More than 1.5 million Australian children missing out on free dental scheme, government data shows
Australian Dental Association (ADA) president Chris Sanzaro said only about 36 per cent, or around one in three families who were eligible for the free treatment, used it.
An ADA survey of 25,000 adults found the scheme was cloaked in confusion and misinformation, with many parents either unaware of its existence or unsure of their children's eligibility, leaving "young mouths at risk".
Federal government figures reveal that in the 2024 calendar year, about 2.6 million children were eligible for care under the Child Dental Benefit Schedule (CDBS), yet fewer than one million services were provided.
"It's a scheme that's shrouded in mystery and confusion — and with over 1.5 million Australian kids missing out, the government urgently needs to better promote it to ensure eligible families can access this care," Dr Sanzaro said.
"Our surveys are showing there are lots of people not sure whether their children are eligible or not, not understanding what the scheme is, where it's used, how it's used, and how to access the care.
Children eligible for the CDBS are typically living in households that receive the Family Tax Benefit A — a government payment, which provides financial assistance to low and middle-income families and is designed to help with the costs of raising children.
The CDBS allocates up to $1,132 towards basic dental services covering each eligible child, aged up to and including 17 years, over two calendar years.
Services covered include check-ups, X-rays, cleaning, fillings, root canals, extractions and fissure sealing — applying a protective layer to teeth to prevent tooth decay.
The ADA survey found many parents were unaware the CDBS could be accessed through a private dentist, wrongly assuming that if the government was providing the service it would only be available through the public dental system.
Statistics provided by the federal government show the CDBS had paid $3.6 billion in benefits and delivered 58.5 million services for 3.8 million children since it began in January 2014.
A Department of Health spokesperson said work with Services Australia was ongoing to "raise awareness and increase uptake of the CDBS".
They said the department was also working with state and territory counterparts to boost usage of the CDBS through the public dental system.
"Some children who are eligible for the CDBS receive dental services through schemes offered by states and territories," they said.
If families have private health insurance, many policies cover general dental treatment for children such as cleans and check-ups, though coverage varies between insurers.
Information about the Child Dental Benefit Schedule can be accessed online.
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