Is My Child Eligible for CDBS in 2025?
Your complete guide to the Child Dental Benefits Schedule — from a bulk billing CDBS dentist in Brisbane.
By Dr Philip Chou | Vital Dental Care, Camp Hill
Good dental habits start young — and the good news is that the Australian Government has made it genuinely easier for families to keep their children’s teeth healthy, at no cost. The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) is a Medicare-funded program that provides eligible children with up to $1,158 in dental benefits over a two-year period, and at Vital Dental Care, we bulk-bill the scheme entirely. That means eligible children pay absolutely nothing out of pocket.
What Is the CDBS?
$1,158
in Medicare-funded dental benefits per eligible child, over a 2-year period
The Child Dental Benefits Schedule is a Federal Government initiative administered through Medicare. It was designed to give Australian families access to essential preventive and restorative dental care for their children, without the financial stress that can sometimes make parents put off a dental visit.
Under the CDBS, eligible children receive up to $1,158 in benefits over two consecutive calendar years. The two-year period begins the moment your child receives their first eligible dental service — so the sooner you book, the sooner the benefits start working for you. The cap is indexed each January, so it’s always worth confirming the current figure with your dentist or Services Australia.
Is My Child Eligible?
Eligibility comes down to three simple criteria that must all be met at some point during the calendar year:
Age: 0-17 Years
Your child must be aged 0 to 17 years at any time during the calendar year. Even if they turn 17 partway through the year, they remain eligible for that entire year.
Medicare Eligibility
Your child must hold a valid Medicare card and be eligible for Medicare on the day of service. Most children born in Australia are automatically eligible — just have the card handy when you call us.A Qualifying Government Payment
Your family must receive at least one day of an eligible government payment during the
calendar year. The most common qualifying payment is Family Tax Benefit Part A (FTB-A),
but there are several others (see below).
Eligibility is assessed at the beginning of each calendar year. If your circumstances change throughout the year, you’re still covered — as long as your family met the payment requirement at some point during that year.
Qualifying Government Payments include:
- Family Tax Benefit Part A
- Parenting Payment
- Youth Allowance
- ABSTUDY
- Disability Support Pension
- Carer Payment
- Special Benefit
- Double Orphan Pension
- VCES (children aged 16+)
- MRCAETS (children aged 16+)
This list may be updated by Services Australia. Please confirm with Medicare or call our practice for the latest details.
What Dental Treatments Are Covered?
The CDBS covers a wide range of basic dental services — the foundation of long-term oral health. At Vital Dental Care, our general dental treatments align perfectly with what the scheme offers.
✔︎ Covered Under CDBS
✔︎ Examinations and consultations.
✔︎ Dental x-rays
✔︎ Professional cleaning and scale
✔︎ Fissure sealants (cavity prevention for back teeth)
✔︎ Fillings
✔︎ Root canal treatment
✔︎ Extractions
✘ Not Covered Under CDBS
✘ Orthodontic treatment (braces, aligners, retainers)
✘ Cosmetic dental procedures
✘ Hospital-based dental services
How to Check Eligibility & Book at Vital Dental Care
We’ve made the process as easy as possible for Brisbane families. At Vital Dental Care, we bulk bill the Child Dental Benefits Schedule in full — meaning no gap fee, no surprise bills, and no out-of-pocket cost for eligible children.
Two Easy Ways to Check
Call us directly with your child’s Medicare card number. Our friendly team will check eligibility on the spot — usually within a minute or two. This is the quickest option, and we can book your child’s appointment at the same time.
Check via myGov by logging in to your Medicare online account at myGov. You’ll be able to see your child’s CDBS eligibility status and remaining balance.
We believe every child in Brisbane deserves access to high-quality dental care, and the CDBS is one of the most powerful tools available to make that happen. Whether your child is visiting for the first time or coming in for their regular check-up, our team will make it a warm and positive experience.
Book Your Child's CDBS Check-Up Today
The first step is the easiest — just call us with your child’s Medicare card number. We’ll confirm eligibility and get them booked in straight away.
✔︎ Bulk billed — no out-of-pocket cost for eligible children
✔︎ Friendly, parent-focused team in Camp Hill, Brisbane
✔︎ We check eligibility on the spot — takes just a minute
✔︎ Comprehensive care: exams, x-rays, cleans & more
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Vital Dental Care in Camp Hill, Brisbane offers CDBS services and bulk bills the scheme in full. Eligible children pay nothing out of pocket for their dental care under the program.
Your child is eligible if they are aged 0-17 at any point during the calendar year, hold a valid
Medicare card, and your family receives at least one day of a qualifying government payment – most commonly Family Tax Benefit Part A. Simply call us with your child’s Medicare number and
we’ll confirm eligibility for you on the spot.
Yes, we bulk bill the CDBS entirely. There is no gap fee or out-of-pocket cost for eligible children when they receive CDBS – covered services at our practice. We believe quality dental care should
be accessible to every family.
The CDBS covers examinations, x-rays, professional cleaning, fissure sealants, fillings, root canal treatment, and extractions. It does not cover orthodontic treatment, cosmetic dentistry, or hospitalbased dental services.
Eligible children can claim up to $1,158 in dental benefits over a two-year period. The benefit cap is indexed each year on 1 January. Any unused balance from the first year rolls over into the second year of the period — so it pays to use it early.
Absolutely. As long as the total cost of services remains within the $1,158 benefit cap, your child
can receive multiple CDBS-covered treatments over the two-year period. Our team can help you
plan appointments to make the most of your child’s entitlements.
👨⚕️ Dr. Philip Chou — Principal Dentist, Vital Dental Care Camp Hill
Principal Dentist – Vital Dental Care – Camp Hill, Brisbane, QLD
Dr Philip Chou is the principal dentist at Vital Dental Care, located in Camp Hill, Brisbane. With a passion for preventive dentistry and family oral health, Dr Chou and his team are committed to providing accessible, high-quality dental care to the Brisbane community – including full bulk billing of the Child Dental Benefits Schedule.