Does Medicare pay for dental in Australia? What's covered, what isn't, CDBS for kids, public schemes and health fund extras — explained by Berala Dental, Sydney.
By the Berala Dental clinical team. Educational information only — this article is general information and is not a substitute for personalised dental advice. Please book a consultation to discuss your individual needs.
For most adults, Medicare does not cover routine dental care in Australia. General check-ups, fillings, crowns and implants are usually paid for privately or through private health insurance. There are important exceptions, though — including the Child Dental Benefits Schedule for eligible kids and some public dental schemes — so it's worth knowing exactly where you stand. Here's a clear guide.
Everyday dental treatment for adults usually sits outside Medicare. That typically includes:
For these, most adults pay privately or claim through the extras part of their private health insurance.
The CDBS is a Medicare program that contributes towards basic dental care for eligible children. At Berala Dental we bulk-bill CDBS-eligible treatment, which means Medicare pays the clinic directly and there's no out-of-pocket cost for covered services. You can check your child's CDBS eligibility here.
State and territory public dental services provide care for eligible people, often those holding certain concession cards. Waiting times and eligibility vary by state, so it's worth checking your local public dental service if you think you qualify.
A small number of specific surgical or medical procedures may attract a Medicare benefit in particular circumstances, usually via referral. These are the exception rather than the rule for everyday dental care.
Private health "extras" (or "ancillary") cover is the main way many adults reduce dental costs. How much you get back depends on:
Berala Dental is a preferred provider for several major funds, including Bupa, nib, GU Health, ahm and Frank. We won't promise a specific rebate or a "no gap" outcome — that always depends on your individual policy — but we'll give you an itemised quote with item numbers so you can confirm your benefit with your fund before treatment.
This simple process means no surprises. See our fees page for how we handle quotes and payment.
For most adults, routine extractions aren't covered by Medicare and are paid privately or through extras cover. Eligible children may have extractions covered under the CDBS, and some people qualify through public dental services.
The CDBS is a dental program funded through Medicare for eligible children. It's specifically for basic dental care, not for adults or for treatments like implants or orthodontics.
Generally no for routine adult dental. The main Medicare-linked pathway for dental is the CDBS for eligible children. Adults usually rely on private extras cover or public dental services.
Eligibility is assessed by Medicare. You can check via your Medicare online account, or we can run a quick eligibility check for you — start at our CDBS page.
Not sure how your cover works? We're happy to help you make sense of it. Book online, call (02) 9649 6468, or click our WhatsApp to chat now: message Berala Dental on WhatsApp.
We review this article periodically so the information stays current for 2026.