The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) provides access to basic dental services to eligible children aged 2-17 years in Australia.
What are the benefits of the CDBS?
CDBS provides eligible children with free basic dental treatment up to $1000 per patient over two consecutive calendar years.
Benefits cover a range of services including examinations, x-rays, cleaning, fissure sealing, fillings, root canals and extractions.
Benefits are not available for orthodontic or cosmetic dental work and cannot be paid for any services provided in a hospital. Family members cannot share entitlements.
CDBS eligibility
Children and adolescents are eligible for CDBS if they are:
- aged 2-17 years
- eligible for Medicare; and
- part of a family receiving Family Tax Benefit Part A or other Australian Government payments.
If you are eligible for CDBS, you should have received a letter from the Department of Human Services in early 2014. Contact Medicare on 13 21 50 to check your eligibility.
If your child is not eligible for the CDBS, they will still receive free public dental care if they:
- aged 4 through to students in year 10
- students in years 11 or 12 who have a current Centrelink, Healthcare or Pension Card
- aged 0–3 whose parents have a current Centrelink, Healthcare or Pension Card.
How to make an appointment
To make an appointment, please call the Metro South Oral Health Hub on 1300 300 850.
What do I need to bring to the appointment?
- The Medicare Card on which this child is listed.
- Details of any medications/medical conditions for your child.
- Children and adolescent consent medical history form.
A parent or legal guardian is required to attend every dental appointment with their children.
The cost of your child's care will be bulk billed to Medicare with no out-of-pocket expenses.
What will happen at the appointment?
A dental examination (check-up) including x-rays (if necessary) will be conducted for your child. Any treatment required will be discussed and your consent will be required before any further treatment is provided.
Further information
From 1 January 2014, the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) was introduced to provide access to benefits for basic dental services to around 3.4 million children aged 2-17 years in Australia. For more information, visit the Department of Human Services website.
