Good oral health is vital for overall health, and helping kids to develop good dental care habits in childhood can lower their risks for life.
If you’re concerned about the cost of children’s dental visits and treatments in Australia, you can check whether your family is eligible for support through the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS). This government benefit scheme currently offers up to $1,158 towards the cost of general dental services over two calendar years, helping to make dental care more affordable.
Read on to learn more about CDBS and what you may be entitled to claim or contact our team at Swish Dental to discuss your situation today.
Who is eligible?
Not everyone can benefit from the CDBS. To be eligible, you must:
- Be aged under 18, or the parent or guardian of a child aged 0–17 (for at least one day of the calendar year)
- Receive at least one eligible Australian government payment per year, such as Family Tax Benefit Part A
- Not have already used your CDBS allowance for this two-year period
If you’re not sure whether you qualify, our staff at Swish Dental can check your child’s eligibility if you have your Medicare card number. You can find out more about CDBS eligibility at Services Australia.
What costs are covered?
From 1 January 2026, the CDBS provides up to $1,158 towards basic dental treatments for eligible children and teenagers over a two-year period, or up to $1,132 if you already made a CDBS claim in 2025. This includes:
- Regular check-ups
- Oral hygiene treatments
- Dental x-rays
- Fissure sealants
- White fillings
- Root canal therapy
- Extractions
More complex procedures such as orthodontic treatment and surgery in a hospital are not covered. CDBS also does not cover elective cosmetic treatments.
Regular check-ups and teeth cleaning are recommended every 6 months for children. These routine maintenance visits could all be covered by CDBS, depending on whether your child needs additional treatments.
How do I use CDBS?
If you are eligible for CDBS benefits, you should tell your dentist you plan to use CDBS to cover all or some of your costs before your appointment. They will give you a consent form to sign with details of the costs covered.
Some dentists may still bill you for services on the day, which you can then claim back through the CDBS. At Swish Dental, we bulk bill treatments, so you won’t have any expenses to worry about on the day and won’t have to claim anything back.
If you’ve already used CDBS to cover some dental costs this year or last year, you can check your remaining CDBS allowance on your myGov account.
See our family dentists in Brisbane
If your child needs to see the dentist, contact our friendly team at Swish Dental to schedule an appointment at one of our family-friendly clinics in Everton Park or Mitchelton. Call our Everton Park clinic on (07) 3355 1422 or our Mitchelton office on (07) 3354 3341, or make an online booking.