The Complete Guide to the Child Dental Benefits Scheme (CDBS) in 2026
The Complete Guide to the Child Dental Benefits Scheme (CDBS) in 2026
If you’re a parent in Box Hill, your child may be entitled to hundreds of dollars of dental care at little or no cost — yet many eligible families never use it. The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) is a Medicare-administered program that helps cover basic dental care for eligible kids. Here’s how it works in 2026.
What is the CDBS?
The CDBS is a federal scheme that provides a capped dental benefit for eligible children, paid towards approved treatment over a two-calendar-year period. Think of it as a dental allowance attached to your child’s Medicare eligibility. It exists so that cost isn’t a barrier to children getting the care they need.
2026 benefit cap: up to around $1,158 per eligible child over two consecutive calendar years. The cap is indexed each year on 1 January, so the exact amount depends on when your child’s two-year period began. Always confirm the current figure with Services Australia.
Is my child eligible?
Eligibility is assessed each calendar year by Services Australia. Generally, a child must:
- Be aged 0–17 for at least one day in the calendar year;
- Be eligible for Medicare; and
- Receive (or have a parent/guardian who receives) an eligible government payment — most commonly Family Tax Benefit Part A — for at least part of the year.
What does the CDBS cover?
The scheme is built around prevention and basic treatment, including:
- Examinations and routine check-ups
- X-rays where clinically needed
- Professional cleaning (scale and clean)
- Fissure sealants to protect back teeth
- Fillings, root canals and extractions
It does not cover orthodontics (braces or aligners), cosmetic treatment, or care provided in a hospital.
How to claim at our Box Hill clinic
Claiming is simple. As a family-friendly practice, our children’s dentist team can check your child’s eligibility and process the benefit directly through Medicare, so eligible families often pay nothing for covered treatment. Just let us know when you book that you’d like to use the CDBS.
Why it matters
Regular visits catch small problems before they become painful or expensive, and they help children feel comfortable at the dentist for life. Good oral health is also linked to overall health — making the CDBS one of the most valuable (and underused) benefits available to Australian families.
