The Child Dental Benefits Schedule Explained: Up to $1,158 in Free Dental for Central Coast Kids

The information in this article is general in nature and based on Services Australia guidance current as of January 2026. Eligibility requirements and benefit amounts are subject to change. Please check current details at servicesaustralia.gov.au or speak with our team before booking.

If you have children and receive certain government payments, your family may be entitled to up to $1,158 in government-funded dental care for each eligible child. The Child Dental Benefits Schedule is a Medicare-funded program that covers a range of dental services — and many families on the Central Coast don’t realise their children qualify, or let the benefit expire without using it.

It’s one of the most useful things a family visiting a Central Coast dental practice can take advantage of. This guide explains exactly how the scheme works, who qualifies, what it covers and how to claim it at New Leaf Dentists in Erina.

What Is the Child Dental Benefits Schedule?

The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) is an Australian Government program administered through Medicare that provides eligible children with access to basic dental services at no or low cost to the family. It was introduced to address the gap in dental coverage under Medicare, which does not generally include routine dental care for adults but offers targeted support for children through this scheme.

The benefit is capped at $1,158 per child over two consecutive calendar years (as of the January 2026 indexation). The amount is indexed annually on 1 January, so it’s worth checking the current figure with Services Australia or at the practice. The $1,158 covers a defined list of basic dental services, and any unused balance does not automatically carry over indefinitely — more on that below.

Is Your Child Eligible for the CDBS?

To access the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, your child must meet two eligibility criteria at the same time:

• Age: the child must be aged 2 to 17 at some point during the calendar year in which the benefit is being accessed
• Qualifying payment: the child, or a person receiving a payment on the child’s behalf, must receive one of the eligible government payments. These include Family Tax Benefit Part A, ABSTUDY, Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC), and certain other Australian Government payments. The full current list is maintained by Services Australia at servicesaustralia.gov.au.

Eligibility is determined by Services Australia, not by the dental practice. If you’re unsure whether your child qualifies, the simplest approach is to check through your myGov account or call Services Australia. Your dentist can also check your child’s CDBS balance before any treatment begins using Medicare’s online claiming system.

What Does the $1,158 Actually Cover?

The CDBS covers a specific list of basic dental services. These are not restricted to emergency treatment — they include preventive and restorative care that is part of good long-term dental health for children. Covered services include:

• Examinations and check-ups
• X-rays
• Cleaning (scale and clean)
• Fissure sealing to protect the grooves of back teeth from decay
• Fillings
• Root canal treatment on baby teeth
• Extractions (including simple removal of baby teeth and some permanent teeth)

Our team provides gentle children's dentistry on the Central Coast, and we can check your child’s CDBS balance before any treatment begins so there are no surprises.

What the Scheme Does Not Cover

The CDBS is a basic dental benefit, and it’s worth being clear about what it doesn’t include. Hospital dental treatment is not covered under the scheme. Orthodontic treatment — braces, aligners and similar appliances — is excluded. Cosmetic dental work is not covered. Dental services provided in a hospital or day surgery setting fall outside the scheme even if they would otherwise be within the list of covered services.

If your child cracks a tooth at the skate park, our same-day emergency dental care can help, and eligible treatment may still be claimable under the scheme if it’s on the covered services list and within the cap.

For older children approaching their mid-teens and beyond, it’s also worth knowing the signs your wisdom teeth are coming through so nothing catches you off guard as they approach the upper age limit of the scheme.

How the Two-Year Cap Really Works

This is the part of the CDBS that most families find confusing, and it’s worth taking a moment to understand clearly. The $1,158 cap applies across two consecutive calendar years. The two-year period starts in the first year your child receives a benefit payment under the scheme — it does not reset on a fixed date for all families.

So if your child’s two-year benefit period runs from 2025 to 2026, the $1,158 is the total available across both years combined, not per year. Any unused balance from year one carries over into year two, but once the two-year period ends, it does not roll over to a new period. If your child has unused benefit remaining at the end of the two-year window, it is forfeited.

The practical implication is to use the benefit intentionally, not just reactively. A check-up and clean at the start of the two-year period gives your dentist a clear picture of your child’s dental health and allows any treatment needs to be identified and addressed within the cap window.

How to Claim the CDBS at Your Central Coast Dentist

Claiming the CDBS is straightforward when your dentist participates in Medicare’s bulk-billing system. At New Leaf Dentists, we handle the Medicare claim electronically at the time of the appointment. For families bulk-billed through the CDBS, there is nothing to pay out of pocket for covered services within the cap. The process from the family’s perspective is:

• Confirm your child’s eligibility via myGov or Services Australia
• Book an appointment and let the practice know you’d like to claim under the CDBS
• The practice checks the available balance before treatment begins
• Covered services are claimed directly through Medicare at the appointment
• You receive a summary of what was claimed and your remaining balance

If treatment costs exceed the available cap, the family is responsible for the gap. A good practice will discuss this with you before beginning any treatment so you can make an informed decision about what to proceed with.

Don’t Let the Benefit Go to Waste

Dental health in childhood has a genuine impact on long-term oral health. The benefit exists to make preventive and basic dental care accessible for families who receive government payments — and using it regularly, rather than waiting until something goes wrong, is how it delivers the most value.

A preventive check-up within the cap costs the family nothing and gives the dentist a chance to identify emerging issues before they become more complex or expensive. Fissure sealants, included under the scheme, offer lasting protection for the permanent back teeth that most children grow between ages six and twelve. These are routine, comfortable procedures that make a practical difference to a child’s long-term dental health.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my child qualifies?

Check your myGov account or call Services Australia on 132 490. Eligibility is determined by whether the child is aged 2 to 17 during the calendar year and whether you or the child receives a qualifying government payment.

Do I need a referral to use the CDBS?

No. You can book directly with a participating dental practice. Let them know when booking that you’d like to claim under the Child Dental Benefits Schedule.

What if my child needs more than $1,158 in treatment?

Any costs above the available cap are the responsibility of the family. Your dentist will discuss this with you before treatment begins so you can decide how to proceed. Some families choose to stage treatment across the two-year period to make the most of the available cap.

Can the CDBS be used for dental work that needs to be done under general anaesthetic?

No. Hospital dental treatment is excluded from the CDBS. Only services provided in a dental practice setting are covered under the scheme.

What happens to any unused balance at the end of the two-year period?

Unused balance is forfeited at the end of the two-year period. It does not roll over to a new cycle. This is why it’s worth booking a check-up early in the period and using the benefit for any identified treatment needs within the window.

Book Your Child’s CDBS Appointment at New Leaf Dentists, Erina

Ready to use your child’s benefit? You can book an appointment online or call our Erina team. We’ll check your child’s CDBS balance before treatment begins and make the claiming process as straightforward as possible.