Canada Dental Care Plan Guide: Eligibility, Coverage and How to Apply

What Is the Canadian Dental Care Plan?

The Canadian Dental Care Plan is a federal program designed to make oral health care more affordable for eligible Canadian residents who do not have access to private dental insurance.

The CDCP is not a cash payment deposited into your bank account. Instead, eligible dental expenses are billed to the plan by participating oral health providers. The plan administrator reimburses the provider for the covered portion of eligible services.

Depending on your income and the fees charged by your provider, you may still be responsible for part of the treatment cost.

Who Is Eligible for the Canadian Dental Care Plan?

To qualify for the Canadian Dental Care Plan, you must meet all of the program’s main eligibility requirements.

You Must Not Have Access to Private Dental Insurance

You generally cannot qualify if you have access to dental insurance or dental coverage through:

• Your employer or workplace benefits plan.
• Your pension plan.
• Your spouse or common-law partner’s workplace or pension plan.
• A parent or other family member’s benefits plan.
• A professional or student organization.
• A private dental insurance policy purchased by you or a family member.
• A health spending account that can be used for dental expenses.

Having access to insurance can make you ineligible even when you have not used the coverage, declined to enrol or would have to pay a premium to participate.

A limited exception may apply to some retired individuals who opted out of pension-based dental coverage before December 11, 2023 and are not permitted to enrol again under the pension plan’s rules.

You Must Have Filed Your Canadian Tax Return

You must have filed your Canadian income tax return for the required tax year. Your spouse or common-law partner must also have filed a return when applicable.

The government uses information from these returns to calculate your adjusted family net income and determine whether you meet the income requirement.

Your Adjusted Family Net Income Must Be Below $90,000

Your adjusted family net income must be less than $90,000. This amount is based on your family net income and certain adjustments reported on your tax returns.

Eligibility is based on family income rather than only the income of the person receiving dental care.

You Must Be a Canadian Resident for Tax Purposes

You must be considered a Canadian resident for tax purposes. Your spouse or common-law partner must also meet the applicable residency requirements.

Canadian Dental Care Plan Income Limits

Your adjusted family net income affects both your eligibility and the percentage of the CDCP established fees that the plan may cover.

Adjusted Family Net Income	CDCP Coverage	Your Co-payment
Below $70,000	100% of eligible costs at CDCP established fees	0% of CDCP established fees
$70,000 to $79,999	60% of eligible costs at CDCP established fees	40% of CDCP established fees
$80,000 to $89,999	40% of eligible costs at CDCP established fees	60% of CDCP established fees
$90,000 or more	Not eligible based on the current income requirement	Full cost of treatment

Even when the plan covers 100% of the CDCP established fee, that does not always mean your appointment will be completely free.

Dental providers may charge more than the amount established by the CDCP. When this happens, you may have to pay the difference between the provider’s fee and the amount recognized by the plan.

What Dental Services Does the CDCP Cover?

The Canadian Dental Care Plan covers a range of oral health services when they are considered eligible under the program’s rules. Coverage limits, frequency limits and preauthorization requirements may apply.

Diagnostic Services

• Dental examinations.
• Dental X-rays.
• Other services used to diagnose oral health conditions.

Preventive Services

• Professional teeth cleaning.
• Scaling.
• Fluoride treatments.
• Dental sealants.

Basic Dental Treatments

• Permanent and temporary fillings.
• Pain-control services.
• Treatment for infections.
• Other basic restorative procedures.

Root Canal and Endodontic Services

• Root canal treatment for eligible teeth.
• Treatment of diseases affecting the tooth pulp.
• Related emergency procedures when covered.

Periodontal Services

• Treatment for gum disease.
• Deep cleaning below the gumline.
• Other eligible periodontal procedures.

Major Dental Services

• Complete dentures.
• Partial dentures.
• Denture repairs and adjustments.
• Certain crowns and other major restorative services when approved.

Oral Surgery

• Eligible tooth extractions.
• Removal of roots or impacted teeth.
• Other covered oral surgery procedures.

Anesthesia and Sedation

Certain anesthesia and sedation services may be covered when medically necessary. Some forms of conscious sedation, deep sedation and general anesthesia require preauthorization.

Does the Canadian Dental Care Plan Cover Orthodontics?

Orthodontic services are not currently available under the regular CDCP coverage rules. The government has indicated that a limited range of orthodontic services may become available in the future.

Once introduced, qualifying orthodontic treatment is expected to require preauthorization and will likely be limited to cases that meet specific medical and clinical requirements.

What Is Not Fully Covered?

The CDCP does not guarantee that every dental treatment or every dollar charged by a dental provider will be covered.

You may need to pay some or all of the cost when:

• The service is not included in the CDCP.
• You have reached a frequency or coverage limit.
• A required preauthorization request was not approved.
• Your provider charges more than the CDCP established fee.
• Your income level requires a 40% or 60% co-payment.
• You receive treatment before your official coverage start date.
• Your annual coverage has expired or has not been renewed.

Before accepting treatment, ask your provider for an estimate and confirm how much the CDCP is expected to cover.

How to Apply for the Canadian Dental Care Plan

Applications are open for the 2026–2027 benefit year. You should confirm that you meet all four eligibility requirements before applying.

