Dental benefits for kids (CDBS)

The Child Dental Benefits Schedule, or CDBS, was introduced by the Australian Government to help families access preventative dental care and general dental treatment for children aged up to 17 years.

The CDBS provides eligible children with a capped benefit over a 2 calendar-year period.

You can use the cap to claim individual benefits for a range of basic dental services, at both public and private dental clinics. Many dental clinics will bulk bill treatment under the CDBS.

When you book an appointment, tell your dentist you want to use the CDBS. Ask how much funding you have available under your CDBS cap. Services Australia manages the payments of CDBS benefits.

You don't need to apply or register for CDBS. Services Australia will notify you if your child is eligible, by post or online. Your child may be eligible for the CDBS during the relevant calendar year if they:

• are eligible for Medicare on the day they get dental treatment, and
• are aged up to 17 for at least one day of the calendar year, and
• receive, or are part of a family that receives, an eligible payment from Services Australia at least once

All public dental clinics provide dental treatment to children eligible for CDBS payments. The service is bulk billed and there are no out-of-pocket costs.

You can also use CDBS payments to pay for some or all of your treatment at a private dentist.

You can use the full benefit amount at once or spread it out over 2 calendar years. Once the benefit cap is reached, no further benefits are paid in that benefit cap period.

You may need to pay some out-of-pocket costs if you choose a private dentist. Make sure you check in advance how much the procedure is likely to cost and if additional work may be needed. Ask your dentist to explain all the costs to you before your child starts treatment.

If you have private health insurance, you cannot claim from your health fund and claim a CDBS payment for the same treatment.

If your child is eligible, the CDBS will cover part or all of the cost of some basic dental services including:

• teeth cleaning
• x-rays
• fissure sealing
• fillings
• root canals
• extractions
• partial dentures

Before your appointment, check what each service costs and if the CDBS covers all or part of this.

The CDBS does not cover:

• orthodontics
• cosmetic dental work
• dental services you have in hospital

Use the healthdirect Service Finder to find dentists in your area who bulk bill.

To find more information on the Child Dental Benefits Schedule:

• Visit Services Australia's Child Dental Benefits Schedule.
• Call Services Australia on 132 011.
• Ask your dentist about the CDBS.