The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) is a Medicare program that pays benefits towards basic dental care for eligible children and teenagers. For a child whose benefit period starts in 2026, it covers up to $1,158 across two consecutive calendar years, according to Services Australia. There is nothing to apply for: if your child qualifies, you receive a letter.
Who qualifies for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule?
A child qualifies when three things are true in the same calendar year: they are eligible for Medicare, they are aged 0 to 17 for at least one day of that year, and they or their parent, carer or guardian receive an eligible payment at least once that year.
The eligible payments for a parent, carer or guardian are Family Tax Benefit Part A, Parenting Payment and Double Orphan Pension. Teenagers can also qualify through a payment of their own, such as Youth Allowance or ABSTUDY.
A few details catch families out:
- Eligibility lasts the whole calendar year, even if the child turns 18 or the payment stops, as long as they are eligible for Medicare on the day of treatment.
- Lump-sum Family Tax Benefit changes the timing. If FTB Part A is paid as one lump sum for a past financial year, dental benefits start on 1 January after that financial year.
- The age range starts at birth. Some older material still says 2 to 17.
How do you check eligibility and the balance?
If your Medicare online account is linked to myGov, select Medicare, then History and statements, then Child Dental Benefits Schedule to see eligibility and the remaining balance. You can also call the Medicare program line on 132 011. You do not need to bring the eligibility letter to the appointment, because the practice can check it.
How the two-year benefit cap works
The cap applies per child over a two-year period that begins in the calendar year of the child’s first CDBS service. The Department of Health’s Guide to the Child Dental Benefits Schedule gives the example of a first service on 15 May 2026: the period covers all of 2026 and, if the child is still eligible, all of 2027.
- The full amount can be used in year one, leaving nothing for year two.
- An unused balance carries into year two only if the child is still eligible, and lapses at the end of that year.
- The cap is indexed every 1 January, but the increase applies only to periods starting that year. A child whose period began in 2025 keeps the $1,132 cap through 2026.
- Each child has a separate cap. Siblings cannot share benefits.
One consequence is easy to miss. Because the period opens with the first service, a first CDBS check-up in December starts a window that ends 13 months later, while one in January gives close to two full years. If your child’s teeth need attention, book regardless of the month; for a purely routine check, the timing is worth knowing.
What does the CDBS cover?
The CDBS covers basic dental services: examinations, x-rays, cleaning, fissure sealing, fillings, root canal treatment, extractions and partial dentures. Each item has its own benefit amount and limits on how often it can be claimed.
It does not cover orthodontics, cosmetic dental work, or any dental services provided in a hospital. Private health insurance cannot top up the CDBS benefit for the same service, although it can be used for services outside the program billed separately.
Bulk billed or privately billed: what you pay
A participating practice can bulk bill, accepting the benefit as full payment so you pay nothing for that service. Or it can bill privately: you pay the fee, claim the benefit, and cover any difference.
Either way, the practice must first explain the proposed treatment, the likely costs including any out-of-pocket amount, and how it bills, and you sign a CDBS consent form. If a service would take your child past the cap, only the remaining balance is paid. Under bulk billing the practice cannot charge you the difference; under private billing, you pay it.
Public dental care in NSW
NSW Health states that all NSW children under 18 can access free dental care at public dental services, including children who are not eligible for the CDBS or have used their benefit.
Frequently asked questions
Is the CDBS means tested?
The CDBS has no separate income test of its own. Eligibility depends on a child or their parent, carer or guardian receiving one of the listed government payments, such as Family Tax Benefit Part A, at least once in the calendar year. Those payments have their own eligibility rules.
Does the CDBS cover braces?
No. Orthodontic treatment, including braces and clear aligners, is excluded, along with cosmetic dental work and any dental care provided in a hospital. The program is designed for basic services such as check-ups, x-rays, cleaning, fissure sealing, fillings, root canal treatment and extractions.
Why does my child show as not eligible?
Common reasons are that no eligible payment has been received yet this calendar year, that Family Tax Benefit Part A is being claimed as a lump sum (benefits then start on 1 January after that financial year), or that the child is not eligible for Medicare. Checking myGov or calling 132 011 will confirm which applies.
Using the CDBS for your child’s check-ups
Regular check-ups are the simplest way to use the benefit well. King Street Dental in Warrawong offers children’s dentistry, including check-ups and cleans, and runs the King Street Kids program. When you book, ask how the practice handles the CDBS, and check your child’s remaining balance in myGov first. For a first appointment, read what happens at a first dental visit and the questions parents most often ask the dentist.
This article is general information only. Speak with a dentist about your child’s needs, and confirm eligibility with Services Australia.