Is my child eligible for CDBS? A 20-second check.
Answer three questions. Our friendly reception team can confirm the details when you call.
Gentle children's dentistry in Bundaberg
Children's teeth need looking after from the moment they appear. At Acclaim Dental we've been caring for Bundaberg families since 2008, and our oral health therapists Karlee, Tiana and Daniel have a particular focus on children's preventive care. Our aim is simple: kids who are relaxed at the dentist and grow up without fillings.
We see children from their first tooth through to their teens, for everything from a first 'happy visit' to check-ups, cleans, fissure sealants, fillings, mouthguards and advice on thumb-sucking, teething and diet.
Free dental care for eligible children: the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS)
The Child Dental Benefits Schedule is an Australian Government program that covers basic dental care for eligible children aged 0 to 17. Acclaim Dental bulk bills every CDBS service, which means no out-of-pocket cost to you for covered treatment.
Who is eligible
Your child is eligible for a calendar year if all of the following apply:
- They're aged 0 to 17 at any point in that calendar year
- They're eligible for Medicare
- They or their parent or carer receives Family Tax Benefit Part A or another eligible Australian Government payment for at least part of the year
Services Australia usually sends a letter confirming eligibility each year. If you're not sure, our friendly reception team can check for you. Call with your Medicare card handy, or ask at your next visit.
What's covered
Up to $1,158 per child over two consecutive calendar years (the cap is $1,158, effective from 1 January 2026). Any unused amount carries into the second year, then resets. Covered services include:
- Examinations and check-ups
- X-rays
- Cleaning and fluoride treatment
- Fissure sealants
- Fillings
- Root canal treatment
- Extractions
CDBS does not cover orthodontics, cosmetic treatment or any treatment provided in hospital.
To use CDBS at Acclaim Dental, just let reception know when you book and bring your child's Medicare card. We check the remaining balance before each appointment and tell you if anything falls outside the schedule.
Your child's first visit
We recommend a first visit by age one, or within six months of the first tooth. Early visits catch problems before they hurt, and they build the habit of dental care being a normal, calm part of life.
Meet the team
Your child sits in the chair (or on your lap), meets their clinician and gets a look at the tools. Nothing happens until they're comfortable.
A gentle look
We count teeth, check the gums and bite, and look at how the jaw and adult teeth are developing.
Practical advice for home
Brushing technique, fluoride toothpaste, bottles and sippy cups, snacks and drinks, dummies and thumb-sucking. Real answers for real routines.
Children's dental services
- Check-ups and cleans every six months, with fluoride to strengthen enamel
- Fissure sealants on new adult molars to keep decay out of deep grooves
- Tooth-coloured fillings when decay does occur
- Custom sports mouthguards for rugby league, hockey, netball and every other winter and summer sport
- Emergency care for knocked-out or broken teeth, available every day we're open. See emergency dentist
- Growth and bite assessment, with a referral for orthodontic advice when it's needed
- Space maintainers if a baby tooth is lost early
Tips for healthy kids' teeth
- Brush twice a day with a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste from 18 months. An adult should help until about age eight.
- Water and plain milk are the only drinks that should be in a bottle or cup between meals.
- Keep sweet snacks to mealtimes. It's how often sugar is eaten, not how much, that drives decay.
- Start flossing as soon as two teeth touch.
- A mouthguard for every training session, not just game day.
Common concerns by age
Babies and toddlers (0 to 3)
Teething, bottle and breastfeeding habits, dummies and thumb-sucking, and the first brushing routine. We check that teeth are coming through on schedule and that there's no early decay, which can start as soon as teeth appear if sweet drinks are given at night.
Pre-schoolers and primary (3 to 11)
Check-ups and cleans, fluoride, fissure sealants on the first adult molars (which arrive around age six), fillings when needed, and keeping an eye on how the adult teeth are lining up. Sports mouthguards start here.
Tweens and teens (12 to 17)
Sealants on the second adult molars, wisdom teeth monitoring, orthodontic assessment and referral, diet advice (sports drinks and energy drinks do a lot of damage), and whitening advice for teens who ask.
Fissure sealants explained
The chewing surfaces of back teeth have deep grooves that a toothbrush bristle can't reach into. A fissure sealant is a thin protective coating flowed into those grooves and set with a light. It takes a few minutes per tooth, needs no drilling or numbing, and dramatically reduces decay in the teeth most likely to get it. We recommend sealants on adult molars as soon as they've fully come through, usually around ages six and twelve. Sealants are covered under CDBS.
Mouthguards for sport
A custom-fitted mouthguard made from a digital scan of your child's teeth fits properly, stays in place and protects far better than a boil-and-bite guard from the chemist. We make them for rugby league, union, hockey, netball, basketball, martial arts and skateboarding. They need replacing as your child grows, usually every one to two seasons.
Special needs and additional support
We welcome children with additional needs. Tell us what helps your child when you book: a quieter time of day, a longer appointment, a parent in the chair, a familiar clinician each visit, or a short desensitising visit first. We'll plan around them.