The Medicare-funded Child Dental Benefit Schedule provides up to $1000 of dental treatment for eligible children aged two to 17 over two calendar years.

What is the Child Dental Benefit Schedule (CDBS)?

The CDBS is a Medicare-funded program providing dental care for eligible children.

How to check if your child/children are eligible

If you are a family that holds a Health Care Card, receives a Centrelink payment or Family Tax Benefit A, your child(ren) may be eligible for the CDBS. You may have received a letter from the Department of Human Services letting you know you are eligible for the CDBS.

If you are unsure, it’s quick and easy to check your eligibility.

Simply ask at the reception of your dental clinic.

Alternatively you can call Medicare on 132 011 (seven days a week, 24 hours a day) or visit www.humanservices.gov.au.

If your eligibility is confirmed Make an appointment with a dentist of your choice. How does the $1000 cap work? Eligible children may have up to $1000 of dental treatment over a two-year period. It begins at the start of the calendar year, and any money not spent in the first year is carried over to the second year. You cannot claim benefits from both private health insurance and the CDBS for the same services.

What dental services are covered?

A range of services are covered by the CDBS.

These include:

• Dental check-up

• Cleaning

• X-Rays

• Fillings

• Fissure sealing

• Extractions

What is not covered?

• Orthodontics (e.g. braces)

• Treatment under general anaesthetic

• Cosmetic dental treatment (e.g. teeth whitening)

• Mouthguards