Understanding the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, who qualifies, what’s covered, and how to make sure your family doesn’t leave money on the table.
Every year, hundreds of thousands of Australian families leave free dental care on the table. Their children qualify for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule – a Medicare-funded program that covers up to $1,095.60 in dental treatment over two consecutive calendar years – and they never use it. Some parents don’t know the program exists. Others assume their child doesn’t qualify. Many aren’t sure which dentists accept it.
It’s one of the most generous preventive health programs the federal government offers, and it goes chronically underused. If you have children aged 0 to 17 and your family receives certain government payments, there’s a strong chance your kids are eligible for subsidised dental care right now.
At Core Dental, we accept CDBS patients across all nine of our Melbourne locations. We’ve helped thousands of families access these benefits, and we’ve seen firsthand the difference early, consistent dental care makes in a child’s long-term oral health. Here’s everything you need to know.
What Is the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS)?
The Child Dental Benefits Schedule is a federal government program administered through Medicare. It provides eligible children with up to $1,095.60 in dental benefits over a two-year period (known as a “cap period”). The current cap period runs for two consecutive calendar years.
The program was introduced in 2014, replacing the earlier Medicare Teen Dental Plan. Its purpose is straightforward: to reduce financial barriers to basic dental care for children in lower-income families. The evidence is clear that children who receive regular dental check-ups and early intervention have significantly better oral health outcomes throughout their lives.
Key facts about the CDBS:
- Benefit cap: $1,095.60 over two consecutive calendar years
- Age range: Children aged 0 to 17 at any point during the calendar year
- Means tested: The child must be eligible for Medicare and receive (or be part of a family receiving) certain government payments
- No gap for bulk-billed services: When a dental practice bulk bills CDBS, families pay nothing out of pocket for covered services
- Portable: Benefits can be used at any dental practice that accepts CDBS – private or public
Does My Child Qualify?
Eligibility for the CDBS has two components: the child must be the right age, and the family must receive qualifying government payments.
Age requirement: Your child must be aged 0 to 17 for at least one day during the calendar year. If your child turns 18 during the year, they remain eligible for the entire calendar year in which they turn 18. Children under 2 are eligible but rarely need treatment beyond a first dental visit.
Means test: The child (or a parent/guardian) must receive one of the following payments at some point during the calendar year:
- Family Tax Benefit Part A
- Parenting Payment (Single or Partnered)
- ABSTUDY
- Youth Allowance
- Disability Support Pension
- Carer Payment
- Double Orphan Pension
- Special Benefit
- Veterans’ Children Education Scheme payments (if the child is 16 or over)
- Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act Education and Training Scheme (if the child is 16 or over)
How to check eligibility: The simplest way is to call Medicare directly on 132 011 or log into your Medicare online account through myGov. You can also check your child’s CDBS balance – how much of the $1,095.60 has been used and how much remains.
If you’re receiving Family Tax Benefit Part A – which covers a very broad range of Australian families – your children are almost certainly eligible. Many middle-income families qualify and don’t realise it.
What Does the CDBS Cover?
The CDBS covers a comprehensive range of basic dental services. It is specifically designed around preventive and restorative care – the treatments that keep children’s teeth healthy and address problems before they become serious.
Covered services include:
- Examinations and consultations – regular check-ups, usually recommended every six months
- X-rays – including OPG (panoramic) radiographs and periapical (small) films
- Scale and clean – professional cleaning and removal of plaque and tartar
- Fluoride treatment – topical fluoride application to strengthen enamel
- Fissure sealants – protective coatings applied to the chewing surfaces of back teeth to prevent decay
- Fillings – composite (tooth-coloured) and amalgam restorations
- Extractions – removal of teeth when necessary
- Root canal treatment on baby teeth (pulpotomy) – treating infection in primary teeth
- Partial dentures – where teeth have been lost and replacement is needed
Services NOT covered by CDBS:
- Orthodontic treatment (braces, aligners)
- Cosmetic dental procedures
- Hospital or general anaesthesia fees
- Dental services provided in a hospital
The covered services represent everything most children will need during routine dental care. Check-ups, cleans, fluoride, sealants and the occasional filling account for the overwhelming majority of children’s dental visits.
What Does “Bulk Billing” Mean for Dental?
In a medical context, Australians are familiar with bulk billing – you see the GP, Medicare pays the full fee, and you walk out without paying anything. Dental bulk billing under the CDBS works the same way.
When a dental practice bulk bills CDBS services, it means:
- The practice charges the Medicare-scheduled fee for the service
- Medicare pays the practice directly
- The family pays zero out of pocket
- The cost is deducted from the child’s $1,095.60 cap balance
Not all dental practices bulk bill CDBS. Some charge above the Medicare-scheduled fee and ask families to pay the difference (known as a “gap”). Others don’t accept CDBS at all. At Core Dental, we bulk bill CDBS services, which means eligible families pay nothing for covered treatments.
This is particularly important because many families who qualify for CDBS are on tight budgets. The whole point of the program is to remove cost as a barrier to children’s dental care. Bulk billing makes that promise real.
Making the Most of Your Child’s CDBS Benefits
With $1,095.60 available over two years, strategic use of benefits ensures your child gets comprehensive care. Here’s how to maximise the value:
Schedule regular six-monthly check-ups. A standard check-up including examination, two x-rays, a scale and clean, and fluoride treatment typically uses a modest portion of the benefit cap. Two visits per year over the two-year cap period still leaves significant benefit remaining for any treatment that might be needed.