Information You May Need

Prepare the following information for yourself and each family member included in the application:

• Full legal name.
• Date of birth.
• Social Insurance Number, when available.
• Home address and mailing address.
• Information about your spouse or common-law partner.
• Details of dental coverage received through government social programs.
• Your most recent notice of assessment.
• Confirmation that the required Canadian tax returns have been filed.

Apply Through My Service Canada Account

1. Sign in to or create a My Service Canada Account.
2. Open the Canadian Dental Care Plan section of your account dashboard.
3. Select the option to apply for CDCP coverage.
4. Enter the requested personal, family and tax information.
5. Review your answers carefully before submitting the application.

Apply Online Without MSCA

Applicants who cannot use My Service Canada Account may be able to complete the application through the separate Canada.ca application service.

Apply by Phone

You may apply by calling Service Canada at 1-833-537-4342. Applicants who use a teletypewriter can call 1-833-677-6262.

A trusted person, interpreter, caregiver or legally authorized delegate may help with an application, although additional consent or documentation may be required.

What Happens After You Apply?

Service Canada will review the information submitted with your application. You will receive confirmation explaining whether you have been enrolled in the plan.

When approved, your enrolment information will normally include:

• Your CDCP plan number.
• Your individual member ID.
• Your benefit coverage start date.
• Your applicable co-payment level.

Sun Life, the plan administrator, will also send a welcome package containing your member card and additional information about using the plan.

You do not necessarily need to wait for the physical card before receiving care. However, your coverage must already be active, and you will need to provide the required identification and membership information.

When Does CDCP Coverage Start?

Your dental coverage does not begin automatically on the day you submit your application. Your start date depends on when the application is received and when the enrolment process is completed.

Do not receive treatment under the plan before the start date shown in your approval letter. Services received before that date will not be covered retroactively.

How to Find a Dental Provider That Accepts the CDCP

Before booking an appointment, ask the dental office whether it accepts Canadian Dental Care Plan members and bills Sun Life directly.

Eligible care may be provided by:

• Dentists.
• Dental specialists.
• Independent dental hygienists.
• Denturists.
• Participating dental school clinics.

Sun Life also provides an online provider search tool. You can contact the Sun Life CDCP Contact Centre at 1-888-888-8110 for assistance finding a provider.

What to Ask Before Your Dental Appointment

Before receiving treatment, confirm the following information with your provider:

• Whether your CDCP coverage is currently active.
• Whether the provider will bill Sun Life directly.
• Whether the recommended service is covered.
• Whether preauthorization is required.
• What co-payment percentage applies to you.
• Whether the provider charges more than the CDCP established fee.
• The estimated amount you will need to pay yourself.

CDCP members should not normally pay the entire treatment cost upfront. The program reimburses participating oral health providers rather than reimbursing members directly.

Do You Need to Renew the Canadian Dental Care Plan?

Yes. CDCP members must renew their coverage annually and confirm that they continue to meet the eligibility requirements.

You may need to reconfirm:

• That you do not have access to private dental insurance.
• That the required tax returns have been filed.
• That your adjusted family net income remains below $90,000.
• That you remain a Canadian resident for tax purposes.
• That your personal and family information is accurate.

Missing the renewal period may create a gap in coverage. Dental care received during a coverage gap will not normally be reimbursed.

Can You Have Provincial Dental Coverage and the CDCP?

Having dental coverage through a federal, provincial or territorial social program does not automatically prevent you from qualifying for the CDCP.

When you are covered by more than one government program, the programs may coordinate benefits to avoid paying twice for the same service.

You should disclose any existing government dental assistance when completing your application and when speaking with your dental provider.

Canadian Dental Care Plan Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Canadian Dental Care Plan free?

Applying for the CDCP is free. However, dental treatment may not be completely free. Depending on your family income, you may have a co-payment of 0%, 40% or 60% of the CDCP established fees. You may also pay additional charges when your provider’s fees exceed the amount recognized by the plan.

Can I qualify if my employer offers dental insurance?

Generally, no. Having access to dental coverage through your employer can make you ineligible even if you declined the coverage, have never used it or would need to pay a premium.

Can I qualify if my spouse has dental insurance?

You may be considered to have access to private coverage if you can receive dental benefits through your spouse or common-law partner’s workplace or pension plan.

Can seniors apply for the Canadian Dental Care Plan?

Yes. Seniors may apply when they meet the same income, residency, tax filing and insurance-access requirements that apply to other applicants.

Can children receive CDCP coverage?

Eligible children can be included in a CDCP application. A Social Insurance Number should be provided when available, but alternative identifying information may be accepted for a child who does not have one.

Does the CDCP cover existing dental problems?

Coverage is based on whether a particular service is eligible under the plan, not simply on when the dental problem began. Treatment limits and preauthorization rules may still apply.

Will I receive money directly?

No. The CDCP is not a direct cash benefit. Sun Life reimburses participating oral health providers for covered services. Members cannot normally receive reimbursement after paying the entire bill themselves.

Can a dentist charge more than the CDCP amount?

Yes. Dental providers may charge fees that are higher than the CDCP established fees. The patient may be responsible for paying the difference as well as any applicable co-payment.

Should I book an appointment immediately after applying?

No. Wait until your application has been approved and confirm the coverage start date shown in your enrolment letter. Services received before that date will not be covered.

Does the Canadian Dental Care Plan need to be renewed?

Yes. Coverage must be renewed each year. Failing to renew on time may result in a gap during which dental services are not covered.

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