Free dental for kids: how the Child Dental Benefits Schedule works
Eligible children can get up to $1,132 of dental care bulk billed over two years. Here is who qualifies, what is covered, and how to check in about a minute.
What the CDBS actually is
The Child Dental Benefits Schedule is a Medicare programme that pays for basic dental treatment for eligible children. The current cap is $1,132 per child over two consecutive calendar years, and at Gumdent we bulk bill it, which means there is nothing for you to pay and nothing to claim back.
It is one of the most underused entitlements in Australian healthcare. A large share of eligible families never use it, usually because they do not know it exists or assume the paperwork will be painful. It is neither.
Who is eligible
Broadly, a child qualifies if they are aged between 0 and 17 for at least one day of the calendar year, they are eligible for Medicare, and the family receives an eligible payment such as Family Tax Benefit Part A for at least one day of that year.
You do not have to work any of this out yourself. Ring us with your Medicare card number and we can check eligibility on the spot, usually while you are still on the phone.
What is covered
- Examinations and dental imaging
- Professional cleans and fluoride treatment
- Fissure sealants to protect new adult molars
- Fillings, including tooth coloured fillings
- Root canal treatment where it is needed
- Extractions
What it does not cover is orthodontic treatment, cosmetic work and anything done in hospital. If your child needs something outside the schedule we will tell you clearly before it happens.
The two year balance catches people out
The cap runs across two consecutive calendar years, and any unused balance does not roll over past that. A family that has never used it can find they have a good sized balance sitting there that will simply expire.
It is worth ringing to check where your child sits, particularly toward the end of a calendar year.
How to use it at Gumdent
Book an appointment, bring your Medicare card, and we handle the rest. We claim directly, so there is no gap payment and no form for you to lodge. If the balance runs out partway through a treatment plan, we tell you before we start rather than after.
