Dental costs in Australia: CDBS and ADA item numbers
Children aged 0–17 may get up to $1,158 of basic dental care over 2 consecutive calendar years through the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) when 2026 is year one, if they are eligible for Medicare and they or a parent or carer get an eligible Services Australia payment. Most adults pay the clinic directly. Facts checked against official sources on .
CDBS rules and common ADA item numbers
Medicare does not cover most dental care. Children may be covered by the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS); most adults pay the clinic directly, and private health insurance extras or state public dental services may help. This guide does not publish clinic fees — ask the clinic for a written quote that lists the item numbers below.
| Who can get it | Children aged 0–17 for at least one day of the calendar year who are eligible for Medicare and who, or whose parent, carer or guardian, gets an eligible Services Australia payment at least once that year. |
|---|---|
| Benefit cap | Up to $1,158 per child over 2 consecutive calendar years when 2026 is year one ($1,132 when 2025 is year one). Indexed each 1 January. |
| Covered | check-ups, X-rays, cleaning, fissure sealing, fillings, root canals, extractions |
| Not covered | orthodontic work, cosmetic work, dental services in a hospital |
| Bulk billing | Some dentists bulk bill CDBS services, and then there is nothing to pay or claim. When booking, say you want to use CDBS and ask what each service will cost. |
| ADA item | Service | CDBS item |
|---|---|---|
| 011 | Comprehensive oral examination | 88011 |
| 022 | Intraoral periapical or bitewing radiograph (X-ray), per exposure | 88022 |
| 114 | Removal of calculus (scale) — first appointment | 88114 |
Sources: Services Australia — Child Dental Benefits Schedule; Services Australia — What's covered; Services Australia — How to use; ADA — Australian Schedule of Dental Services and Glossary; NSW Health — Oral Health Fee For Service Scheme schedule (item descriptions); NSW Health — CDBS treatment values (88-series items). National reference descriptions only — not any clinic's fees.
Looking for a dentist? Browse the NSW dental clinic directory by suburb.