The $1,158 most parents never claim
The Child Dental Benefits Schedule — CDBS — is one of Medicare's most generous programs. It covers up to $1,158 per eligible child over 2 years, rolling. It covers almost everything a growing child needs. And in our experience, around one in three eligible families don't know they qualify.
What it covers
CDBS covers the standard preventive and restorative work kids need:
- Comprehensive exams
- Bitewing x-rays
- Scale & clean
- Fluoride treatment
- Fissure sealants (the #1 cavity preventer on molars)
- Fillings
- Root canals on baby teeth
- Extractions if needed
It does not cover: orthodontics (braces), cosmetic work, or treatment in a hospital.
Who qualifies
Three conditions, all required:
- Child is 0-17 years old
- Child is Medicare-eligible (has a Medicare card)
- Family receives at least one qualifying government benefit — most commonly Family Tax Benefit Part A, but also Parenting Payment, Youth Allowance, ABSTUDY, Double Orphan Pension, Carer Payment, Special Benefit, or Veterans' Children Education Scheme.
If you're receiving Family Tax Benefit Part A — which around 1.5 million Australian families do — your kids are eligible. That's the most common qualifying pathway.
How the $1,158 actually works
It's a rolling cap over any 2-calendar-year period. That means:
- Your child can use up to $1,158 total of dental services in a 2-year window
- The clock resets 2 years after the first service was used — not every January
- You don't have to use it all; unused benefit doesn't transfer to other kids
- Standard check-up + clean uses about $150-200 per visit, so most kids use about $300-400/year, leaving room for fillings or sealants if needed
The "bulk-billed" part
Individual dentists choose whether to bulk-bill CDBS or charge on top. At Berala Dental we bulk-bill directly — meaning the rebate goes straight to us and the family pays nothing. No gap, no upfront, no reimbursement paperwork. We process your Medicare number at the chair.
Other practices may charge a gap above the Medicare rebate. If you're comparing, always ask: "Do you bulk-bill CDBS?"
The simplest way to check if your kids qualify: log into MyGov on the Services Australia app, tap Medicare, and look for Child Dental Benefits Schedule. It shows eligibility instantly and tells you how much of the $1,158 entitlement remains. Many Australian families don't realise they qualify until they check — it takes about 60 seconds.
How to check and use it
- Check eligibility — log into MyGov, go to Medicare, look for "Child Dental Benefits Schedule". Or call 132 011. Or WhatsApp us the Medicare number, we'll check for you.
- Check the balance — the MyGov app shows how much of the $1,158 has been used.
- Book the appointment — tell us it's CDBS when booking so we allow time for the paperwork (takes about 2 minutes extra).
- Walk in, walk out — we process the claim at the chair. Nothing to pay, nothing to reimburse.
For a calculator showing typical savings — see our Fees page which has an interactive CDBS savings widget. Or jump straight to For Kids for the full breakdown of what a kids' visit looks like.