If you’ve heard of the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) but you’re not quite sure what it covers, you’re not alone — it’s one of the questions our Coorparoo team hears most often from parents. The short version is that CDBS is a Medicare-linked benefit that can help some eligible children access certain basic dental services. The details, though, depend on your family’s individual circumstances, so this guide explains what CDBS generally involves and how to find out exactly what applies to you.
What is CDBS?
The Child Dental Benefits Schedule is administered by Medicare, not by individual dental practices. It’s designed to help eligible Australian children access a range of basic dental services. Because it’s a Medicare program, the rules around eligibility, what’s included and how much benefit is available are all set and managed by the Australian Government — not by Tooth Town.
This also means the details can change over time. Rather than rely on general information, the most accurate and current answer for your family will always come directly from Medicare or your myGov account.
How do I know if my child is eligible?
Eligibility for CDBS depends on a combination of factors set by Medicare, including your family’s circumstances and the payments you receive. Because these details are personal and can change from year to year, we’re not able to confirm eligibility on Medicare’s behalf.
The most reliable way to check is to:
- Log in to your myGov account and check your linked Medicare details, or
- Contact Medicare directly to ask about your child’s current CDBS eligibility.
If you’re not sure how to check, our reception team is happy to help point you in the right direction — but the final confirmation of eligibility will always come from Medicare or myGov, not from us.
What can CDBS help with?
Where a child is eligible, CDBS may help with a range of basic dental services, generally provided in a standard clinic setting. It’s important to know that:
- Not every dental service is covered. CDBS does not cover cosmetic treatment, and there are limits on which services and how much treatment can be claimed.
- Specialist paediatric dental care can differ from general dental care. Tooth Town is a specialist paediatric practice, and depending on the treatment your child needs, there may be a gap payment even for services that are otherwise CDBS-eligible.
- Coverage can change. Because CDBS is a government program, the services included and the way benefits apply can be updated. We always recommend checking current details rather than relying on what applied in a previous year.
We’ll always be upfront and clear with you about any gap costs before treatment goes ahead, so there are no surprises.
What CDBS does not cover
One of the most important things for families to understand is that CDBS does not cover dental treatment provided in a hospital setting. If your child needs treatment under general anaesthesia (GA), any hospital-related fees are not claimable through CDBS — even if some of your child’s other dental care is CDBS-eligible.
For GA treatment, it helps to understand that there are generally three separate fee groups involved:
- Dental fees — paid to Tooth Town for the dental treatment itself.
- Hospital fees — paid to the hospital for use of the theatre and facilities.
- Anaesthetist fees — paid to the anaesthetic provider for administering the general anaesthetic.
CDBS does not apply to any of these three fee groups when treatment takes place in hospital. Our team will always talk you through what to expect for each of these fees as part of preparing for your child’s procedure.
The good news: even when your child needs treatment under general anaesthesia, their CDBS benefit isn’t wasted. For eligible children, CDBS can still go towards the everyday dental care that keeps their mouth healthy — routine check-ups, X-rays, and preventive services such as professional cleaning and fissure seals — including the ongoing care that helps maintain a healthy mouth after their GA treatment.
How Tooth Town can help
We know navigating a government scheme alongside your child’s dental care can feel like one more thing to figure out. While we can’t confirm your eligibility or guarantee what Medicare will pay, our team can:
- Help explain, in general terms, how CDBS may relate to the treatment your child needs.
- Let you know upfront if a gap payment is likely to apply.
- Point you towards Medicare or myGov to check or confirm your eligibility.
- Talk you through the separate fee groups if your child needs treatment under general anaesthesia.
If anything is unclear, please ask — we would much rather explain things clearly than have you guessing about costs.
Frequently asked questions
Does Tooth Town confirm whether my child is eligible for CDBS?
No. Eligibility is determined by Medicare, based on your family’s circumstances. We recommend checking your myGov account or contacting Medicare directly for the most accurate and current answer.
Will CDBS cover the full cost of my child’s treatment?
Not necessarily. CDBS may help with certain basic services, but not every treatment is included, and specialist paediatric care may involve a gap payment even where some services are eligible. We’ll always let you know if a gap applies before treatment begins.
Does CDBS cover my child’s treatment if they need general anaesthesia?
No. CDBS does not cover treatment carried out in a hospital setting, which means the dental, hospital and anaesthetist fees for a GA procedure are not claimable through CDBS. The good news is that, for eligible children, CDBS can still be used for everyday dental care outside hospital — check-ups, X-rays and preventive services that help keep your child’s mouth healthy, including after their GA treatment.
Where can I check exactly what my family is eligible for?
Your myGov account (linked to Medicare) is the best place to check current eligibility and benefit details. You can also contact Medicare directly with questions specific to your family.
What if I’m not sure how to check my eligibility on myGov?
Our reception team is happy to help point you in the right direction. We can’t confirm eligibility on Medicare’s behalf, but we can help make the process feel less confusing.
Will you tell me about any gap costs before my child’s appointment?
Yes. We believe in being upfront about fees. If a gap payment is likely to apply to your child’s treatment, we’ll explain this to you clearly before treatment goes ahead.
What to do next
If you’d like help understanding how CDBS might relate to your child’s upcoming visit, our Coorparoo team is happy to talk it through with you. Contact Tooth Town and we can explain what to expect in general terms — and we’ll always point you to Medicare or myGov for the final word on your family’s eligibility and coverage.
This guide is general information only and does not confirm your family’s CDBS eligibility or benefit entitlements. Eligibility and coverage are determined by Medicare, and current details should always be confirmed through your myGov account or by contacting Medicare directly.