Dental Tips: How Does the Child Dental Benefits Schedule Work?

As you read these words, the dental health of Australian children is at risk, with a national study showing that 25% of Australian children, ages ten and below, have untreated tooth decay.

The study, from the University of Adelaide, surveyed 24,000 children from ages 5 to 14 and is the first of its kind in 25 years. Its results are disturbing.

Associate Professor Loc Do, the principal researcher on the project said, “tooth decay affected a significant proportion of children.

Over 40 per cent of children aged 5 to 10 years had decay in their primary [baby] teeth. One-quarter of children in that same age group had never received treatment for their tooth decay.

On average, Australian children aged 5 to 10 had 1.5 primary teeth with decay”.

The news was nearly as bad for slightly older children, with 33% of children from 9-14 suffering permanent teeth with decay, and one-seventh of these children have never received treatment for decay in their permanent teeth.

Additionally, while Australia targets children with its National Oral Health Plan (which is intended to ensure that every Australian child sees a dentist), one in nine children have never seen a dentist at all.

At Bondi Dental, we are concerned about the health of Australia’s children, particularly those in the Bondi Beach region.

And if your child, or a child you know, maybe one of these dentally undertreated kids, we’re here with the news that the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) may be able to ensure that child receives the dental care they need and should have.

Child Dental Benefits Schedule

The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) is a dental benefits program that supports eligible children from 2–17 years of age.

It provides $1,000 benefits, for essential dental services, to children who qualify. It covers more than 3 million children, making them eligible for dental care funded through Medicare.

Key Features of the CDBS

The program’s key features are:

• Dental benefits for children between two and 17 years of age.
• A focus on basic dental services including prevention and treatment (e.g. fillings and extractions) with high end and orthodontic items excluded.
• Benefits that can be used in the public or private system.
• A benefit entitlement capped at $1,000 per eligible child over two years.
• Benefits are available from the beginning of each two-year period.
• If funds are spent in the first year, access to another $1,000 benefits will not occur until the new cycle.

What Benefits are Available?

The CDBS covers basic dental services, including:

• Dental exams
• X-rays
• Clean, scale, and polish
• Fissure sealing
• Filling cavities
• Root canal treatment
• Tooth extractions
• Dental emergencies

Benefits are not extended to cosmetic work, orthodontic work, or dental work performed in a hospital operating theatre.

Who is Eligible?

Eligibility is determined at the start of each calendar year. If you become eligible part way through a calendar year, you only get benefits under the CDBS from the date of Medicare eligibility.

• Children must be eligible for Medicare and between ages 2 and 17 for at least one day of the calendar year
• Children or their family must receive a payment listed below for at least one day in the calendar year.

A child is eligible if the child’s parent, guardian, or carer, is the recipient of:

• Family Tax Benefit Part A
• Double Orphan Pension
• ABSTUDY
• Parenting Payment

A child is eligible if they receive:

• Family Tax Benefit Part A
• Carer Payment
• Disability Support Pension
• Parenting Payment
• Special Benefit
• Youth Allowance
• Financial assistance under the
• Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act Education and Training Scheme (some limitations do apply), or
• Financial assistance under the Veterans’ Children Education Scheme (Some limitations do apply).

To be certain your eligible child can use their CDBS entitled benefits, make sure that your details are up to date with Centrelink and Medicare.

Your children and Bondi Dental

At Bondi Dental, we offer children’s dentistry services, family services, and services for patients with special needs.

You can submit a CDBS claim for treatment at Bondi Dental:

• After treatment
• By calling Medicare
• By downloading a claim form and posting it to the Department of Human Services, GPO Box 9822.
• Personally at the local MedicareService Centre.

Please call us at Bondi Dental on (02) 9365 7187 to schedule an appointment for your child and take advantage of your benefits under the Child Dental Benefits Schedule.

The Bondi Dental Advantage

Bondi Dental is conveniently located in the Eastern Suburbs – Bondi Beach, Bondi in Sydney. Our exceptionally skilled dental professionals have more than 60 years of combined experiences in all fields of dentistry.

We give high quality dental preventative, restorative, and cosmetic services for all patients in the region. We offer free parking behind our building and a FREE Dental Consultation, including a complete dental check-up.

We are open seven days a week 8 am – 8 pm!

Child Dental Benefits Schedule

Bulk Bill for children who are eligible for MEDICARE CHILD DENTAL BENEFIT SCHEDULE

Up to $1000 worth of dental treatments over two years

Call your Bondi dentist on (02) 9365 7187 or book your appointment online. Visit us at 134 Curlewis St in Bondi Beach.