Vulnerable children will receive further access to dental treatment following the extension of a government program.

Funding for the child dental benefits schedule will be extended for a further four years.

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The scheme allows eligible children up to age 17 access to up to $1026 per year in benefits for basic dental services for two years.

The services can be delivered by dentists in the public or private sectors.

Health Minister Mark Butler said the scheme allowed for a boost to oral health for children in low-income families.
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"The child dental benefits schedule is an important program that ensures vulnerable children get dental care when their families can't afford it," he said.

"By improving access to dental services for children, the program helps address declining oral health and sets children on a path to better health throughout their lives."

The program was first launched in 2014 and since then about 7.6 million dental services have been provided to about 900,000 children.

Nearly $440 million of Commonwealth funding has been set aside since the start of the scheme to support state and territory governments to deliver the program.

Children from low-income households are twice as likely to have untreated dental decay compared with children from high-income households.

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