Free Dental for Kids in Ocean Grove
Eligible children can have their dental care bulk billed through the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, a Medicare scheme that covers basic dental treatment up to a set amount. At Ocean Breeze Dental we bulk bill it, so there is nothing to pay on the day.
Ocean Breeze Dental has looked after Ocean Grove families for over 30 years. To check your child’s eligibility and book, call (03) 5255 2584.
We can check your child eligibility with you when you call
What the Child Dental Benefits Schedule is
The Child Dental Benefits Schedule, usually shortened to CDBS, is an Australian Government scheme administered through Medicare. It contributes towards basic dental services for children who meet the eligibility conditions.
The benefit is capped. For treatment periods beginning in 2026 the cap is $1,158 per child, and it can be used across two consecutive calendar years. The amount is set by the Government and is reviewed each year, so the figure that applies to your child depends on the year their treatment period started. Services Australia holds the current details.
Many families who qualify have never been told they do. It is worth checking even if you assume you would not be eligible.
How to check whether your child is eligible
Three conditions have to be met. Your child must:
- Be aged 0 to 17 for at least one day in the calendar year
- Be eligible for Medicare
- Have received, or have a parent or carer who received, a qualifying government payment at least once that year. Family Tax Benefit Part A is the most common one, but several others also qualify
You can check in the Medicare section of your myGov account, or by calling Medicare. We can also check on your behalf when you call the practice, with your consent. Eligibility is assessed per calendar year, so a child who was not eligible last year may be eligible this year.
What the benefit covers, and what it does not
The scheme covers a defined list of basic services. In practice that generally includes examinations, x-rays where clinically indicated, cleaning, fluoride treatment, fissure sealants, fillings, root canal treatment and extractions.
It does not cover orthodontic treatment, cosmetic dental work, or any treatment provided in hospital. If your child needs something outside the covered list, or the cap has been used up, we will tell you before treatment and give you a written plan and quote first.
What happens at your child’s first visit
The first appointment is about getting your child comfortable as much as it is about their teeth. We keep it unhurried, explain everything in language they understand, and let them look at the instruments before anything happens.
We check the teeth and gums, look at how the jaw and bite are developing, and take x-rays only where there is a clinical reason to. Then we talk to you about what we found and what, if anything, needs doing.
If your child is nervous, tell us when you book so we can allow extra time. A child who has a calm first visit is far easier to bring back, and that matters more than anything we do on the day.
Things worth knowing before you come
- The cap is per child, not per visit. Once it is used, further treatment in that period is charged and quoted to you in writing beforehand.
- The benefit does not roll over. Unused amounts do not carry into a new treatment period.
- Eligibility can change year to year with your circumstances, so it is worth rechecking annually.
- Not every child needs treatment at every visit. Where teeth are healthy we will tell you so and recommend when to come back, based on your child’s own risk rather than a fixed schedule.
- Dental treatment carries risks, as all treatment does. Where your child needs a filling, an extraction or anything beyond an examination, we will explain what is involved and what the risks are before you consent.
How we quote
Where treatment is covered by the CDBS and your child is within the cap, we bulk bill it and there is nothing to pay.
Where treatment falls outside the scheme, or the cap has been reached, you get a written treatment plan listing every item, the item numbers and the total, before anything goes ahead. Nothing proceeds until you have accepted it. We claim health funds on the spot through HICAPS.
Free Dental for Kids FAQs
Is it really free?
For eligible children, for services on the covered list, and within the benefit cap, yes. We bulk bill, so there is no out of pocket cost on the day. Anything outside those conditions is quoted to you in writing first.
How do I find out if we qualify?
Check the Medicare section of your myGov account, call Medicare, or ask us to check when you call. Most families who qualify are receiving Family Tax Benefit Part A.
What age should my child first see a dentist?
Current guidance is around the first birthday, or when the first teeth appear. Early visits are short and are mostly about familiarity rather than treatment.
Will my child need x-rays?
Only where there is a clinical reason, such as checking between teeth that are touching. We do not take routine x-rays on children as a matter of course.
What if my child is frightened of the dentist?
Tell us when you book. We allow a longer appointment, go at their pace, and stop whenever they need us to. There is no benefit in pushing a frightened child through an appointment.
Can I stay in the room?
Yes. For younger children we usually prefer it.
Does the benefit cover braces?
No. Orthodontic treatment is specifically excluded from the scheme.
Book your child’s appointment
If you think your child may be eligible, call Ocean Breeze Dental on (03) 5255 2584 and we can check it with you, or book online. See also our children’s dentistry page.
We are at Unit 12, 73 The Terrace, Ocean Grove, with lift access and street parking nearby. Open Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9:00am to 5:30pm, and Tuesday and Thursday until 7:30pm. We see families from Ocean Grove, Barwon Heads, Point Lonsdale, Wallington, Drysdale and across the Bellarine Peninsula.
This page provides general information about a government scheme and about dental care for children. It is not personal dental advice and does not replace an examination. Eligibility and benefit amounts are set by the Australian Government and can change; confirm your child’s current entitlement with Services Australia or Medicare. All dental treatment carries risks, which will be explained to you before you consent on your child’s behalf.