What Is the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS)? How Kids Can Get Bulk-Billed Dental Care

If you have children and receive Family Tax Benefit Part A, there is a strong chance your child is eligible for up to $1,158 in government-funded dental care that many Brisbane families are not using. The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) is one of the most underutilised Medicare benefits available to Australian families, not because it is hard to access, but because most parents are not entirely sure how it works, whether their child qualifies, or how to use it at their local dentist.

This guide explains everything clearly. Eligibility, what is covered, what is not, how the two-year benefit period works, how bulk billing functions under the scheme, and what to do if your child does not qualify. 

What is the Child Dental Benefits Schedule?

The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) is an Australian Government program that provides financial assistance for basic dental services for eligible children. It is administered through Medicare and does not require private health insurance to access.

Under the scheme, eligible children can receive up to $1,158 in dental benefits over a two-year period. This amount is indexed and may change annually, the figure above reflects the current cap at the time of writing, and families should verify the current amount through myGov or Services Australia before making assumptions about their entitlement.

The key word is 'benefits' rather than 'free dental.' When a practice bulk bills under the CDBS, the cost to the family is zero for covered services. When a practice does not bulk bill, they may charge a gap, the difference between their fee and the CDBS benefit rate - which the family pays out of pocket. More on this distinction below.

Who is eligible for the CDBS?

Your child is eligible for the CDBS in a given calendar year if all three of the following conditions are met:

• They are eligible for Medicare

• They are aged 2 to 17 for at least one day in the calendar year

• You or your child receive an eligible Australian Government payment at least once during that calendar year

Edge case: the child turning 18 during the year

A child who turns 18 during a calendar year remains eligible for CDBS services for that entire calendar year, provided they met the age and payment criteria on at least one day during the year. Eligibility does not cut off on their 18th birthday, it continues until 31 December of that calendar year. Any remaining benefit in their two-year period can still be used up until that date.

Edge case: parent's FTB-A status changes mid-year

If you receive FTB-A for even one day in a calendar year, your child is eligible for the CDBS for that entire year. A change in circumstances, such as income changes affecting your FTB-A rate, or a partner returning to work does not make your child retroactively ineligible for that year if eligibility was established. However, if FTB-A ceases entirely and is not received at any point during the following year, the child will not be eligible for CDBS in that subsequent year. Check your eligibility status annually through myGov.

How does the two-year benefit period work?

The two-year period is not a fixed two-calendar-year block that resets on 1 January of every second year. It is a rolling two-consecutive-calendar-year period that starts from the beginning of the calendar year in which your child both becomes eligible and receives their first CDBS dental service.

Here is a practical example. If your child first becomes eligible and receives a CDBS-covered dental appointment in March 2024, their two-year period covers the 2024 and 2025 calendar years. If they do not use all $1,158 by 31 December 2025, the remaining balance is forfeited. A new two-year period begins in 2026 if the child is still eligible.

Importantly, you can use the full $1,158 in the first year of the period if services are needed. There is no rule requiring the benefit to be split evenly across the two years. However, doing so will leave no remaining benefit for the second year.

What this means practically for southside Brisbane families: if your child has an upcoming two-year period expiring at the end of this calendar year, any unused balance is lost. It does not roll over into the next period. It is worth booking before the period closes to use what remains, even for a routine check-up and clean.

What does the CDBS cover?

The CDBS covers a defined list of basic dental services. These include:

• Dental examinations and check-ups

• Professional scale, clean, and polish

• Dental X-rays (radiographs)

• Fluoride treatments

• Fissure sealants - a thin protective coating applied to the grooved surfaces of molars to prevent decay

• Tooth-coloured fillings and restorations

• Root canal treatment on baby and permanent teeth

• Tooth extractions

Some services have claiming restrictions, for example, there are limits on how frequently certain items can be claimed within the benefit period. Your dentist will know which item numbers apply and what restrictions are in place.

What the CDBS does not cover

• Orthodontic treatment of any kind - braces, clear aligners, retainers

• Cosmetic dental work - teeth whitening, veneers

• Any dental services provided in a hospital setting

• Dental prosthetics such as dentures or implants

If your child needs orthodontic treatment, the CDBS cannot contribute to that cost. A separate conversation with your dentist about private health insurance coverage or payment plan options would be relevant in that situation.

Bulk billing vs gap billing - what is the difference and why does it matter?

When a dental practice bulk bills under the CDBS, they agree to accept the government benefit rate as full payment for covered services. The family pays nothing. This is what most people understand 'free kids dental' to mean.

When a practice does not bulk bill or bulk bills some services but not others, they may charge a gap fee. The CDBS benefit still applies and reduces the total cost, but the family is responsible for the difference between the practice's fee and the CDBS benefit rate. This is entirely legal and relatively common, particularly in practices that have higher fee schedules.

The practical implication: before booking a CDBS appointment at any practice, it is worth asking directly, 'Do you bulk bill all services under the CDBS, or is there a gap fee?' A practice that bulk bills completely means no out-of-pocket cost for any covered service. A practice that charges gaps means you will pay something at each visit, even with CDBS.

