Dental care under budget microscope

The Turnbull government is reviewing funding for child dental health care ahead of the May budget.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was asked by Labor in parliament on Thursday whether he would cut funding for the child dental benefits scheme in the 2016/17 budget.

The prime minister said the government had last year committed to 12 months of funding "while we consider options to reform public dental care".

"We have to ensure we are getting the most effective outcomes for the taxpayers' dollars," Mr Turnbull said.

He talked down the scheme, saying it was not meeting its target, with only about 30 per cent of eligible children accessing it.

The previous Labor government locked in funding for the scheme at $155 million in 2013/14 and $119 million in 2014/15.

The Abbott government allocated funding of $155 million for 2015/16, but gave no commitment beyond that.

A review published by the health department earlier this month noted the scheme had been "poorly promoted" but been a "success in targeting the oral health of young Australians at an age where preventative measures can be most effective".

Australian Medical Association president Brian Owler said the scheme should not be scrapped.

"If there's a problem with the scheme don't scrap the scheme - fix the scheme," he told Sky News.

There could be issues around access to the scheme and a lack of promotion, he said.

Opposition health spokeswoman Catherine King said Mr Turnbull had confirmed the scheme, which provides eligible children with up to $1000 in dental treatment every two years, would be axed.

"The government has the teeth of Australia's kids in its sights," Ms King said in a statement.