Canadian dental care plan (CDCP)
When to Apply
Seniors aged 70 and above started in December 2023 and ongoing
Seniors aged 65 to 69 starting May 2024
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
Do You Qualify
To qualify for the CDCP, you must:
- not have access to dental insurance
- have an adjusted family net income of less than $90,000
- be a Canadian resident for tax purposes
- have filed your tax return in the previous year
If you have dental coverage through government social programs
If you have dental coverage through a provincial, territorial or federal government social program, you can still qualify for the CDCP. If you meet all the eligibility criteria, your coverage will be coordinated between the plans to ensure there are no duplication or gaps in coverage.
When can you visit an oral health provider
The welcome package you receive from Sun Life will include the date you can start seeing an oral health provider. Appointments can only be scheduled on or after your coverage start date.
Your start date will depend on:
- when they receive your application and
- when they complete your enrolment
The first group of CDCP clients will be eligible to visit an oral health provider as early as May 2024.
Individuals looking for a participating oral health provider can consult the CDCP Provider Search on Sun Life’s website. Please consult the provider search tool often as new providers will be added as they confirm their participation in the CDCP.
What services are covered
The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) will help cover a wide range of oral health care services that:
- keep your teeth and gums healthy
- prevent and treat oral health care issues and diseases
Examples of services that could be covered under the CDCP when recommended by an oral health provider, include:
- preventive services, including scaling (cleaning), sealants and fluoride
- diagnostic services, including examinations and x-rays
- restorative services, including fillings
- endodontic services, including root canal treatments
- prosthodontic services, including:
- complete dentures, and
- partial removable dentures
- periodontal services, including deep scaling
- oral surgery services, including extractions
Note: Some oral health care services will require preauthorization. Preauthorization is a process where prior approval is required, based on the recommendation of the oral health provider, before the treatment is provided, to confirm it will be covered under the plan. These treatments and/or services take into consideration an individual’s oral health history and medical conditions. Services requiring preauthorization will become available in November 2024.
The CDCP will only pay for oral health care services covered within the plan at the established CDCP fees. These fees are not the same as the provincial and territorial oral health associations suggested fee guides that providers often use to charge for oral health services. People covered under the CDCP may have to pay any additional charges directly to the oral health provider.
How Much Will be Covered
The CDCP will reimburse a percentage of the cost, based on established CDCP fees and your adjusted family net income. You may have to pay additional charges directly to the oral health provider, if:
- your adjusted family net income is between $70,000 and $89,999
- the cost of your oral health care services are more than the established CDCP fees, or
- you and your oral health care provider agree to services that the CDCP doesn’t cover
- you’ll need to pay the full cost of these services if you receive them