Can the CDBS and private health insurance be used together?

CDBS benefits and private health insurance extras cover cannot be combined for the same service. If a service is claimed under the CDBS, your private health fund will not pay a benefit for the same item on that visit. You need to choose one or the other for each service.

In practice, if a dental practice bulk bills completely under the CDBS, there is no gap and no out-of-pocket cost, so there is nothing for private insurance to contribute to anyway. Where a practice charges a gap fee, some private health funds may cover a portion of that gap as an ancillary benefit, but this varies by fund and policy. Contact your fund to clarify their position.

For families with both CDBS eligibility and private extras cover, the general approach is to use CDBS for covered services while it is available, and rely on private health insurance for services the CDBS does not cover, such as mouthguards or orthodontic work.

What if my child changes dentists during the benefit period?

The CDBS benefit belongs to the child through Medicare, it is not locked to a specific dental practice. If you switch dentists during your child's two-year benefit period, the remaining balance follows the child. The new practice simply claims against the same Medicare entitlement.

How to maximise your child's CDBS entitlement

• Book a check-up early in the benefit period. The examination establishes the clinical picture and allows the dentist to identify and prioritise any treatment needed within the available budget.

• Ask the dentist to outline what treatment is recommended and what it will cost under CDBS before proceeding. This allows you to make informed decisions about sequencing if the cap may not cover everything.

• Prioritise preventive services - fissure sealants in particular are one of the highest-value uses of CDBS entitlement. A sealant applied to a newly erupted molar costs far less than treating the decay that sealant prevents.

• Do not wait until the end of the two-year period to book. If treatment is identified in year one, delaying it to year two means the problem may progress and require more extensive (and expensive) treatment.

• Check your child's CDBS balance through myGov before the appointment so you know exactly what remains in the period.

  
  

How to check your child's CDBS eligibility

There are three ways to confirm eligibility:

• Log into myGov and access your Medicare account, CDBS eligibility and remaining balance are displayed there

• Call Medicare directly on 132 011

Eligibility is assessed on a calendar-year basis, so even if your child was not eligible last year, it is worth checking again if your circumstances have changed.

CDBS bulk billing at Aminya St Dental, Mansfield Brisbane

Aminya St Dental has been providing family dental care to Mansfield and the broader southside Brisbane community for over 40 years. We bulk bill eligible children under the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, meaning no out-of-pocket cost for covered services for qualifying families.

To book a CDBS appointment for your child, call us on (07) 3349 7749 or book online. Let us know when you call that you would like to use your child's CDBS entitlement and we will confirm eligibility and advise what the appointment will involve. We are open Monday to Saturday at 2/14 Aminya St, Mansfield QLD 4122.

Frequently asked questions about the CDBS in Brisbane

What is the Child Dental Benefits Schedule?

The CDBS is a Medicare-funded program that provides eligible children aged 2 to 17 with up to $1,158 in benefits for basic dental services over a two-year period. It covers check-ups, cleans, X-rays, fillings, fissure sealants, extractions, and root canal treatment. It does not cover orthodontics or cosmetic treatment.

How do I know if my child is eligible for the CDBS?

Your child is eligible if they are aged 2 to 17, eligible for Medicare, and either you or your child receive an eligible Australian Government payment, most commonly Family Tax Benefit Part A, at least once during the calendar year. Check eligibility through myGov or by calling Medicare on 132 011.

Is kids dental free in Brisbane?

For eligible children, yes, when a practice bulk bills completely under the CDBS, there is no out-of-pocket cost for covered services. Aminya St Dental bulk bills eligible CDBS patients. Children who do not qualify for CDBS can access free public dental care through Queensland Health.

How much is the CDBS benefit?

The current cap is $1,158 per eligible child over a two-year period. This figure is indexed annually, verify the current amount through Services Australia or myGov before making treatment decisions based on it.

Can I use CDBS and private health insurance together?

Not for the same service. If a service is claimed under CDBS, private health insurance cannot also pay a benefit for the same item on the same visit. Use CDBS for covered basic services and private insurance for services outside CDBS coverage, such as orthodontics.

What happens to unused CDBS entitlement?

Unused entitlement at the end of the two-year period is forfeited. It does not roll over into the next benefit period. Book before your period closes if there is remaining balance.

Does the CDBS cover orthodontics or braces?

No. Orthodontic treatment of any kind is excluded from the CDBS. Discuss private health insurance or payment plan options with your dentist if orthodontic treatment is recommended.

What if we switch dentists, does the CDBS balance follow my child?

Yes. The CDBS entitlement belongs to the child through Medicare and is not locked to a specific practice. Any participating dental practice can claim against the remaining balance in your child's benefit period.

My child is turning 18 this year, are they still eligible?

Yes, for the entire calendar year in which they turn 18, provided they met the eligibility criteria on at least one day during the year. Eligibility does not end on their birthday, it runs until 31 December of that year.