Don’t skip fissure sealants. When your child’s permanent molars erupt (usually around ages 6 and 12), fissure sealants are one of the most effective preventive treatments available. The deep grooves on molar chewing surfaces are natural traps for bacteria and food debris. Sealing them costs a fraction of filling a cavity later and can prevent decay entirely. Sealants are fully covered under CDBS.
Address problems early. If your child has a small cavity, getting it filled promptly under CDBS is far better than waiting until it becomes a larger problem requiring more complex (and more expensive) treatment. Early intervention is both clinically superior and more economical with your benefit balance.
Check your balance before booking. Knowing how much benefit remains helps you and your dentist plan treatment priorities. You can check the balance through your myGov Medicare account or by calling 132 011. Your dental practice can also verify the balance at the time of your visit.
Use it or lose it. CDBS benefits don’t roll over. If you don’t use the full $1,095.60 within the two-year cap period, the unused portion is forfeited. A new cap period then begins. There’s no advantage to “saving” benefits.
Common CDBS Questions Parents Ask
“My child has never been to the dentist. When should they start?”
The Australian Dental Association recommends a child’s first dental visit by their first birthday, or within six months of their first tooth appearing. Early visits are about establishing comfort and familiarity as much as clinical examination. They also allow the dentist to identify any early developmental concerns and provide guidance on oral hygiene, diet and dummy/thumb-sucking habits. First visits for toddlers are covered under CDBS.
“Can I split my child’s treatment between two dentists?”
Yes. CDBS benefits belong to the child, not the dental practice. Your child can see different dentists and the benefits will be deducted from the same cap balance. However, continuity of care is generally better – your dentist builds a comprehensive understanding of your child’s dental development over time. At Core Dental, records are shared across all nine locations through our CareStack system, so families can visit whichever practice is most convenient without losing continuity.
“What happens if my child needs treatment that costs more than the remaining balance?”
If the remaining CDBS balance doesn’t cover the full cost of treatment, you’ll be advised before any work is done. You can choose to proceed and pay the gap, wait for the next cap period if the treatment isn’t urgent, or prioritise the most important treatment within the remaining balance. We’ll always discuss options with you transparently.
“Do baby teeth really need fillings? They’re going to fall out anyway.”
Absolutely yes. Baby teeth serve critical functions: they maintain space for permanent teeth, support proper jaw development, and allow children to eat and speak normally. An untreated cavity in a baby tooth can cause pain, infection, and abscess. It can also damage the permanent tooth developing beneath it. Treating decay in baby teeth is not optional – it’s essential.
“Is my child eligible even if we have private health insurance?”
Yes. CDBS eligibility is independent of private health insurance. However, you cannot claim the same service through both CDBS and private insurance. If your private insurance covers children’s dental with no gap, you might choose to use private insurance and preserve your CDBS balance for treatments your insurance doesn’t fully cover. Your dental practice can help you work out the most beneficial approach.
Children’s Dental Care at Core Dental
Beyond CDBS-covered services, Core Dental provides comprehensive children’s dental care designed around the specific needs of young patients.
Specialist paediatric dentists are available within our network for children with complex dental needs, dental anxiety, or medical conditions that require specialist management. These are AHPRA-registered specialists who have completed additional years of university training specifically in children’s dentistry – not general dentists who happen to see children.
A child-friendly approach matters enormously. Dental anxiety in children often stems from a single negative experience. Our teams are trained in age-appropriate communication, tell-show-do techniques, and creating a positive environment that builds confidence rather than fear. The goal is a child who grows into an adult with no dental anxiety – and that starts with every visit being a good experience.
Preventive focus underpins everything. We’d rather see your child for straightforward check-ups and never need to do a filling than see them in pain with advanced decay. Dietary advice, oral hygiene instruction, fluoride treatment and fissure sealants are the foundation of our approach to children’s dental care.
Continuity across locations is a practical advantage for busy Melbourne families. With nine locations across the metropolitan area – from Carrum Downs to Epping, Caroline Springs to Berwick, Southbank, South Melbourne, Wyndham, Bayside and Glenferrie – there’s usually a Core Dental practice near home, school or work. CareStack integration means your child’s records, x-rays and treatment history are accessible at any location.
The Real Cost of Not Using CDBS
Consider the arithmetic. A child who receives two check-ups per year from age 4 to age 17 will have 26 dental visits during their childhood. Regular preventive care during those years dramatically reduces the likelihood of serious dental problems in adulthood.
Without CDBS, the cost of those visits falls entirely on the family – either through private insurance premiums and gap payments, or out of pocket. For families already managing tight budgets, dental care often drops to the bottom of the priority list. Children miss check-ups. Small cavities become large ones. Preventable problems become emergency visits.
CDBS exists to break that cycle. It’s funded, it’s available, and at Core Dental, it’s bulk billed. If your children are eligible and you haven’t used the benefit, today is a good day to start.
How to Get Started
Getting your child’s CDBS benefits activated at Core Dental is straightforward:
- Check eligibility – Call Medicare on 132 011, check through myGov, or simply bring your child’s Medicare card to their appointment and we’ll verify eligibility at reception
- Book an appointment – Call 13 13 96 or book online at coredental.com.au, mentioning that you’d like to use CDBS
- Bring the Medicare card – We’ll need the child’s Medicare card (or card number) at the appointment
- Consent form – A parent or guardian needs to sign a consent form for CDBS billing (this is a Medicare requirement)
That’s it. No complicated paperwork, no waiting periods, no pre-approvals.