The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)

Eligibility for the Canadian Dental Care Plan includes the following criteria:

• You must be a resident of Canada
• You must not have access to any dental insurance
• Your family’s adjusted net income must be under $90,000
• You must have filed a tax return in Canada in the previous year

What does “not have access to any dental insurance” mean?

• You don’t have coverage through work, school, a family member, a pension, or any private plan.

Specific eligibility requirements can be found on the government website here. 

The Canadian Dental Care Plan provides coverage for a wide array of dental services, including preventive, basic, and major treatments. Some services may require pre-authorization or are subject to frequency limitations. All services must be deemed necessary by a participating dental professional. Covered services typically include:

• Cleanings, polishing, fluoride treatments, and other preventive care
• Diagnostic services, such as exams and X-rays
• Fillings and restorative treatments
• Endodontic procedures like root canals
• Full and partial dentures
• Periodontal care
• Oral surgery, including extractions

For details on coverage, refer to the CDCP Dental Benefits Guide.

While the Canadian Dental Care Plan covers many dental services, there are some exclusions. Coverage does not extend to:

• Cosmetic treatment, including teeth whitening
• Veneers in composite or ceramic
• Mouth guards
• Fixed prosthodontics (bridges and all bridge-related procedures)
• Implants and all implant-related procedures
• Restorations for incisal wear involving enamel and dentin
• Temporomandibular joint therapy and appliances
• Periodontal appliances, including bruxism appliances (night guards)
• Inlays/onlays in composite, precious metal, or ceramic
• All ¾ crowns
• Bone grafts
• Extensive rehabilitation
• Precision attachment partial dentures
• Crown lengthening
• Fluorescent diagnostic light

Check the CDCP Dental Benefits Guide for more details on what's included.

No. The Canadian Dental Care Plan is specifically designed for individuals and families who do not have private or employer-provided dental insurance (if you have benefits elsewhere and choose to “opt out,” you’re still not eligible for CDCP).

You can apply online on the Canadian Dental Care Plan website or by phone.

A co-payment, often referred to as a co-pay, is a predetermined, fixed fee that you are required to pay out of pocket when you access specific healthcare services. This fee is part of your health insurance plan's cost-sharing arrangement, designed to distribute expenses between you and your insurance provider. After you pay the co-payment, the insurance company covers the remaining cost of the service.

For example, if your insurance plan specifies an 80% co-payment for a medical service that costs $200, your insurance would cover $160 and you would pay the remaining 20% of $200, which is $40. This percentage can vary depending on the type of service and your specific insurance plan.

If your dentist is not a registered provider, you may need to find a participating dentist or pay out-of-pocket for services. Speak to your dentist to see if they are participating or are planning to participate before having any dental work done.