Children's dental, from the first visit at age two.

Your child can get CDBS in a calendar year when three things are true: they're eligible for Medicare, they're aged between 0 and 17 for at least one day of that year, and you or they receive an eligible payment at least once that year. Family Tax Benefit Part A is the most common one, though several other Centrelink payments also qualify.

The scheme covers check-ups, X-rays, cleaning, fissure sealing, fillings, root canals and extractions. It doesn't cover orthodontic treatment, cosmetic work, or any dental treatment done in a hospital. The $1,158 cap is indexed each 1 January.

Services Australia sets all of this: see what CDBS covers and who can get it.

Three reasons. Familiarisation reduces anxiety, and kids who have been in the chair for friendly visits since toddlerhood are far more comfortable when a real treatment visit comes. Decay is also more common in baby teeth than most parents expect, and a small cavity is faster and easier to treat the earlier we catch it. And it lets us flag habits and development early, things like thumb-sucking, mouth-breathing, tongue-thrust or early bite changes, while there is still time for natural correction or a simple intervention.

You don't need to apply. Services Australia checks each January and sends you a letter if your child is eligible. To check yourself, sign in to myGov with your Medicare online account linked, then select Medicare, History and statements, and Child Dental Benefits Schedule. You can also call the Medicare program line, or see Services Australia's eligibility page. If you'd rather not chase it, tell us at booking and we'll check for you.

We take it slow. The first visit is often just a count-the-teeth visit: no scaling, no needles, no surprise. We often let kids hold the mirror, ride the chair, ask questions, and introduce the instruments we'll use before treatment. For genuinely anxious kids, the first appointment may be 15 minutes and we build from there. If a child is severely anxious and needs sedation for treatment, we refer to a paediatric dental specialist who can manage that: we don't offer GA or IV sedation in-house.

We offer Spark clear aligners for older teenagers whose teeth and jaw are at the right developmental stage (usually 12+). For younger kids who need early orthodontic intervention (interceptive orthodontics, expanders, twin-blocks), we refer to a paediatric orthodontist. We'll make that call at consultation based on what we see.

We use tooth-coloured composite on permanent teeth, and durable stainless-steel crowns for baby teeth that need broader repair (these are sometimes called "silver caps": they're tougher than fillings for kids' chewing forces). Both are bulk-billed under CDBS for eligible kids. We use local anaesthetic where needed and take it at the child's pace.

Sometimes a baby tooth needs help to come out, or an infection in a baby tooth reaches the nerve and needs treatment. We do simple extractions and basic baby-tooth root canals (pulpotomy) in-house under local anaesthetic, both covered under CDBS for eligible kids. For complex cases or kids who need sedation, we refer to a paediatric specialist.

We aim to keep the first few visits pain-free: counting teeth, brushing, and short familiarisation visits don't need anaesthetic. When treatment is needed (filling, extraction), local anaesthetic is standard; we use a numbing gel first to make the injection itself more comfortable. Most kids tell us afterwards it was easier than they expected.

Yes, where the schedule allows. We'll do our best to fit family bookings together so it's one trip. Mention you'd like a joint slot when you book.