Costs, price factors and 2026 schemes
Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) 2026: eligibility, the two-year cap and what it covers
How the CDBS works in 2026, which children qualify, the capped benefit over two calendar years, what is excluded and how to avoid an unexpected gap.
The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) is an Australian Government program, paid through Medicare, that covers most general dental services for eligible children and teenagers up to a capped amount over two consecutive calendar years. A child is eligible if they are aged 0 to 17 for at least one day of the calendar year, are eligible for Medicare, and their family receives Family Tax Benefit Part A (or the child or family receives another listed government payment). Under the Dental Benefits Rules 2026, the cap for a two-year period starting on 1 January 2026 is $1,158. The Dental Benefits Amendment Rules 2026 index it to $1,190 for a two-year period starting on 1 January 2027; a child whose period began in 2026 keeps the $1,158 cap until the end of 2027. The CDBS does not pay for orthodontics, cosmetic work or services provided under general anaesthetic or in hospital. This guide explains how to check eligibility, how the cap works in practice and how to avoid a bill. It is part of the implant and dental cost overview.
Who is eligible
All of the following must apply:
- the child is aged 0–17 for at least one day of the calendar year
- the child is eligible for Medicare
- the family (or the child) receives Family Tax Benefit Part A or another qualifying Australian Government payment at some time in the calendar year; the Dental Benefits Rules also list carer payment, disability support pension, parenting payment, special benefit, youth allowance, ABSTUDY, double orphan pension and (for 16- and 17-year-olds) the veterans' children education schemes
You do not usually need to register. Services Australia notifies families when a child becomes eligible. You can check a child's eligibility and remaining balance through your Medicare online account in myGov, the Express Plus Medicare app, or by calling Medicare on 132 011. Dentists can also check eligibility and balance before treatment.
How the two-year cap works
The cap applies over a two-year period made up of two consecutive calendar years, and it is set per child. Under the Dental Benefits Rules, the period starts on 1 January of the year in which a benefit is first paid for the child, and a new period starts on 1 January of the next year a benefit is paid after the previous period ends. Unused benefit does not roll into the next two-year period.
Worked example (illustrative fees, $1,158 cap for a period starting in 2026):
| Year | Treatment | Benefit used | Balance remaining |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1, March | Examination, two bitewing X-rays, scale and clean | $210 | $948 |
| Year 1, September | Two fillings | $340 | $608 |
| Year 2, April | Examination and fissure sealants | $260 | $348 |
| Year 2, November | One root canal on a baby tooth | $348 used, fee $420 | $0, gap $72 |
In the last visit the cap runs out, and the $72 above the cap is payable by the family unless the dentist bills the remainder another way. A new two-year period starts on 1 January of the next year in which the child, still eligible, receives a CDBS service; for a period starting in 2027 the cap is $1,190. The benefit for each item is set by the CDBS schedule, so the amounts above are examples only.
What the CDBS covers and what it does not
| Usually covered (general dental services) | Not covered |
|---|---|
| Examinations | Orthodontics (braces, aligners) |
| X-rays | Cosmetic dental work |
| Scale and clean, fluoride, fissure sealing | Services under general anaesthetic |
| Fillings | Services provided as part of hospital treatment (excluded by the Dental Benefits Act 2008) |
| Root canal treatment | Treatment once the cap is used up |
| Extractions | Fees above the CDBS benefit, if the dentist charges them |
| Partial dentures |
The exact list of item numbers and their benefits is in Schedule 1 of the Dental Benefits Rules 2026 on the Federal Register of Legislation, and the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing publishes a guide to it. The schedule groups items into diagnostic, preventive, periodontic, oral surgery, endodontic, restorative and prosthodontic (partial denture) services. If a treatment plan includes something unusual, ask the dentist whether it is a CDBS item.
Avoiding an unexpected gap
The CDBS pays a set benefit per item. Many private dentists bulk bill CDBS services, so the family pays nothing. Others charge their usual fee and the family pays the difference. Before treatment:
- Ask whether the practice will bulk bill all CDBS services for your child.
- Ask for an estimate showing which items will be claimed and any gap.
- Check the child's remaining balance so you know whether the planned treatment fits within it.
- If your child also has extras cover, ask how the practice handles CDBS and fund claims; generally the same service cannot be claimed twice.
Public dental for children: a state difference
Some states provide free public dental care to all children, regardless of CDBS status. NSW Health, for example, says all children aged 0 to 17 who live in NSW and are eligible for Medicare can access free public dental care, and that families face no cost at NSW public clinics even if the CDBS balance is used up or the treatment isn't covered by the CDBS. Public clinics may still ask a parent to sign a CDBS bulk billing consent so they can claim the CDBS where it applies. Other states and territories set their own rules for children's public dental, including school dental programs, so check with your local service. See public dental services by state.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use the CDBS at any dentist?
Most private dentists accept the CDBS, as do public dental services and many Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations. Ask when you book.
My child turns 18 this year. Are they still covered?
Eligibility requires the child to be aged 0–17 for at least one day of the calendar year, so a teenager who turns 18 during the year can still qualify for that year if the other conditions are met.
Does the CDBS cover braces?
No. Orthodontic treatment is excluded. Some extras policies pay orthodontic benefits, usually with a lifetime limit and long waiting period; see extras for major dental.
Is the cap the same every year?
No. The cap is indexed on 1 January each year, and the cap that applies is the one for the year your child's two-year period started: $1,158 for a period starting in 2026, $1,190 for a period starting in 2027. Check your child's balance through myGov or Medicare.
Sources
- Services Australia — CDBS eligibility, qualifying payments, checking a balance through myGov or 132 011
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing — the CDBS schedule and benefit amounts
- NSW Health — CDBS and free public dental care for NSW children
- Federal Register of Legislation — Dental Benefits Act 2008, Dental Benefits Rules 2026 (items, eligibility, the $1,158 cap) and Dental Benefits Amendment Rules 2026 (the $1,190 cap from 1 January 2027)
- MBS Online — dental benefits schedule publications
