The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS), explained

The Child Dental Benefits Schedule, usually shortened to CDBS, is an Australian Government program that helps cover the cost of basic dental care for eligible children. For a lot of families it means a check-up and routine treatment can be done at no out-of-pocket cost, but the details aren't always well known. Here's a plain-English overview.

Who is eligible?

To be eligible for the CDBS in a given year, a child generally needs to be aged between 0 and 17, be eligible for Medicare, and receive (or have a parent or carer who receives) a qualifying payment such as Family Tax Benefit Part A for at least part of the year. Eligibility is assessed by Services Australia at the start of each calendar year, so a child's status can change from one year to the next.

What does it cover?

The CDBS covers a range of basic dental services. Commonly these include:

• Examinations and check-ups
• X-rays where clinically needed
• Cleaning and scale-and-clean
• Fissure sealants to protect against decay
• Fillings
• Root canals and extractions

It does not cover orthodontics (such as braces), cosmetic dental work, or any services provided in a hospital. Your dental provider can explain what is and isn't included before any treatment goes ahead.

How much is the benefit?

Eligible children have access to a capped amount of benefits over a two-calendar-year period. As a guide, the cap has recently been set at $1,158 per child across those two years. Any unused balance does not roll over once the two-year period resets. Because these figures are reviewed and indexed over time, it's always worth confirming the current cap when you book.

How to check your child's cover

The simplest way to confirm eligibility and see the remaining balance is through your Medicare online account via myGov, or the Express Plus Medicare mobile app. You can also call Services Australia, or ask your dental provider to check on the day. When you book a Pearly visit, we confirm CDBS eligibility for you as part of the consent process, so you'll know upfront whether there's any cost before your child is seen.

The bottom line

For many Australian families, the CDBS turns a child's routine dental care into something fully covered. It's worth checking each year, because eligibility can change, and an unused benefit is simply a missed opportunity to keep little teeth healthy at no cost.