Children aged between 2 and 17 whose parents receive certain Centrelink benefits – such as the Family Tax Benefit Part A – are eligible for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS). The benefits are capped at $1,013 per child every 2 years and can pay for examinations, X-rays, cleaning, fissure sealing, fillings, root canals and extractions. It doesn't cover orthodontic, cosmetic or in-hospital dental treatment though.
Health Care Card, Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card or Department of Human Services (DHS) Card holders are often eligible for free dental through Medicare. State public dental services can cover you for general dental, emergency dental services and, in some cases, referrals to specialist hospital services like orthodontics.
If you're eligible for dental through Medicare, you should be able to get treatment for the following services:
In most circumstances, Medicare doesn't cover dental services if:
Need your check up right now? Extras can be a good option. With the Lifestyle Extras plan from ahm, there's no waiting period on general dental from $53.9 monthly. You get other discounts with that too, including physio and new glasses.
You can get covered for dental with an extras policy. It can help pay for the following:
Most extras policies cover general dental. Costs start from around $3 a week and many come with no gap dental. This lets you visit any participating dentist and avoid out-of-pocket fees for things like check-ups, cleanings, X-rays and fluoride treatments.
Major dental is included with mid-range extras policies which cost around $7 a week and cover treatments like wisdom teeth removal, tooth extractions, dentures and root canal.
Orthodontics is included in some extras policies and can help pay for braces and other services such as correcting overbites and underbites.
We've rounded up a few of the basic level dental policies from Finder partners. They all have a general dental limit which includes annual check-ups, minor extractions, dental X-rays, minor fillings and teeth cleaning. All these options have a 2-month waiting period.
All prices are based on a single individual with less than $90,000 income and living in Sydney.
If you're eligible for dental through Medicare, you shouldn't have any out-of-pocket fees, so long as you go to a dentist that bulk bills. You can find a bulk billing dentist near you with the healthdirect health service finder.
You might have some out-of-pocket expenses for dental treatment with extras cover. For example, many policies cover a percentage of the total fee – usually around 50% to 75% – so if you require a tooth extraction and the bill comes to $300, you'll likely still have some out-of-pocket expenses.
Who is eligible for public dental care in QLD?
Children who are Queensland residents and/or attend a Queensland school and are eligible for CDBS or are listed as a dependant on a Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card. Adults are also eligible if they're entitled to Medicare and hold one of the following:
What dental services are covered in QLD? General and urgent or emergency dental care. You will need to join a waiting list for general treatment. Covered dental services include:
Where can I access public dental services in QLD?
At a local QLD clinic. You can search for your closest here.
All children under 18 who are NSW residents are eligible for public dental services in NSW. Adults must be eligible for Medicare and have a Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card or Commonwealth Seniors Health Card.
What dental services are covered in NSW?
Emergency and general dental treatment including:
Where can I access public dental services in NSW?
At local clinics across the state. You can find your local clinic here. NSW Health also provides dental care to 21 Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS). You can contact your local ACCHS here or on (02) 9212 4777.
For general dental, such as extractions, you may need to wait up to 12 months before receiving treatment, while general check-ups have a 2-year maximum waiting period.
Who is eligible for public dental care in ACT?
Children aged between 0 and 14 who live or attend school in the ACT, some 14-18 year olds and adults with a Centrelink concession card.
What dental services are covered in ACT?
Canberra Health Services offers general public dental services, emergency treatment and denture services including comprehensive assessments, oral health plans and general preventative, restorative and emergency treatment for children. Adults can also get access to general restorative, dentures and emergency dental services.
Where can I access public dental services in ACT?
At public dental service clinics located in Canberra City, Gungahlin, Tuggeranong and other parts of the ACT. You can find your local clinic here.
Who is eligible for public dental care in Victoria?
Adults must be 18 and over, and hold or be listed as a dependant on a Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card. All children up to 12 years are eligible, plus young people aged 13 to 17 years who hold or are dependants on a Health Care or Pensioner Concession Card. All refugees, asylum seekers and people in youth justice custodial care are also eligible.
What dental services are covered in Victoria?
Emergency and general dental treatment including:
Fees generally still apply to patients 18 and over who hold or are listed as a dependant on a Health Care Card or a Pensioner Concession Card, and children up to 12 years who do not hold a concession card or are not dependants of concession card holders.
Where can I access public dental services in Victoria?
At your local clinic. You can find a clinic near you by visiting the Dental Health Services Victoria website.
Who is eligible for public dental care in TAS?
Oral Health Services Tasmania provides dental and denture services for all Tasmanian adults who hold a Pensioner Concession Card or Health Care Card and dental care for all children up to the age of 18.
What dental services are covered in TAS?
Eligible services for children include:
And for adults:
All adults need to pay a co-payment of $45 towards their dental treatment.
Where can I access public dental services in TAS?
There are at least 29 adult, child and teen dental clinics across Tasmania. Find the one nearest to you here.
Who is eligible for public dental care in SA?
All children under 18 years of age at school. Adults must have a Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card.
What dental services are covered in SA?
General and emergency dental care is available for children and adults, including orthodontic treatment for children if necessary. There are waiting lists for almost all adult dental services, with wait times depending on the clinic and type of dental care needed. Fees generally still apply for adults receiving general and emergency dental care. Currently, the fee is $63 for emergency services and up to $162 for general co-payments.
Where can I access public dental services in SA?
At one of South Australia's dental service clinics. You can search by postcode or suburb here.
Who is eligible for public dental care in WA?
To be eligible, adults must hold a Health Care Card or a Pensioner Concession Card, while all school children aged 5 to 17 are eligible for the School Dental Service program.
What dental services are covered in WA?
Emergency and general dental treatment including:
Fees apply to adult services, with a maximum of 75% of the cost subsidised by the Western Australia Government. How much you have to pay will depend on the subsidy you are entitled to receive, which is based on the income you receive from Centrelink.
Where can I access public dental services in WA?
For emergency treatment, contact your local School or Adult Dental Service. You can find your closest here.
Who is eligible for public dental care in NT? You're entitled to public dental care in NT if you are:
What dental services are covered in NT?
Routine and emergency dental services are covered under the public system in the NT. These include:
And specialist services such as:
Where can I access public dental services in NT?
You can find a list of dental clinics here.
