The Child Dental Benefits Schedule – commonly known as the CDBS – is one of the most underutilised government programs available to Australian families. It provides eligible children with up to $1,158 in dental benefits over two consecutive calendar years, yet a significant proportion of families who qualify are not accessing it. Many simply do not know their child is eligible, or are unsure whether the benefit applies to them.
According to Services Australia, around 2.4 million children were eligible for the CDBS as of mid-2025 – but only a fraction were actively using it. That gap represents a lot of missed check-ups, untreated decay, and out-of-pocket costs that families did not need to bear.
This guide explains exactly who qualifies for the CDBS, what the benefit covers, how to check your child’s eligibility, and how to use it at Sydney Dental Hub in Thornleigh.
What Is the Child Dental Benefits Schedule?
The CDBS is an Australian Government program that provides capped benefits for basic dental services for eligible children aged 0 to 17. It is administered through Medicare and has been in operation since 2014. The program is means-tested, meaning eligibility is tied to a family’s receipt of certain government payments rather than being available to all children universally.
The benefit cap is $1,158 per child over two consecutive calendar years, as of 1 January 2026. This amount is indexed annually, meaning it is reviewed and adjusted at the start of each year. The cap applies per child, so families with multiple eligible children each have access to this amount individually.
The program is designed to reduce financial barriers to routine dental care for children in lower-to-middle-income households – a population that historically has had lower rates of dental attendance and higher rates of preventable dental disease.
CDBS Eligibility Criteria – Does Your Child Qualify?
Your child is eligible for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule if all three of the following conditions are met:
1. The Child Must Be Eligible for Medicare
The child must hold a valid Medicare card and be eligible for Medicare at the time of each dental service. Most Australian citizens and permanent residents are eligible for Medicare. Children do not need their own individual card – they can be listed on a parent’s or guardian’s Medicare card.
2. The Child Must Be Aged 0 to 17 for at Least One Day in the Calendar Year
Eligibility is assessed on a calendar year basis (January to December). A child qualifies for that year as long as they are aged 0 to 17 for at least one day during the year. This means a child who turns 18 in February is still eligible for CDBS services at the start of January. It also means a newborn born in December of a given year is eligible for CDBS services that same year.
Eligibility ends permanently once a child has passed their 18th birthday and no longer meets the age threshold for any day in the current calendar year.
3. The Family Must Receive an Eligible Government Payment
This is the criterion that most families are uncertain about. Either the child or their parent, carer, or guardian must receive at least one eligible government payment at any point during the calendar year. The most common qualifying payments include:
- Family Tax Benefit Part A
- Parenting Payment (single or partnered)
- ABSTUDY (Living Allowance)
- Carer Payment
- Carer Allowance (if the child is the one receiving care)
- Double Orphan Pension
- Foster Child Health Care Card
- Special Benefit (if the child is the one receiving it)
Family Tax Benefit Part A is the most widely received of these payments and accounts for the majority of children who qualify for CDBS. If your family receives FTB Part A for a child, that child is almost certainly eligible. The payment only needs to be received once during the calendar year – it does not need to be ongoing throughout the year.
For payments made as a lump sum for a previous financial year, eligibility for CDBS benefits begins on 1 January after that financial year ends. For fortnightly instalment payments, the child is eligible for the calendar year in which the payment is received.
How Does the Two-Year Benefit Cap Work?
The $1,158 benefit cap covers two consecutive calendar years, not two separate benefit periods. The two-year period begins at the start of the calendar year in which your child first receives an eligible CDBS dental service.
For example: if your child has their first CDBS appointment in March 2026, the two-year period runs from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2027. The full $1,158 is available to be used across those two years, in any combination. If $800 is used in 2026, the remaining $358 carries into 2027.
Any unused funds at the end of the two-year period are forfeited – they do not roll over into a new period. A new two-year period only begins once your child receives their first eligible service in a new eligibility year, provided they remain eligible.
Your child must remain eligible – that is, continue to have an eligible government payment received by the family – during the second year for the carried-over balance to remain accessible. If eligibility lapses in year two, the remaining funds cannot be used.
What Dental Services Does the CDBS Cover?
The CDBS covers a range of basic dental services that support preventive care and routine treatment. Covered services include:
- Examinations and check-ups
- X-rays
- Scale and clean (teeth cleaning)
- Fluoride treatments
- Fissure sealants
- Fillings
- Root canal treatment
- Extractions
- Partial dentures
The CDBS does not cover the following:
- Orthodontic treatment (including braces and clear aligners)
- Cosmetic dental procedures (such as teeth whitening)
- Dental services performed in a hospital
Some services carry item or time restrictions – for example, certain procedures can only be claimed once within a defined period. Your dentist will check these restrictions before proceeding with any treatment and will let you know if a service falls outside what is covered.
It is also worth noting that the CDBS cannot be combined with private health insurance for the same service. You can use private health insurance for services not covered by CDBS, or choose to use CDBS instead of insurance for covered items – but not both for the same treatment claim.
