Good oral health habits start early. To help families access essential care, the Australian Government provides eligible children with a generous dental benefit cap allocated over a two-calendar-year period. At Malvern Dental Care, we participate in the CDBS program to ensure your child receives the essential oral care they need with maximum transparency and minimal stress.
Zero Out-of-Pocket Costs for Preventive Care
We prioritise keeping your child’s teeth healthy and cavity-free. For eligible families utilising the CDBS, we provide no out-of-pocket costs for our core preventive and diagnostic services:
- Routine dental check-ups and comprehensive examinations.
- Professional scaling and deep cleaning.
- Fluoride treatments.
- Low-radiation digital X-rays (to monitor adult teeth growing under the gums).
- Fissure sealants (protective coatings placed over deep grooves in molars to prevent decay).
Restorative & Complex Treatments
If your child requires corrective work, please note that out-of-pocket costs apply for the following treatments:
- White composite fillings to repair active decay.
- Extractions if a tooth cannot be saved or is causing severe crowding.
- Root canal therapy for kids.
Before beginning any restorative work, our team will always provide you with a clear, upfront treatment plan and fee breakdown so there are never any financial surprises.
Is My Child Eligible?
The CDBS is targeted at families who need it most. To qualify for the program, your child must meet the following criteria:
- Age: Be aged between 0 and 17 years old for at least one day of the current calendar year.
- Medicare: Be eligible for Medicare benefits.
- Government Benefit: The child or family must receive an eligible Australian Government payment (such as Family Tax Benefit Part A, Youth Allowance, or Parenting Payment) at least once during the year.
🔍 Not Sure About Eligibility? Services Australia typically sends a notification letter via myGov or post if your child qualifies. If you aren’t sure, simply call our friendly reception team on (03) 9509 5814 with your Medicare card handy, and we can check your child’s eligibility and remaining balance instantly.
How the Two-Year Benefit Cap Works
The allocated grant runs on a two-consecutive-calendar-year cycle. Here is how it behaves in practice:
- Year 1 to Year 2: If your child needs multiple treatments and doesn’t use the full cap in the first year, the remaining balance rolls over into the second year (provided your child remains eligible).
- Using the Allocation: You can use the full cap allowance within the first year if your child requires more extensive care.
- Use It or Lose It: Any funds left over at the end of the second calendar year cannot be carried forward into a third year. A new cycle will reset if they remain eligible.
- Individual Caps: The allocation is tied directly to each individual child—siblings cannot share or split a single balance.
Your Child’s Comfortable First Visit
We know that a positive early experience shapes a child’s attitude toward the dentist for life. Dr Michael Seng and our patient team use a gentle, welcoming, and fun approach to paediatric dentistry. We explain our tools in child-friendly terms, never rush a treatment, and prioritise your child’s comfort every step of the way.