The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) is a Medicare-funded program that provides eligible children aged 0 to 17 with up to $1,158 toward basic dental services over a 2-year period. Covered services include exams, X-rays, cleans, fillings, root canals on baby teeth, and extractions. It does not cover orthodontics or cosmetic dental work.

A child generally qualifies if they're aged 0-17 for at least one day in the calendar year, eligible for Medicare, and the family receives Family Tax Benefit Part A (or one of several other eligible payments). Eligibility is officially determined by Services Australia and can change year to year — that's why this check exists. We verify directly through the Medicare portal.

Our reception team sees WhatsApp messages instantly — they're checking the inbox throughout the day. The form goes via email, which we check less frequently. Both paths get you a same-day callback during clinic hours, but WhatsApp is usually the quicker reply.

Yes. Both submission paths use encrypted connections — WhatsApp is end-to-end encrypted, and the form transmits over HTTPS. Your Medicare details are used only to verify CDBS eligibility through Medicare's Health Professional Online Services (HPOS) portal — the official channel used by every participating dental provider. Details are not shared with anyone outside our reception team and are deleted after the eligibility check unless your child is being booked in.

No problem — we'll let you know on the callback. If your family isn't eligible for CDBS, we'll go through your private health cover options (HICAPS on the spot, BUPA Members First if applicable) and quote the out-of-pocket amount upfront. We also accept Afterpay and Zip for treatment plans.

CDBS covers the basics: dental exams, X-rays, scale and clean, fluoride application, fissure sealants, fillings, extractions, and root canal treatment on baby teeth. It does not cover orthodontic treatment (braces), cosmetic work like whitening, or services performed in a hospital. Berala Dental is a CDBS participating provider.

Same day during clinic hours (Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 9am-4pm). If you submit outside of those hours — say Sunday afternoon — we'll be in touch first thing Monday morning. If it's particularly urgent, you can also call us directly on (02) 9649 6468.

Yes — that's exactly why the form has a "+ Add another child" button. Each child has their own IRN (the number next to their name on the Medicare card), and CDBS eligibility is checked per-child. Add as many children as are on your Medicare card, and we'll check each one separately.