$1000 of Dental Care, FREE to you, through Medicare
What exactly is the Child Dental Benefits Schedule about?
The new Medicare Child Dental Benefits Schedule allows for up to $1000 basic dental treatment over a 2-year period for eligible 2–17 year olds.
- 2-17 year olds are eligible if they receive Family Tax Benefit A or other relevant Australian Government payments
- Treatment is bulk billed through Medicare
- Eligible children pay $0 - no out of pocket costs
What dental treatments are available?
Basic dental treatments such as check-ups, X-rays, teeth cleaning, preventive sealants, fillings and extractions. Child Dental Benefits are not available for orthodontic or cosmetic dental work.
Is my child eligible for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule?
Eligible families should have received a letter to confirm eligibility from the Commonwealth Department of Human Services. You can start using your dental care benefits today by making an appointment with us at St Arnaud Family Dental.
If you are unsure of your child’s eligibility, simply call us on (03) 5495 2559, and quote your Medicare number, address, child’s full name and his/her date of birth. You can also contact Medicare directly on 132 011 to confirm your child’s eligibility.
Will I have any out-of-pocket costs for treatment?
No. You'll be glad to know that St Arnaud Family Dental are accepting and bulk-billing CDBS-eligible patients, so that children who are in most need of dental care can receive quality treatment. You will be bulk billed via Medicare and you will have no out-of-pocket costs for dental treatments up to a cap of $1000.
Should any treatment be required above this cap amount, you will be notified by the dentist where treatment options and costs will be discussed before proceeding any further. No treatment will be carried out without your prior consent.
What's so important about kids teeth?
Children start getting permanent adult teeth from the age of 6 and these teeth are meant to last them the rest of their lives. Many dental problems and poor dental attitudes start when children are young. Detecting problems in the early stages can prevent them from becoming much more serious, where a tooth becomes unfixable or very costly to fix. It is best to start children on the right path with good oral care awareness and regular dental visits.
Care for baby teeth is also important. If they are lost prematurely due to decay, this can impact negatively on the position and alignment of the adult teeth.
With regular dental visits, many problems can be prevented or fixed early to ensure a healthy mouth for life.
For more information visit: Department of Human Services
