Medicare Funded Dental Care for Kids

Did you know there’s Medicare funded dental care for eligible children at a private practice?

Don’t miss out on $1095 of Medicare Funded Dental Care for kids up to 17 years

Ever told your child that an apple a day helps keep the doctor away? Sadly, the alarming rise in preventable hospitalisations amongst kids due to dental procedures tells another story.

According to The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), in 2021–22 the rate of potentially preventable hospitalisations – ie a condition that could have been avoided through preventative management – due to dental conditions was highest in those aged 5–9 years. In the same period, there were around 226,000 dental procedures performed in hospital for kids aged 0-14 across the country. Whilst the rate of preventable hospitalisations due to dental conditions has fluctuated over time, this is the highest it’s been in the 5-9 year age group.

🦷 What’s the cause of the oral health epidemic amongst kids?

According to the Australian Dental Association (ADA) – the not-for-profit peak body representing dentists in NSW and the ACT – the majority of dental disease is due to tooth decay. In other words, not cleaning teeth properly, snacking or sipping on sugary foods (sound like anyone’s kids?). Worried you’re letting the tooth brushing side down? Don’t be – you’re not alone. NSW Health says tooth decay is the single most chronic common childhood illness so it’s more common than you might think. But left untreated tooth decay can lead to pain and infection, a higher risk of decay in baby and adult teeth, and anxiety when kids visit a dentist, not to mention time off from school

🦷 What’s the solution?

The good news is that tooth decay is mostly preventable, and regular dental check-ups are part of the answer along with proper oral hygiene (tooth brushing twice a day), a healthy diet and avoiding those sugary snacks and drinks. Scheduling in a minimum of one annual check-up can help identify dental problems in kids and also prevent them from becoming more serious.

As cost is one of the biggest barriers to accessing dental care, and with the cost of living on the rise, the ADA want parents to know that the Australian-government funded Child Dental Benefits Scheme provides a way for children to receive necessary dental care whilst keeping costs low.

Child demonstrating tooth brushing with teeth dummy

🦷 How to access the Child Dental Benefits Scheme (CDBS)?

If you’re a family that holds a Health Care Card, receives a Centrelink payment or Family Tax Benefit A, your child(ren) may be eligible for the CDBS which entitles kids up to 17 years of age to access $1095 of Medicare funded dental care over a two year period, calculated from the start of each calendar year. Any unused funds are rolled over into the following year, however if you’ve got private health insurance you can’t claim both the CDBS and a rebate. To check your eligibility, simply ask at the reception of your dental clinic or call Medicare on 132 011 (7 days a week, 24 hours a day) or visit servicesaustralia.gov.au