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Get Up to $1,132 for Your Child's Dental Care with the 2025 CDBS

Get Up to $1,132 for Your Child’s Dental Care with the 2025 CDBS

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Ensuring your child has a healthy smile shouldn’t break the bank. Fortunately, the Australian Government’s Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) is here to help. For 2025, the program offers a substantial benefit cap to cover essential dental services for eligible kids. This guide cuts through the confusion to give you all the facts you need to access this valuable financial support.

What is the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS)?

The CDBS is a government-funded initiative designed to help families cover the cost of basic dental treatment. It’s not a cash payment; it’s a benefit amount that can be claimed by your dentist through Medicare for your child’s treatments.

The 2025 Benefit Cap

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From January 1, 2025, the maximum benefit available for each eligible child is $1,132. This amount is designed to cover basic dental services over a two-consecutive-calendar-year period.

Here’s a quick look at how the benefit period works:

  • The two-year period starts in the calendar year your child first receives an eligible dental service.
  • You can use the full $1,132 cap in the first year, but that will leave no funds for the second year.
  • If you don’t use the full amount, the remaining balance rolls over into the second year.
  • Any balance left at the end of the two-year period will not carry over to the next period. A new two-year period, with a new cap, will only start if your child remains eligible and gets another eligible dental service.

Is Your Child Eligible?

The CDBS is a means-tested program, so eligibility is checked each year. To qualify for the benefit, your child must meet all three of the following criteria for at least one day of the calendar year:

Eligibility Requirements

  • Age: Be between 0 and 17 years old.
  • Medicare: Be eligible for Medicare.
  • Government Payment: Receive, or be part of a family receiving, an Australian Government payment such as Family Tax Benefit Part A.
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Services Australia typically notifies eligible families. You can also quickly check your child’s eligibility and remaining balance through your Medicare online account via myGov, or by calling Medicare directly.

What Dental Services are Covered?

The CDBS is for basic dental services necessary for maintaining good oral health. It covers most routine and essential treatments, meaning your child can get preventative care without the stress of out-of-pocket costs (provided the cost is within the benefit cap).

Covered Services (Basic Dental Care)Services NOT Covered
Examinations (Check-ups)Orthodontic dental work (e.g., braces)
X-raysCosmetic dental work
Cleaning (Scale and Polish)Services provided in a hospital
Fissure Sealing (Protective treatment)
Fillings and Root Canal Treatments
Tooth Extractions and Partial Dentures

How to Claim Your Child’s Dental Benefit

Accessing the CDBS is usually simple and straightforward:

  1. Check Eligibility: Confirm your child’s eligibility and the available balance through Services Australia or your Medicare online account.
  2. Book an Appointment: When booking with a participating dentist, let them know you intend to use the CDBS.
  3. Consent to Treatment: Your dentist will check your child’s eligibility and balance. Before any treatment begins, they will discuss the recommended services and expected costs. You will need to give your consent.
  4. No Upfront Cost: Participating dentists generally bulk bill Medicare directly, which means you typically won’t have any upfront, out-of-pocket costs for the covered services, as long as the treatment remains within the $1,132 cap.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Do I need to register for the CDBS?

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No. Services Australia automatically determines eligibility at the beginning of each calendar year and will usually notify eligible families.

Q: Can I use the full $1,132 in the first year?

Yes, you can use the entire benefit in the first calendar year. However, this means there will be no remaining funds for your child to use in the second year of the two-year period.

Q: What if the treatment costs more than the $1,132 cap?

If the recommended treatment exceeds the remaining benefit cap, your dentist must inform you of the additional costs before proceeding. You would then be responsible for paying the difference.

Q: How long does the $1,132 benefit last?

The benefit is a total cap that covers two consecutive calendar years. Once that two-year period ends, any unused funds expire.

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