If you have children and live around Salisbury, you may have heard of the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) but feel unsure how it works. Once you understand it, CDBS can make regular kids’ dental care much more affordable.
Dental costs can worry families, especially if you have more than one child. The Child Dental Benefits Schedule is a Federal Government programme that helps eligible families pay for basic dental care for children and teenagers. In Salisbury and the surrounding suburbs, you can use CDBS at public clinics and at participating private practices like Parabanks Dental.
What is the Child Dental Benefits Schedule? A simple explanation of how CDBS works as a Medicare-funded dental benefit for children and teens.
The Child Dental Benefits Schedule is a Medicare-funded benefit that helps cover the cost of basic dental services for eligible children aged 0–17 years. Instead of being a separate card, it sits under your child’s Medicare record and is linked to your family’s Centrelink status. The programme aims to improve access to preventive and early treatment so that children can attend regular check-ups without large bills. You can use CDBS with participating dental providers, who then claim the benefit directly from Medicare.
How much does the CDBS cover in 2025–2027, and how the two‑year cap works. (Key figures: $1,132 for 2025–2026 and $1,158 for 2026–2027, spread over two calendar years.)
CDBS has a benefits cap that applies over a rolling two‑calendar‑year period. For 2025–2026, the cap is $1,132 per eligible child, and this will rise to $1,158 for the 2026–2027 period. This cap is the total Medicare will pay for eligible services over those two years. If your child uses only part of the cap, the remaining balance can be used for more treatment within the same two‑year window. Once the cap is reached, you can still have treatment, but you pay any extra yourself. A practice like Parabanks Dental can check how much of the cap is left before treatment starts so there are no surprises.
What dental treatments are covered under the CDBS (check‑ups, X‑rays, cleans, fissure seals, fillings, root canals, and extractions).
CDBS covers a wide range of basic dental services that children need most. These include routine examinations, X‑rays, scale and cleans, fluoride treatments, and fissure seals to protect molars. It also covers fillings, simple root canal treatment on baby and adult teeth, and extractions where needed. The idea is to support both prevention and necessary treatment so that problems do not go untreated because of cost. At Parabanks Dental, many of these services can be provided under CDBS if your child is eligible and has enough balance left.
What is not covered by the CDBS (orthodontics, cosmetic dentistry, hospital-based dental treatment) and what that means for families.
Some services sit outside CDBS. It does not cover orthodontic treatment such as braces, cosmetic procedures like teeth whitening, or dental treatment done in hospital settings. This means that if your child needs these services, you will need to pay privately, use private health insurance extras, or seek other funding options. CDBS is there to support core oral health, not every possible dental service. Knowing this helps you plan ahead and focus CDBS use on essential preventive and restorative care.
Who qualifies for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule: age, Medicare eligibility, and eligible Centrelink payments.
To qualify for CDBS, your child must meet three main conditions. They must be aged between 0 and 17 years at least one day in the calendar year. They must be eligible for Medicare. And they or their parent or guardian must receive certain government payments, such as Family Tax Benefit Part A or other listed Centrelink benefits. Eligibility is assessed each year, so a child may qualify in some years and not others, depending on your family’s circumstances. You do not apply separately; Services Australia checks eligibility and writes to you if your child qualifies.
How to check if your child is eligible and how much balance is left: myGov, Medicare app, phone, and asking your dental practice.
You can check CDBS status in several ways. Through your myGov account linked to Medicare, you can see if your child is eligible and how much of their benefit cap remains. The Medicare mobile app provides similar information. You can also call Services Australia for confirmation. Many families find it easiest to ask their dental practice to check on their behalf before treatment; clinics like Parabanks Dental can access Medicare’s online system (with your consent) and tell you what is covered and whether there will be any gap.
How CDBS works in Salisbury, SA: SA Dental clinics, private dentists, and how bulk billing and gap payments can differ.
In Salisbury and across South Australia, you can use CDBS at both public and private providers who choose to participate. SA Dental clinics often use CDBS as part of their funding for children’s services. Many private dentists also accept CDBS and may bulk bill eligible services up to the schedule fee, which means there is no out‑of‑pocket cost while you still have balance. Some practices may charge more than the schedule fee, which can create a gap payment. When you book at a clinic like Parabanks Dental, you can ask whether they bulk bill CDBS services or if there could be any gap so you can plan ahead.
How to use your CDBS cap wisely: focusing on preventive care, timing visits, and avoiding wasted benefits.
To get the most value from CDBS, it helps to think long term. Many families in Salisbury use the cap for regular check-ups, X‑rays when needed, cleans, and fissure seals first, because these prevent bigger problems later. You can time visits across the two‑year period so that your child has steady care rather than using the cap all at once on emergency treatment. If your child has higher-risk needs, such as frequent decay, your dentist can help plan how best to use the remaining balance. Clinics like Parabanks Dental often combine CDBS with advice on diet and brushing so you reduce future costs as well.
Common myths and misunderstandings about CDBS (for example “it is only for emergencies” or “you can only use it at public clinics”).
Several myths can stop families from using CDBS. One common myth is that it only applies to emergency treatment; in fact, it was created mainly to support preventive and early care, such as check-ups and fissure seals. Another myth is that you can only use CDBS at public clinics, but many private practices in Salisbury accept it. Some parents also think unused benefits carry forward beyond the two‑year period, which is not true; any unused amount resets once a new two‑year cycle begins. By clearing up these points, you can make better use of the support that is available.
How Parabanks-area families can use CDBS at a local family dentist in Salisbury, and how this fits with other support like SA Dental and DVA.
Families who live near Parabanks Shopping Centre and the wider Salisbury area can treat CDBS as one piece of their dental care plan. You might use SA Dental services for some visits and then choose a private family clinic like Parabanks Dental for flexible appointment times or ongoing family care. If you have veterans in the family, DVA dental benefits in Salisbury may cover their needs while CDBS supports the children. A practice that understands CDBS, DVA, and other schemes can help you map out how to keep care both accessible and consistent.
