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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.
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.
Find out whether or not you can get pet insurance for dental care and what options there are.
My child has to have root canal treatment, the estimated cost is over $3000 dollars, we simply can not afford it, he is only 12. Is it possible to get this done through Medicare/bulkbilling
Hi Chantel,
Thank you for getting in touch with Finder.
The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) only covers up to $1,000 over 2 calendar years for basic dental services like root canals.
I hope this helps.
Thank you and have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Jeni
I would like to know if the government dental services are as good as the private dentists. I am nervous about going to the dentist, so it’s a big decision for me
Hi Chantal,
Thank you for getting in touch with Finder.
Please note that each state and territory has its own public dental program that you may benefit from while private health insurance can provide additional cover for a broad range of dental expenses under both general and major dental cover in extras cover. You may visit the Department of Health page and click on your state to learn more on the dental program, eligibility as well as to find your nearest public dental clinic you may have your oral check up with.
I hope this helps.
Thank you and have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Jeni
Hello. My 16 yo needs a root canal. I believe this was to be covered by Medicare under Labor’s retained state gov in Victoria.
Can you tell me more? Do we access this through an endodontist our general dentist?
Hi Bee,
Thank you for getting in touch with Finder.
All children and young people up to 18 years of age, who are in out-of-home care provided by the Children Youth and Families Division of the Department of Human Services, are eligible for dental treatments including root canals as per the Dental Health Services Victoria website. You may contact them directly for further clarification on this matter on 1300 360 054 from Monday to Friday, 8AM to 830PM.
I hope this helps.
Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any other enquiries.
Thank you and have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Jeni
Hello,my daughter had a dental surgery last month which costed 2,300.she had four crowns and filling plus an extraction.i dont know if i can claim some money back from medicsre.thanks
Hi Chantel,
Thank you for reaching out to finder, a comparison website.
You may need to reach out directly to Medicare regarding this query to ensure that they know what type of surgery was done. This will also give you a better idea of what Medicare could cover based on the surgery done to your daughter. Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Reggie
I am an aged pensioner,i do not have any form of private health cover.Recently i had an abscess on a bottom back tooth.Whilst i was able to claim the visit to the g.p.for the antibiotics to fix the infection .I am wondering wether i can claim the actual dental work the root canals necessary to prevent further problems .the actual cost for the procedure was over $1000 .can i claim some of this cost through medicare
Thank you
Hi Tim,
Thank you for your question.
You will need to contact the Department of Human Services directly about this matter.
All the best,
Zubair