Do You Need to Apply for the CDBS?
No. There is no application form or registration process for the CDBS. Medicare assesses eligibility automatically at the beginning of each calendar year, based on the government payments linked to your family’s Centrelink record.
If your child is eligible, Services Australia will typically send a letter advising you of this. However, you do not need to wait for a letter – you can check eligibility yourself at any time through your Medicare online account via myGov, or by calling Medicare on 132 011.
Your dentist can also check your child’s eligibility and remaining balance directly through their Medicare claiming system before treatment begins. This is one of the quickest and most reliable ways to confirm the status of your child’s benefit.
How to Check Your Child’s CDBS Eligibility and Balance
There are three ways to check whether your child is eligible and how much of their benefit remains.
Through myGov
Log in to your myGov account and link to Medicare if you have not already done so. Navigate to the Medicare section and look for Child Dental Benefits Schedule under Benefits or Claims History. Your child’s eligibility status and remaining balance will be displayed there.
Via the Express Plus Medicare App
The Express Plus Medicare mobile app allows you to check your child’s CDBS balance from your phone. Log in using your myGov credentials and navigate to the Benefits section to view current eligibility and remaining balance.
By Calling Medicare
You can call Medicare directly on 132 011. Have your child’s Medicare number and date of birth ready. A Medicare representative can confirm eligibility and advise on the remaining balance.
Common Reasons a Child May Not Be Eligible
If your child does not qualify for the CDBS, it is usually due to one of the following:
- The family does not receive any of the eligible government payments – for example, families with higher incomes who do not receive Family Tax Benefit Part A or any other qualifying Centrelink payment
- The child turned 18 during the previous year and is therefore no longer aged 0 to 17 for any day in the current calendar year
- The child is not eligible for Medicare – for example, some temporary visa holders are not covered by Medicare
If you are uncertain whether your family’s Centrelink payments qualify, the most reliable step is to log into myGov or call Medicare directly. Eligibility can also be confirmed at the dental practice before any treatment begins.
Will There Be Out-of-Pocket Costs?
Whether you pay anything out of pocket depends on whether your dentist bulk bills CDBS services or charges above the scheduled fee.
When a dental practice bulk bills CDBS, it means they accept the CDBS benefit as full payment for the service. You pay nothing at the time of treatment, and the practice claims directly from Medicare. This is the most common approach at practices that actively participate in the CDBS.
Some practices charge more than the CDBS scheduled fee for certain services. In these cases, a gap payment – the difference between the CDBS benefit and the dentist’s fee – may be payable. It is always worth confirming with the practice before treatment whether any gap will apply, so you can make an informed decision.
Why Using Your Child’s CDBS Matters
Dental disease in children is almost entirely preventable, yet tooth decay remains one of the most common chronic conditions affecting Australian children. The consequences of untreated decay in primary (baby) teeth extend beyond discomfort – persistent infection, difficulty eating, disrupted speech development, and early tooth loss can all affect a child’s overall health and confidence.
The research is clear: poor oral health in early childhood is the strongest predictor of further dental disease in adult life. Regular check-ups and preventive care in the early years – check-ups, cleans, fluoride applications, and fissure sealants – significantly reduce the likelihood of problems developing as children grow.
The CDBS exists precisely to make this kind of early, preventive care financially accessible. Using the benefit for routine appointments rather than waiting until there is a problem is exactly how the program is intended to be used – and it is the approach most likely to protect your child’s teeth long term.
Kids Dental Care at Sydney Dental Hub
Sydney Dental Hub accepts the Child Dental Benefits Schedule for eligible patients. Our children’s dentistry services cover check-ups, cleans, X-rays, fillings, and fluoride treatments – all of which fall within the scope of CDBS-covered care.
We understand that a first dental visit can feel unfamiliar for children and parents alike. The team at Sydney Dental Hub takes a gentle, unhurried approach with younger patients – explaining what is happening at each step, making the environment feel calm, and ensuring children leave with a positive experience rather than an anxious one. Early positive dental experiences are an important part of building habits that last into adulthood.
When you call or book online, we can check your child’s CDBS eligibility and balance before their appointment so there are no surprises on the day. If you are unsure whether your child qualifies or how much remains in their benefit, our team is happy to help you work through that.
Book Your Child’s CDBS Appointment in Thornleigh
If your child is eligible for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule and has not had a dental check-up recently, now is the time to book. The benefit is time-limited and unused funds do not carry over indefinitely – making early use the best approach.
Contact Sydney Dental Hub on (02) 9482 4286 or book an appointment online. We are located in Thornleigh and welcome patients from across the northern suburbs, including Westleigh, Pennant Hills, and Beecroft.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is intended as a general guide to the Child Dental Benefits Schedule and reflects program details current at the time of writing. Eligibility criteria, benefit amounts, and covered services are subject to change by the Australian Government. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to Services Australia or Medicare directly. This article does not constitute financial or clinical advice.
