The CDBS explained for Truganina families

What CDBS is

The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) is a Medicare program that helps cover the cost of basic dental care for eligible children. For families who qualify, it can mean a range of services are bulk-billed — with no gap to pay on the day.

Who’s eligible?

Eligibility is tied to the child’s age and to the family receiving certain government payments (such as Family Tax Benefit Part A) for at least part of the year. Because it depends on your family’s circumstances, the simplest thing is to let us check it for you before the appointment — you’ll know exactly where your child stands with no surprises.

What it covers

CDBS covers many of the basics of children’s dentistry — examinations, cleans, fluoride treatments, fissure sealants, fillings, and some extractions. It doesn’t cover orthodontics (braces) or cosmetic work. We’ll always tell you clearly if something falls outside CDBS before we do it.

How the benefit cap works

CDBS provides a capped benefit per eligible child over a two-year period. Most families never reach the cap with routine care, but if your child needs a lot of work we’ll keep you informed of where you are against it, so nothing is a surprise on the invoice.

How bulk-billing works at Allura Dental

When your child is eligible, we bulk-bill the covered services directly to Medicare — you don’t pay a gap for those items. Just mention it when you book, and we’ll confirm eligibility for you first. You can read more about our gentle approach on our children’s dentistry page.

What CDBS does not cover

CDBS is for basic and preventive care. It does not cover orthodontics (braces or aligners), cosmetic treatment such as whitening, or dental work carried out in a hospital. If your child needs something outside the schedule, we tell you before anything happens and give you a written quote — the same way we would for an adult. Nothing proceeds until you’ve agreed to it, and there is never a charge you haven’t seen in writing first.

Checking your child’s eligibility and balance

Services Australia decides eligibility, not the dentist. You can check whether your child qualifies, and how much of the two-year cap remains, through your Medicare online account in myGov or by calling the Medicare line. The cap is set by the government and indexed each January; as at 2026 it is $1,158 per eligible child over two consecutive calendar years. If you’d rather we checked, tell us when you book and bring your Medicare card — we’ll confirm eligibility and the remaining balance before the appointment so there are no surprises on the day.

CDBS is a Medicare entitlement, not a promotion. Allura Dental is an approved provider and an independent business — not affiliated with or operated by the Australian Government.