The Canadian Dental Care Plan

As you know, oral health is important to your overall health, and dentist visits are an important way of maintaining good oral health. So every Canadian, regardless of income, should have access to this critical care. The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) is a new federal government program intended to reduce the cost of oral health care for many Canadians.

Many Canadians cannot afford critical dental care

Some Canadian families have private dental insurance—either as a work benefit, or that they purchased on their own. But Canadians without dental care insurance have had to pay the full cost of dental care out of pocket. For many families this meant they could not afford to visit the dentist.

The CDCP solution

The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) is a federal government program that will help cover the cost of dental care for eligible Canadians. The plan will cover the vast majority of standard dental treatments including preventive services like cleaning, sealants, and fluoride; diagnostic services such as X-rays; restorative services including fillings; root canal treatments; complete and partial removable dentures; and oral surgery services such as extractions.

Who is eligible for the CDCP?

To qualify for the CDCP you must not already have access to dental insurance, you must have an adjusted family net income of less than $90,000, you must be a Canadian resident, and you must have filed a tax return in the previous year. The amount of coverage you will receive depends on your income—the highest amount of coverage (100%) applies to Canadians with a family income of less than $70,000.

How to sign up for CDCP

The CDCP will roll out in phases from late 2023 to 2025. If you meet the qualifications for CDCP coverage, you will be able to apply for it. Here’s how:

• Seniors 70 and older should have received an invitation letter in the mail by the end of March, 2024. Follow the instructions in the letter to apply by phone. If you did not receive this letter, it could be because you have not filed your 2022 taxes, or your address is out of date (contact CRA to update your file).
• If you are younger than 70 but eligible to apply you will not receive a letter, rather you will be able to apply online starting in May, 2024. More information on how to apply online will be available at a later date.

Application schedule