The CDBS, Explained by a Local Dentist: Free Basic Dental Care Your Child May Already Be Entitled To

Every so often at the clinic, I mention the Child Dental Benefits Schedule to a parent and watch their face change. "Wait — we might be entitled to that? Nobody told us." It happens often enough that I wanted to sit down and write this properly, because the CDBS is one of the most underused benefits available to Australian families — the Australian Dental Association has estimated that around two in three eligible families never use it.

As a dentist, that genuinely bothers me. As a mum, I understand exactly why it happens: the letter arrives from Medicare, it looks like every other piece of government mail, and it goes in the pile. So here's the plain-English version, from someone who works with the scheme every week here on Burke Road.

What is the CDBS, in one paragraph?

The Child Dental Benefits Schedule is a Medicare-funded program that covers basic dental care for eligible children aged 0–17. For two-year benefit periods starting in 2026, it provides up to $1,158 per child, and the cap is indexed each January. That's not a discount or a rebate you have to chase — for services covered by the schedule, the benefit is claimed directly through Medicare.

Is my child eligible?

Three boxes need to be ticked in a given calendar year:

• Your child is aged 0–17 for at least one day of that year
• Your child is eligible for Medicare
• You (or your child) receive an eligible government payment that year — most commonly Family Tax Benefit Part A, but Parenting Payment and several others also qualify

There's no application. Services Australia checks eligibility automatically at the start of each year and notifies you by post or through myGov. If you're not sure, the fastest check is your myGov account (linked to Medicare) — or honestly, just ring us on (03) 9885 6999 and we can check your child's eligibility and remaining balance for you before you book. It takes our front desk about two minutes.

What does it actually cover?

The scheme covers the bread and butter of children's dentistry — which, not coincidentally, is the care that matters most at this age:

• Check-ups and examinations
• X-rays
• Cleans
• Fluoride treatments and fissure sealants (protective coatings for the grooves of back teeth)
• Fillings
• Root canal treatment and extractions, where needed

It doesn't cover orthodontics (braces or aligners), cosmetic treatment, or anything done in hospital. And one thing parents sometimes miss: the benefit belongs to each individual child — siblings can't share an unused balance.

How the two years work

The clock starts on 1 January of the year your child first receives an eligible service. You can use the whole amount in year one or spread it across both years — but whatever's left at the end of year two doesn't carry over. If your child is still eligible afterwards, a fresh two-year period begins.

My honest advice as a dentist: don't save it up for a rainy day. The best value in the entire scheme is the preventive care — the check-ups, cleans and fissure seals that stop the rainy day from arriving at all. A filling we never have to do is the best outcome for everyone, most of all your child.

Why I care about this so much

The habits and feelings children form about the dentist before high school tend to stay with them for life. When cost stops being a reason to delay that first visit, or to skip the six-monthly check-up, children get the relaxed, no-drama early experiences that make them comfortable, confident dental patients as adults. That's the whole reason the scheme exists — and it's sitting there unused in so many households across Malvern East, Glen Iris, Ashburton and Chadstone.

So if you think your family might be eligible: check myGov, or let us do the checking when you call. Bring your child's Medicare card to the appointment, and we'll confirm what's covered — and any costs — with you before anything begins. No surprises is a promise we take seriously with the grown-ups too.

Figures and eligibility rules are current at July 2026 and are set by the Australian Government — the benefit cap is indexed each January. For the latest details, see the Services Australia website or ask us at your next visit.