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Despite 2.4 million kids being eligible, only 600,000 Australians have accessed a government program that provides $1132 over two years for dental services for children.
Uptake for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule has been stuck at 40 per cent since it was introduced a decade ago.
The Australian Dental Association says the reason for the low adoption is that accessing the scheme is confusing.
While the government promotes it on social media, it has admitted it could be better advertised to increase numbers.
“It’s a terrific opportunity for relatively low-income families to get access to high-quality dental care for their kids and build that strong oral health for a lifetime,” Health Minister Mark Butler said.
To qualify for the benefits, a child must be aged under 18 and their family must receive a government payment like family tax benefit A, or a parenting payment.
Australians can check their eligibility for the use-it-or-lose-it benefit on MyGov and can call their dentist ahead of time to confirm that they participate in the scheme.
The program covers dental services such as examinations, x-rays, cleaning, fissure sealing, fillings, root canals, and extractions, although it doesn’t cover whitening or braces.