The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) provides up to $1,095 in Medicare-funded dental care over two calendar years for eligible children aged 2 to 17. Smile Spot Mawson Lakes bulk bills CDBS — which means no out-of-pocket costs for covered treatments. Your child gets the care they need, and you pay nothing.
The Child Dental Benefits Schedule is one of the most valuable — and most underused — Medicare benefits available to Australian families. It provides up to $1,095 per eligible child over two calendar years for essential dental care. At Smile Spot Mawson Lakes, we bulk bill CDBS directly, which means your child receives the treatment they need and you pay nothing out of pocket for covered services.
Many families in Mawson Lakes, Salisbury, Parafield Gardens, and surrounding suburbs are eligible but don't realise it. If your family receives Family Tax Benefit Part A, there is a good chance your child qualifies. We encourage you to check — a simple call to Medicare on 132 011 or a login to myGov will confirm eligibility and show the remaining balance.
Check-ups, examinations, professional cleaning, fluoride treatment, and X-rays. These are the foundation of good dental health for children and are fully covered under CDBS. We recommend children have a check-up every six months to catch problems early when they are simple and inexpensive to treat.
A thin protective coating applied to the biting surfaces of children's back teeth (molars). The deep grooves in molars are particularly vulnerable to decay because toothbrush bristles cannot reach the bottom. Fissure sealants fill these grooves and are one of the most effective preventive treatments available. Covered under CDBS.
If decay is found, tooth-coloured composite fillings restore the tooth and prevent the cavity from getting larger. We use mercury-free composite resin that matches the natural tooth colour. Fillings on both baby teeth and adult teeth are covered under CDBS.
When a tooth is too damaged to repair — or a baby tooth is causing problems for the adult tooth coming through — extractions are covered under CDBS. We make extractions as comfortable as possible for children.
If decay or trauma reaches the nerve of a tooth, root canal treatment can save the tooth rather than extracting it. This applies to both baby teeth (pulpotomy) and adult teeth. Covered under CDBS.
The CDBS does not cover orthodontic treatment (braces, clear aligners), cosmetic procedures (whitening, veneers), or any dental treatment provided in a hospital setting. If your child needs a service that falls outside CDBS coverage, we will discuss the cost with you before proceeding. Many of these services can be claimed through private health insurance if you have extras cover.
Call Medicare on 132 011, check myGov, or simply let us know when you book and we will verify your child's eligibility and remaining balance before the appointment.
When you arrive for your child's appointment, bring their Medicare card. We handle the billing directly with Medicare — there are no forms for you to fill in and no claims to submit afterwards.
For all CDBS-covered treatments, you pay nothing. We bulk bill Medicare directly. If your child's remaining balance is approaching the cap, we will let you know before the appointment so there are no surprises.
The CDBS is a Medicare program that provides up to $1,095 in dental benefits over two consecutive calendar years for eligible children aged 2 to 17. It covers basic dental services including examinations, X-rays, cleaning, fissure sealing, fillings, root canal treatment, and extractions. It does not cover orthodontics, cosmetic treatments, or hospital services.
Your child may be eligible if they are aged 2 to 17 for at least one day of the calendar year and your family receives certain government payments such as Family Tax Benefit Part A. Medicare will send you a letter if your child is eligible, or you can check by calling Medicare on 132 011 or logging into your Medicare online account through myGov.
Yes, we bulk bill all CDBS-eligible treatments. This means there is no out-of-pocket cost to you for covered services. We verify your child's eligibility and remaining balance before the appointment and bill Medicare directly.
CDBS covers examinations, X-rays, professional cleaning, fluoride treatment, fissure sealing, fillings, root canal treatment on baby and adult teeth, and extractions. It does not cover orthodontic treatment (braces, aligners), cosmetic procedures, or any services provided in a hospital.
The $1,095 cap covers a two-calendar-year period. Once the balance is used, no further CDBS benefits are available until the next two-year cycle begins. We track your child's remaining balance and will let you know before any appointment if the cap is approaching. If additional treatment is needed beyond the cap, we will discuss the cost with you first.
CDBS is a Medicare benefit, separate from private health insurance. If your child has both, you can use CDBS first for covered treatments and claim any additional services through your private fund. We process HICAPS on the spot for health fund claims.
Call us on (08) 8258 0650 or book online. We'll verify your child's balance before the appointment — no surprises.
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