How can we help you?
Our team of dental professionals believe that when you are informed about your dental health care options, you become empowered to make decisions that are genuinely in your best interest. Towards that end, we encourage you to discuss any questions or concerns that might arise in your mind. In addition, we never hesitate to answer questions about our clinic, treatments and procedures.
In this area, you can find answers to some of our patients' common questions. We've sorted them by service to make finding what you need easier. If you have a question that isn't answered here, please get in touch with our office. We value your comprehensive understanding of your oral health care.
Children's Dentistry & Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS)
Patient safety is an integral part of our care at the Dentists @ Belmore in Sydney, NSW. This commitment extends from the treatment room to our diagnostic technology.
Our Dental Clinic Maintains Exemplary Standards
In terms of cleanliness, we use the highest level of infection prevention standards. Every one of our instruments undergoes a rigorous disinfection process and is sealed in a labelled bag to allow systemised tracking. We also use barriers over the dental chair and use hospital-grade disinfectants to clean the chair between patients. Our team members undergo frequent updates in better standards and practices, and we use Australian-made products wherever available.
Dental Technology for Safe Treatments
Many of our dental technology upgrades are to enhance your health and safety as a Dentists @ Belmore patient. For example, we now are using a leading-edge x-ray called OPGs (orthopantomogram). This type of dental x-ray produces a full panoramic-type dental x-ray of your upper and lower teeth in one image. In addition, these machines emit less radiation and show a complete view without multiple scans.
We encourage you to learn more about how our focus on health and safety can make a difference in your life. We are always welcoming new patients from the communities around Belmore, including Canterbury, Lakemba, and Clemton Park.
It is generally recommended to start taking them to the dentist when their first tooth comes through or by 12 months, whichever comes first. Whilst no treatment may be performed then, this is a good strategy to get kids used to seeing the dentist. At that first appointment, our dentists will discuss strategies to maintain your child's oral hygiene and health in an easy and non-threatening way. The first time our young patients come in, they often sit in their parents' lap for a joy ride in the dental chair!
Here's some more info from the Australian Dental Association.
No, the benefits may not be transferred between family members. The benefits can only be used for the treatment of the eligible child.
The total dental benefit is capped at $1,132 per child over two years and to access the benefits, certain eligibility criteria need to be met. If the full amount is not spent in the first year, it is carried over into the second year. Any funds not used by the end of the second year are forfeited.
Before beginning any work, your dentist will take time to inform you of the costs of any treatment so that you can spend your allowance effectively. We choose to bulk-bill on the spot through Medicare, up to the child’s benefit allowance.
Every calendar year the eligibility of a child is determined and the benefits are made available for two calendar years. A child becomes eligible to receive the benefits if they are between 2 and 17 years old for at least one day of the calendar year.
In addition, they should meet the requirements, be eligible for Medicare and be part of a family that receives:
- Family Tax Benefit Part A
- Special Benefit
- Youth Allowance
- Double Orphan Pension
- Parenting Payment
- ABSTUDY
- Disability Support Pension
- Parenting Payment
- Veteran’s Children Education Scheme (if the child is 16 or over)
- Carer Payment
- Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act Education and Training Scheme (if the child is 16 or over).
If your child is eligible, your family’s details will need to be up to date with Medicare and Centrelink to use their CDBS benefits.
The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) is a federal government program that was introduced to make dentistry more accessible to children up to the age of eighteen. Many children meet the eligibility criteria, and this scheme is under-utilised.
Parents that hold a Medicare card can simply call us up and ask that we check their child’s eligibility.
The Child Dental Benefit Scheme covers a range of basic dental services including routine checks, fillings, fissure sealing, x-rays, root canal treatments and extractions. The government has provided itemised codes for the treatments that are covered by the CDBS here.
It’s important to note that services classified as ‘high-end’ are not covered by the CDBS. This includes orthodontic or surgical work and cosmetic dental work.