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Canadian Dental Care Plan

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What is the Canadian Dental Care Plan?

The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) is a national dental benefit created by the Government of Canada to make oral health care more accessible and affordable for Canadians who do not have private dental insurance. The program helps reduce the cost of essential dental treatments so patients can maintain good oral health and prevent dental issues from becoming serious health problems.

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How Does It Work?

The CDCP is a publicly funded dental plan for individuals and families with an annual household income of under $90,000 and no access to private dental insurance through an employer, pension, school program, or purchased privately.

Under the CDCP, eligible patients receive coverage for a wide range of preventive, basic, and major dental services. The program pays a percentage of the cost, depending on household income, based on the CDCP fee guide. Patients may have to pay a co-payment if their income falls within a cost-sharing category or if their dental provider charges above the CDCP fees.

Patients can access CDCP benefits with any CDCP-enrolled dental provider.

How Can I Apply for the CDCP?

Applications are now open for all eligible Canadians through Service Canada.

You can apply:
  • Online through your Service Canada account
  • By phone with a Service Canada agent
To apply, you must:
  • Provide your Social Insurance Number (SIN)
  • Confirm you have no access to private dental insurance
  • Have filed an income tax return for the previous year
Once approved, you will receive:
  • A CDCP welcome package
  • A coverage start date
  • A CDCP card (digital or mailed) from Sun Life

Frequently Asked Questions

To be eligible, you must meet all of the following:

  • Be a Canadian resident for tax purposes.
  • Have filed your most recent income tax return.
  • Have a family net income under $90,000.
  • Have no access to private dental insurance (employer, pension, school, or individual plans).
  • Be willing to receive care from a CDCP-enrolled dental provider.

People covered under government programs such as ODSP, OW, NIHB, provincial dental programs, etc., can still qualify — CDCP becomes a secondary payer.

All age groups are now eligible to apply.

Your coverage level depends on your net family income

Table on co-payments based on adjusted family net income.

Please note the percentages covered are for the CDCP fee guide, which is sometimes lower than the provincial guides.

Net Family Income CDCP Pays You Pays
Under $70,000 100% 0%
$70,000 - $79,999 60% 40%
$80,000 - $89,999 40% 60%
$90,000+ Not eligible 100%

Note: If your dentist charges more than the CDCP fee guide, you may have an additional out-of-pocket cost.

Applications can be completed online or by phone through Service Canada. You must provide your SIN, confirm no access to private insurance, and ensure your recent taxes are filed.

Once your application is approved, you will receive:

  • A confirmation letter
  • A CDCP card
  • Your coverage start date
  • Access to your Sun Life CDCP portal

Bring your CDCP card to your dental appointments.

As of 2025, the CDCP covers:

Preventive Services

  • Dental exams
  • X-rays
  • Cleaning, polishing, and fluoride
  • Scaling

Basic Services

  • Fillings
  • Root canal therapy
  • Extractions
  • Emergency dental treatment
  • Denture repairs

Major Services (now fully active in 2025)

  • Crowns
  • Bridges
  • Complete dentures
  • Partial dentures
  • Some medically necessary dental implants (with preauthorization)

Coverage depends on clinical necessity as determined by your dental provider.

The CDCP does not cover:

  • Cosmetic treatments (veneers, whitening, cosmetic crowns)
  • Orthodontics (braces, Invisalign)
  • Elective dental implants (unless medically approved)
  • Night guards / sports guards (unless medically necessary)
  • IV sedation or general anesthesia (except hospital settings)
  • Botox or cosmetic injectables
  • Procedures not deemed clinically necessary
Yes. All covered treatments apply to all eligible patients, but each service must be clinically necessary and may require preauthorization from Sun Life, depending on the treatment type.