Does Medicare Cover Children's Dental? The CDBS in Plain English

Parents ask us this every week: "Does Medicare cover the dentist for kids?" The answer is yes — for eligible children, through the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS). It's one of the most under-used benefits in Australia, and many families don't realise their kids qualify.

What the CDBS actually gives you

The CDBS provides up to $1,158 in benefits per eligible child over two calendar years (the cap is indexed, so it edges up over time). At Berala Dental we bulk-bill CDBS visits — Medicare pays the clinic directly for covered services, so there's no out-of-pocket cost for those services. You don't pay and claim back; there's simply nothing to pay on the day for covered care.

What's covered

• Check-ups and examinations
• Cleans and preventive care like fissure sealants
• X-rays
• Fillings
• Extractions and some root treatments for baby teeth

What's not covered: orthodontics (braces) and cosmetic work, and treatment in hospital. In short — the everyday dentistry kids actually need is in; the extras are out.

Is your child eligible?

Broadly, a child is eligible in a calendar year if they're aged 0–17 for at least one day that year, eligible for Medicare, and their family receives a relevant government payment — most commonly Family Tax Benefit Part A. Eligibility is assessed by Services Australia each year, and many families qualify without knowing it.

The easiest way to find out: use our CDBS eligibility checker — we verify directly through Medicare's system and call you back the same day, or simply call us with your Medicare card handy and we'll check for you.

Why using it matters

Unused CDBS benefits don't roll over forever — when the two-year window closes, whatever wasn't used is gone. A bulk-billed check-up and clean costs an eligible family nothing out of pocket, catches small problems while they're still small, and builds the kind of relaxed dental habit that prevents dental anxiety later.

Using the CDBS at Berala Dental

We've cared for thousands of Sydney children since 2002, and our whole paediatric dentistry service is built around gentle, unhurried visits — with a toy at the end. Book online or call (02) 9649 6468 and mention you'd like a CDBS check. English, Arabic and Urdu are spoken at our clinic, serving families across Berala, Auburn, Lidcombe and Sydney's Inner West.

This article is general information only and is not a substitute for personalised dental advice or official eligibility confirmation from Services Australia. Please see a dentist to discuss what's right for your child.