Dr Mohit Tolani, a dentist at Dapto Dentists and a member of the ADA NSW, explains the changes to the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) and shares oral hygiene tips for kids.
What is the CDBS and how has it recently changed?
The CDBS is an Australian Government means-tested program established in 2014 that provides access to up to $1026 in benefits over two consecutive calendar years, covering most basic general dental services for children zero to 17 years of age. Check-ups, x-rays, cleaning, fissure sealants, fillings, root canals and extractions are among the services provided. It excludes specialist services like orthodontics or services provided under general anaesthetic.
Children whose parents hold a Health Care Card or who receive an eligible Centrelink payment, such as Family Tax Benefit A, may be eligible for the CDBS. Recently the government announced that funding for the CDBS will be extended for a further four years with an increased cap of $1052 for families commencing their two-year period from January 2023 and beyond.
How will the Child Dental Benefits Schedule benefit local Illawarra kids?
Studies indicate that only 37 percent of eligible families utilise the bi-annually replenished benefit.
There is a low uptake of the CDBS, which highlights the fact that for low-income families or those in regional or remote areas, costs and access to oral care remain a barrier.
Several of Illawarra’s lower-income households have a greater incidence of poor dental health impacting on their overall wellbeing and health. Oral health is a big issue in the Illawarra. We know that in Wollongong and Dapto alone combined, for example, there are more than 800 potentially preventable hospitalisations for dental conditions every year, according to AIHW data. This illustrates what can happen if you let your oral health slide.
The ADA NSW also understand in the Illawarra large amounts of patients are struggling to afford oral health. For example, in Wollongong we know 1 in 4 adults aged 15 and over put off dental treatment every year due to cost. If older people are, likely kids are missing out too. (Source: NSW Patient Experience Map)
There’s currently about 4000 adults on the public dental waiting list and about 1800 children waiting assessment before going on the waiting list in the Illawarra-Shoalhaven public dental waiting list. Many of these will likely be waiting several months before receiving treatment.
If there is a smaller issue, it can be addressed earlier on with the help of this scheme before it turns into a major one for the eligible children, impacting significantly on their health. The scheme would be significantly fruitful to the oral health management of eligible children in the Illawarra region as it helps to breakdown the barriers of cost and accessibility whilst providing an avenue for families to consult their children’s dental practitioners regarding any potential concerns or emergencies. This would assist in reducing potentially preventable hospitalisations resulting from inability of access to oral health services.
When should children first see a dentist and how frequently throughout their childhood?
It is recommended that children should see a dentist by the time they're one year old or when their first tooth erupts, whichever happens first.
Following that, your dental practitioner will advise you how often to bring your child for a check-up – this sits usually around every 6-12 months. Generally, there is a consensus that should more families attend a dental visit every six to 12 months for preventive care, their regular dentist is able to then not only support them getting general dental health care through the CDBS, for example, but also provide children and their carers with a better understanding of the crucial role that diet and oral care play in a child’s overall health.
In saying that, a regular visiting routine sets up good habits into adult life, ultimately aiming to reduce the burden of oral healthcare on the public system and any linked issues.
What healthy oral habits can parents teach their kids?
Regular dental visits and brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste are key to limiting the impact of children’s poor oral health.
In addition, parents can assist their children to brush their teeth until they have good brushing skills. Should your child be younger than 6, watch them brush, ensuring that a pea-sized amount of toothpaste is used and always spit it out rather than swallow.
Drinking tap water that contains fluoride is recommended together with having healthier lunch boxes for school including something from each of the 5 food groups: fruit, vegetables/legumes/beans, dairy, grain (cereal) foods, and lean meats/poultry/fish/eggs etc.
Aiming to try things like carrot sticks rather than high-sugar items like chocolate, and picking whole fruit over fruit juice is advisable as the vitamins, minerals and fibre make it more filling and nutritious. With all the items, always check the sugar content on packs prior to use within the lunch boxes.
Jump on the ADA NSW website – it has some other suggestions for tooth-friendly foods.
