It’s important that all children have access to dental care from as early as possible to ensure the wellbeing of both their oral health and their general health – and to prevent and detect issues as they grow.
If you receive certain Centrelink payments your child (0-17 years) may be able to access dental care through the Child Dental Benefit Schedule (CDBS).
If you or your child get at least 1 payment from the list below and get that payment at least once in the calendar year, you could be eligible.
- FBT Part A
- Parenting payment\
- Double orphan pension
- ABSTUDY
- Carer payment (child)
- Disability Support pension (child)
- Special Benefit (child)
- Youth allowance (child)
- DVA Vet Affairs education allowance
What does the CDBS cover?
The CDBS covers up to $1,026 over 2 calendar years for basic dental services for each eligible child. These are the services covered:
- check-ups
- X-rays
- cleaning
- fissure sealing
- fillings
- root canals
- extractions.
If your child requires orthodontics, cosmetic dental work, or any dental services in hospital, these are not covered under the CDBS.
Explaining the 2-year period
You can claim up to $1,026 for each child over 2 consecutive calendar years for each eligible child. The 2-year period starts from the beginning of the calendar year that the child becomes eligible for CBDS and has their first dental treatment.
If you need to, you can use the full amount (up to $1,026) in the first calendar year, but this will leave you without funds through CDBS for the 2nd year. Any funds you don’t use in the first year will be available in the 2nd year if your child remains eligible.
Note though that If you don’t use the full amount within the 2 calendar years, you’ll need to wait until the start of the 3rd year for more funding, it will not roll over. You also won’t be able to use any remaining funds once your child is no longer eligible.
Before going to the dentist
When you book an appointment with us, tell the receptionist you want to use CDBS. It’s a good idea to check your balance before you attend your appointment. If you’ve already accessed your CDBS allowance, you can check your balance on your Medicare online account, or call Medicare directly.
Your dentist will also check your child’s available benefit amount at the appointment.
At the dentist
At the appointment, or when you call up to book, ask what each service will cost and if CDBS will cover the services. Don’t forget to bring your eligibility letter and your Medicare card.
You’ll be given a consent form. This says you agree to the services and what they cost. Check these, then sign if you agree.
At Dental Fresh we bulk-bill so you don’t need to pay or claim, we’ll do that for you. Note that you can’t claim from CDBS and from a Private Health insurer for the same dental service.
At Dental Fresh, we value our children and families dental health, we look forward to meeting you and your children at the clinic
