, leaving you with surprise charges at payment.
  • –Fees that differ significantly from what was discussed at booking, with no explanation offered.
  • –Poor workmanship that fails shortly after treatment, combined with difficulty getting the practice to address it.
  • –Unprofessional conduct from reception staff, including dismissive or mocking responses to patient enquiries.
  • –Unusual payment practices, such as refusing card payments without prior notice or other policies that feel controlling rather than patient-focused.
What should you ask before booking a dentist? expand_more
  • –Ask what the first visit costs in total, including any x-rays, so there are no surprises at checkout.
  • –Ask whether they provide a written treatment plan with costs and alternative options before any work is approved.
  • –Ask how they handle after-hours or weekend dental emergencies, since some practices offer this and others refer you elsewhere.
  • –Ask whether you will see the same dentist at each visit, as continuity matters particularly for ongoing or complex treatment.
  • –Ask how they support nervous or anxious patients, since several Dunedin practices have explicit approaches to this and it is worth knowing before you arrive.
  • –Ask about appointment availability, including whether early morning or late evening slots exist, to avoid unnecessary time off work.

Dentists ranked 6 to 10 in Dunedin

They scored below the top 5 on the same public review record.

  • 6

    Knox Dental Centre | Lumino The Dentists

    ↑ 2
    ★ 4.8 50 reviews +4 Top5 Score 147 +7
    5★ 47 1★ 3

    Knox Dental Centre handles fillings, implant consultations, hygiene cleans, and routine check-ups, with multiple named dentists including Jacob, Chuen, Murray, and Grady each cited for walking patients through every step before proceeding. Early morning and late evening appointments on weekdays mean working patients can get seen without rearranging their day.

    Reviews most often describe: Nervous patients wanting thorough, no-pressure ongoing dental care

    • ✓ Dentists show and explain X-rays before discussing treatment options
    • ✓ Multiple dentists named for keeping extremely nervous patients calm and informed
    • ✓ Appointments available from 7am and as late as 8pm on weekdays

    location_on 483 George Street, Dunedin North, Dunedin

    map Map Is this your business?
  • 7

    Dental Care Dunedin

    ↓ 2
    ★ 5.0 37 reviews +6 Top5 Score 147 +2
    5★ 37

    Dental Care Dunedin fits patients who need to be seen quickly, with same-day appointments arranged even for travellers leaving the country that evening, covering fillings, wisdom tooth extractions, implant repairs, and night guards. Dentist Jed is named repeatedly for making nervous patients feel at ease and for explaining what caused a problem so they leave knowing how to avoid a repeat.

    Reviews most often describe: Anxious patients needing urgent, same-day dental appointments

    • ✓ Same-day urgent appointments arranged even for travelling patients
    • ✓ Wisdom tooth extractions completed with no pain felt by patients
    • ✓ Jed explains the cause of issues to prevent future repeat visits

    location_on 504 George Street, Dunedin North, Dunedin

    map Map Is this your business?
  • 8

    Smile Co Dental

    ↓ 2
    ★ 4.9 41 reviews +5 Top5 Score 146 +3
    5★ 39 4★ 1 1★ 1

    Smile Co Dental draws patients who have avoided the dentist for years, sometimes decades, through fillings, molar repairs, hygiene cleans, and ongoing treatment planning. Dentists Nikki and Mariam are each named for explaining procedures in plain language, checking comfort throughout, and leaving patients relaxed enough to book follow-up appointments they had previously put off.

    Reviews most often describe: Long-lapsed or phobic patients wanting gentle, planned care

    • ✓ Phobic patients treated gently enough to return after 18-plus years away
    • ✓ Dentists explain each step clearly before and during treatment
    • ✓ Conservative treatment approach that avoids unnecessary dental work

    location_on 373 Princes Street, Dunedin

    map Map Is this your business?
  • 9

    The Dental Walrus

    ↓ 2
    ★ 4.8 32 reviews Top5 Score 142 +1
    5★ 30 3★ 1 1★ 1

    At The Dental Walrus, pricing that sits well below the Dunedin average means patients who have been putting off fillings, broken tooth repairs, and check-ups are actually getting seen. They take time to walk patients through each step using a mirror so nothing happens without warning, and same-day appointments for urgent cases, including travellers mid-trip, are a regular feature.

    Reviews most often describe: Cost-conscious patients needing affordable, same-day urgent care

    • ✓ Explains each step live using a small mirror during treatment
    • ✓ Same-day urgent appointments available including for walk-in travellers
    • ✓ Pricing described as among the most affordable in Dunedin

    location_on 27I Albany Street, Dunedin North, Dunedin

    map Map Is this your business?
  • 10

    Smart Dental Care

    ↓ 1
    ★ 4.9 27 reviews Top5 Score 141 +2
    5★ 26 1★ 1

    Smart Dental Care delivers fillings, extractions, hygiene cleans, and multi-procedure sessions for patients with complicated dental histories, with clinicians like Asha, Catherine, and Jo each named for genuine mechanical skill and attention to detail. Patients who have spent years dreading the chair report leaving without pain and willing to return, crediting work that has outlasted results from other practices.

    Reviews most often describe: Patients with complex teeth wanting durable, pain-free work

    • ✓ Multiple fillings completed in one session to a durable standard
    • ✓ Anaesthetic administered so gently patients did not feel the needle
    • ✓ Patients with long-term dental anxiety feel calm enough to rebook

    location_on 161 High Street, Central Dunedin, Dunedin

    map Map Is this your business?

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About this ranking

How are the top dentists in Dunedin chosen? expand_more

We build this page from Google Maps results for dentists in Dunedin. Each one is scored on its public rating and review record. Businesses outside the area, or whose reviews describe a different line of work, are left out. See how we rank for the full method.

How often are rankings updated? expand_more

Every category and city is recrawled on a rolling cycle, about once a month. This page was last checked on 13 August 2026.

Can a business pay to appear in this list? expand_more

No. Top 5 and Also Recommended positions are merit-only and cannot be purchased. Verifying a business is free. A subscription adds a website link on the card, a public profile page, and competitor and ranking history in the owner's dashboard, none of which affects ranking position. See what a subscription includes.

Why isn't my business listed? expand_more

We build this page from Google Maps results for dentists in Dunedin. The usual reasons for missing out are a Google Business category that does not match, too few reviews to score near the top, or an address outside the area we cover. At the last update, the smallest review count among the 10 businesses listed here was 27. Check where you rank or read how rankings work.