THE CANADIAN DENTAL CARE PLAN
The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) is a federal government program that is intended to provide coverage for Canadian residents who do not have dental benefits and have a household income of less than $90,000 a year.
Filling in the facts about the CDCP
- New Dental care coverage under the CDCP officially began in May 2025 for eligible adults.
- The CDCP is administered by Health Canada and now covers children, seniors, and adults aged 18 to 64—coverage is partial and based on income, so it is not completely free.
- Patients must pay a portion of the dental cost (co-payment) based on their adjusted family net income:
- No co-payment if your adjusted annual family income is below $70,000.
- A 40 per cent co-payment of the CDCP benefit for those with an adjusted annual family net income between $70,000 and $79,999.
- A 60 per cent co-payment of the CDCP benefit for those with an adjusted annual family net income between $80,000 and $89,999.
- Patients may also have to pay costs the CDCP does not cover.
- Not all dental services are covered under the CDCP.
- Before proceeding with treatment, it is important to understand your dental care costs.
Please tell your dental provider if you plan to use CDCP benefits as their practice may or may not participate in the federal program.
To learn more about the CDCP, visit canada.ca/dental
Frequently Asked Questions
The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) began its phased rollout in December 2023, starting with the oldest age groups. As of 2025, the plan is now open to all eligible Canadians aged 18 and older who meet the income and residency requirements.
Dec 2023 – Mar 2024: Seniors aged 70 and up (by mailed invitation)
May 2024: Online applications opened for seniors 65+
June 2024: Applications opened for people with a Disability Tax Credit or children under 18
May 2025: All other eligible Canadians aged 18–64 can now apply online
Since May 2025, all eligible Canadians aged 18 and over can now apply online for the CDCP.
Previous phases covered seniors, children under 18, and those with a valid Disability Tax Credit.
If you meet the income and residency requirements, you may now qualify for partial or full dental coverage. visit canada.ca/dental.
Examples of services that could be covered under the CDCP when recommended by your dentist include:
Preventive services, including scaling (cleaning), polishing, sealants, and fluoride;
Diagnostic services, including examinations and X-rays;
Restorative services, including fillings;
Endodontic services, including root canal treatments;
Prosthodontic services, including complete and partial removable dentures;
Periodontal services, including deep scaling; and
Oral surgery services, including extractions.
Every group has a different level of coverage so that will impact your level of co-payment and also the remaining balance billed by the dental clinic.
It is best to call Health Canada to discuss your specific coverage.
For more information on services covered, access the CDCP Dental Benefits Guide.
If you are eligible for existing provincial government programs, you will still be able to apply for the CDCP.
Benefits will be coordinated between the programs, which means that your coverage will not be duplicated.
The federal government is now working with the provinces and territories to figure out how this will work.
Health Canada has committed to clarifying which programs will be the first and last payer before services begin as early as May of 2024.
Not having access to dental insurance is defined as:
no dental insurance through your employer or a family member’s employer benefits, including health and wellness accounts;
no dental insurance through your pension (previous employer) or a family member’s pension benefits; or
no dental insurance purchased by yourself or by a family member or through a group plan from an insurance or benefits company.
The government has said that the CDCP is not intended to replace existing workplace or private dental benefits. It is meant for Canadians who do not have dental benefits.
If you have existing insurance, you SHOULD NOT cancel your insurance as not all details of the CDCP are public knowledge at this point.
You’re still considered to have access to dental insurance if you choose to opt out of available benefits like these.
Once you’ve applied through Health Canada and they confirm that you qualify, your information will be shared with Sun Life, who will enroll you in the CDCP.
Sun Life will then send you your coverage start date and member card.
The start date to access care under the CDCP depends on the date you were enrolled. You should contact the government with any specific questions regarding your eligibility under the CDCP.
APPLICATION SCHEDULE:
Group | Application Open |
Seniors aged 87 and above | Started December 2023 |
Adults with a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate | Starting June 2024 |
Children under the age of 18 | Starting June 2024 |
All remaining eligible Canadian residents | Starting 2025 |
No. It’s better to continue getting regular dental checkups now to catch problems before they become painful and expensive to treat, and apply for the plan when you are eligible to do so.
We don’t know and this should concern us all. Two-thirds of Canadians have great dental benefits from their work, school, or other group plan. These plans give them a choice of dentist, and the right to choose what dental care they get.
Dentists believe that the CDCP should improve access to care for people who don’t have benefits. It shouldn’t take away the benefits that people already have.