No-Gap Dental Care for Eligible Children

Your child’s dental care may already be paid for. Many families who qualify for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) never use it, often because they do not realise they can. If your family is eligible, we bulk-bill the covered services, so there is nothing to pay.

What you can claim

Eligible children can get up to $1,158 towards basic dental care. That is a total across two calendar years, not per year, and you can use it in whatever way suits your child. Anything left over in the first year rolls into the second, as long as your child still qualifies.

What it pays for

• Check-ups and x-rays
• Cleans and sealants
• Fillings
• Root canals
• Extractions

It does not cover braces, cosmetic work, or anything done in hospital.

How the benefit can be used

The $1,158 is flexible. It is one pool of money for two years, so you can use it in the way that suits your child. For example, you could:

• Use $600 in the first year, then keep the remaining $558 for the second year
• Put the full $1,158 towards care in the first year, if your child needs more work done
• Use only $358 in the first year, and leave $800 available for the second

Does your child qualify?

Your child may qualify, if all three are true in the same year:

• Your child is aged 0 to 17
• Your child is on Medicare
• Your family gets a payment such as Family Tax Benefit Part A

Eligibility is checked every year, so it is worth confirming even if you have used it before. You can check your child’s eligibility yourself through Services Australia, or simply ask us to check for you.

At the appointment

Ask us what each service will cost and whether the CDBS covers it. We check your child’s available balance before starting any treatment, so there are no surprises, and we tell you clearly if anything sits outside the scheme.

What no-gap means here

We bill Medicare directly for covered services. You pay nothing upfront and nothing out of pocket, up to your child’s balance. If your child needs treatment beyond what the benefit covers, we will talk you through the options before anything goes ahead.

Ready to start?

Mention the CDBS when you get in touch and we will do the rest. We will confirm your child’s eligibility, check how much of the benefit is left, and book a suitable appointment, so you know exactly where you stand before the visit. You can also see your balance any time through Medicare or myGov.

Quick questions

We have private health cover. Can we still use it?

Yes. You can use the CDBS instead of your health fund for covered services. Just tell us at your visit.

What happens if we do not use the full amount?

Whatever is left at the end of the first year carries into the second, as long as your child still qualifies that year.

_{*Eligibility criteria apply and are set by Services Australia. Up to $1,158 per eligible child over two consecutive calendar years for basic dental services bulk-billed under the Australian Government Child Dental Benefits Schedule. Braces, cosmetic, and hospital services are not covered.}