The Canadian Dental Care Plan: Your Guide to the CDCP
PolicyMe is not affiliated with the Government of Canada or the Canadian Dental Care Plan. For the most accurate and up-to-date eligibility and coverage details, please refer directly to Canada.ca.
What does the CDCP cover?
The Canadian Dental Care Program covers up to 100% of eligible preventative, basic, and major dental services. However, individual coverage amounts vary by dental service and how much coverage you qualify for based on your annual family income.
Dental services covered by the CDCP include:
Some services require preauthorization. This means your oral health provider must submit a request to the CDCP and wait for approval before they complete the service.
As of April 2026, over 6.5 million Canadians receive dental benefits through the CDCP. That’s approximately 15.7% percent of the total population of Canada.
What isn’t covered by the CDCP?
The CDCP currently doesn’t provide coverage for:
Generally speaking, there are three major CDCP gaps that create out-of-pocket costs, even for qualifying Canadians:
- Ineligible dental services: If a dental service isn’t covered by the CDCP, or you need the service more frequently than what’s covered, you’ll pay out of pocket.
- Costly dental services: If the dental service costs more than the coverage limit, you must cover the difference.
- Co-payments: If you make $80,000 - $89,999, CDCP co-payment amounts range from 40%-60%.
It’s also worth noting that not every dentist participates in the CDCP, which can limit your options for dental treatment.
How to find a dentist who accepts the CDCP
Dentists, hygienists, denturists and specialists may all participate in the CDCP. To find a dentist or clinic that accepts patients who qualify for CDCP coverage near you, you can:
- Use the Sun Life CDCP Provider Search: Sun Life maintains a searchable database of dentists, hygienists, denturists, and specialists who accept the CDCP.
- Contact the clinic directly: Call or email local dental offices to ask if they accept CDCP patients and offer direct billing to Sun Life.
To avoid unexpected costs, always ask your dental clinic if they participate in CDCP direct billing before booking an appointment.
Who is eligible for the CDCP?
To qualify for CDCP dental benefits, applicants must meet four eligibility criteria:
- You must be a Canadian resident. According to the federal government’s income tax guidelines, you can claim Canadian residency if you have a Canadian home address, driver’s license, or passport; or your partner and/or children live in Canada, among other things.
- You have no dental insurance or coverage, whether it’s through an employer plan, private health insurance, a family member’s employer benefits, or an organization. A source of dental coverage still counts even if you decide not to enroll in it, pay your premiums, or use it.
- Your adjusted family net income must be less than $90,000. CDCP coverage amounts are tiered by income, with families who have a household income under $70,000 receiving full coverage for eligible services.
- You and your partner (if you have one) have filed your previous years’ tax returns. The CDCP uses tax returns from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to assess your adjusted family net income for the previous requirement.
If you’re unsure whether or not you qualify for the CDCP, you can always apply and wait to see if you’re accepted. Registering for coverage is free and can be done online or by phone.
Your adjusted family net income is your net income for the year with two adjustments: subtract any Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) or registered disability savings plan (RDSP) income you received, then add any UCCB or RDSP amounts you repaid.
You can calculate your adjusted family net income by adding lines 23600, 21300, and 23200 from your tax return. Then, subtract lines 11700 and 12500.
How do I apply for the CDCP?
The CDCP application process is available online or by phone. You’ll need the following information to complete your application:
If you have dental coverage through another government program, you must also bring a list of dental services you receive coverage for.
Maintaining your benefits: CDCP annual renewal requirements
Enrolling in CDCP benefits is not a “one-and-done” process. Coverage runs on a July 1 to June 30 benefit year, and eligibility is re-evaluated annually based on your annual CRA tax filing. You must re-confirm your eligibility every year to keep your benefits.
To avoid a gap in coverage, renew by the June 1st deadline each year. If you miss the deadline, your previous coverage will expire, but you don’t need to wait until the next year to get it back. You can submit a new application through Service Canada as soon as your latest tax return is processed by the CRA.
If you experience a gap in CDCP coverage, a low-cost private dental insurance plan can help you cover the cost of basic services until you’re able to re-apply for CDCP benefits.
How do CDCP co-payments work?
The amount you pay for eligible dental services depends on your CDCP coverage rate. This rate is determined by your adjusted family net income from the previous tax year.
So, let’s say you get a dental exam that costs $191. The CDCP coverage limit for dental exams is about $165. Here’s what your final bill might look like, depending on your income:
CDCP dental benefit grids can be accessed through Health Canada’s CDCP administrator, Sun Life.
How high are the CDCP’s dental coverage limits?
If the cost of a dental service exceeds the CDCP’s coverage limit, you pay the difference out of pocket. These differences can range from a few cents for basic preventive care to several hundred dollars for more complicated procedures.
The table below compares the CDCP dental coverage limits for a range of dental services with the 2026 Ontario Dental Association’s (ODA) Suggested Fee Guide.
* The estimations provided are for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered personal health or financial advice.
It’s worth noting: dentists aren’t required to follow the ODA’s suggested fee guide — they set their own rates. This means the cost of dental services may be different from one clinic to another.
To avoid being blindsided by your dental bill after the work is complete, ask your dentist to calculate your potential costs upfront so you can decide if it fits your budget.
Is the CDCP worth it?
The CDCP covers a comprehensive list of dental services, and for families making less than $70,000 per year, a 100% coverage rate clears the way to affordable dental care. As long as you’ve filed your tax returns and met the eligibility requirements, it’s worth applying and subsidizing the oral health care that you and your family need.
For families making more than $79,999 per year (especially those without children), co-payments for CDCP coverage begin to climb. The time you spend waiting for the CDCP to preauthorize certain costs may not be worthwhile, and you may be able to access faster, more comprehensive dental coverage that better supports your family’s well-being through private health insurance.
“CDCP coverage limits are quite low relative to both what dentists typically charge and also what the associations, like the Ontario Dental Association, suggest the dentist charge. You’re getting 40% or 60% of something that already is under-covered, and there’s a really strong chance that you’re gonna have to pay significant dollars out of pocket.” — Andrew Ostro, PolicyMe CEO
PolicyMe’s Guaranteed Issue Economic Health and Dental Plan covers 70% of restorative and preventive services (up to $500 per year). That’s $57 out of pocket for a complete dental exam, plus coverage for prescription drugs, eyewear, and paramedical services.