CDBS Dentist in Prestons: How the Child Dental Benefits Schedule Works in 2026
- Star Light Dental
- September 18, 2026
- [email protected]
If your family receives Family Tax Benefit Part A or a similar government payment, there is a good chance your children can have their basic dental care paid for by Medicare. The program is called the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, or CDBS, and in 2026 it provides up to $1,158 per child over two calendar years.
Many eligible families around Prestons, Carnes Hill, Hoxton Park and Edmondson Park never use it, usually because nobody has explained how it works. Star Light Dental is a CDBS provider, so this guide covers who qualifies, what is and is not covered, how to check your child’s balance and what to bring to the appointment.
1. What Is the Child Dental Benefits Schedule?
The CDBS is an Australian Government program, run through Medicare, that pays for basic dental services for eligible children aged 0 to 17. It is not private health insurance and there is nothing to sign up for. If your child qualifies, the benefit is simply there to be used at any dentist who provides services under the CDBS.
The benefit is capped. For two-year periods starting in 2026 the cap is $1,158 per child. You can use it all in the first year or spread it across both, but any unused amount does not carry over into the next two-year period. For a family with three eligible children, that is close to $3,500 of dental care that would otherwise go unclaimed.
2. Who Is Eligible for the CDBS?
A child is eligible for a calendar year if all three of these apply:
- they are aged between 0 and 17 for at least one day of that year
- they are eligible for Medicare on the day of the dental visit
- the child, or their parent or guardian, receives an eligible Australian Government payment at least once in that year. The most common is Family Tax Benefit Part A. Others include Parenting Payment, Youth Allowance and Carer Payment.
Eligibility is assessed every year, so a child who qualified last year may not qualify this year, and the reverse is also true. Services Australia normally lets eligible families know by letter or through their myGov inbox.
3. What Does the CDBS Cover?
The schedule is built around the dental care children need most:
- check-ups and examinations
- X-rays
- professional cleaning
- fissure sealants, a protective coating over the grooves of the back teeth
- fillings
- root canal treatment
- extractions
It does not cover orthodontics such as braces, cosmetic dental work, or dental treatment carried out in a hospital. If your child needs something outside the schedule, we will tell you before any treatment starts, along with the cost and your options, including health fund cover and payment plans.
4. How Do I Check My Child’s CDBS Balance?
There are three easy ways:
- log in to your Medicare online account through myGov
- call Medicare on 132 011
- ask us. With your child’s Medicare card we can check eligibility and the remaining balance at reception before the appointment.
It is worth checking before the end of each two-year period, because unused benefits expire. Even a few hundred dollars is enough for a check-up, a clean and fissure sealants.
5. Using the CDBS at Star Light Dental in Prestons
Star Light Dental is a CDBS provider. When you book, let reception know you would like to use the CDBS, and bring your child’s Medicare card to the visit. We check the balance first, explain what the visit will involve and tell you about any costs up front, so there are no surprises.
A first visit is usually a gentle check-up, any X-rays that are needed, a clean, and advice on brushing and diet. If we find decay, we will talk you through the treatment and how much of it the remaining balance covers. Dr Liza Mekhael has a special focus on children’s dentistry and is particularly good with kids who are nervous. You can read more on our children’s dentistry page.
We are at Shop 7/2 Lyn Parade, Prestons, with on-site parking and disabled access that also suits prams. We are open Saturdays from 10am to 3pm, so children do not need to miss school.
6. What If My Child Is Not Eligible?
You still have options:
- Private health insurance. We accept all health funds and claim on the spot, so you only pay the gap.
- NSW public dental care. All children under 18 who live in NSW and have Medicare can use public dental services. Call 1800 679 336. In some cases the public service issues a voucher for treatment at a private dentist, and we accept those. Our guide to NSW dental vouchers explains how they work.
- Payment plans. Medipay and Afterpay are available for larger treatments.
Use It Before It Expires
If your family receives Family Tax Benefit Part A, take two minutes to check your children’s balance, then book a check-up while the benefit is there to be used. Small problems found early are quicker, cheaper and far less stressful to fix.
Call (02) 9432 2833 or book online, and mention the CDBS when you book.
Figures are current for 2026. Eligibility rules and benefit amounts are set by the Australian Government and can change. Check Services Australia for the latest details.