Federal

Canadian Dental Care Plan

Complex application

Apply for when filing your taxes

The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) is a new benefit that will help ease financial barriers to accessing oral health care for eligible Canadian residents. Applications will open in phases starting with seniors.

The plan is managed by Sun Life Canada. Once you apply and your eligibility has been confirmed, your information will be shared with Sun Life who will then enroll you in the CDCP.

You will receive a welcome package from Sun Life which will include:

  • Information on the CDCP
  • Your member card
  • Your coverage start date.

The oral health services covered by the CDCP 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

The CDCP will not reimburse you for services received before the start date of May 2024.

When booking an appointment with an oral health provider, make sure to ask if they are participating in the CDCP to limit any unexpected costs that you may have to pay yourself.

Some services will require preauthorization before the treatment to ensure the fees are covered by the plan. Services requiring preauthorization will become available in November 2024.

To be eligible for the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP):

  • You must not have access to dental insurance from an employee, professional, pension, student or private plan
  • You have an adjusted family net income of less than $90,000
  • You are a Canadian resident for tax purposes
  • You have filed your tax return in the previous year

If you have dental coverage through a provincial, territorial, or federal government social program, you may still be eligible for 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.

You will need to meet the eligibility requirements each year to qualify for the CDCP.

Notice of Assessment

A statement from Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to each taxpayer, every year, after you have filed a tax return. It tells you the amount of income tax you owe, or the amount of the refund you will get.

The Canadian Dental Care Plan will open in phases starting with seniors. Find out if you are eligible now to apply. For all other Canadians, the plan will be available as of 2025.

By March 2024, eligible seniors 70 and over will have received a letter that includes a personalized application code and instructions on how to apply. These letters will be sent to the address used in your 2022 tax return and only if you have an adjusted family net income of less than $90,000.

Note: Your personal application code will expire on April 30, 2024.

More information on how to apply after April 30th will be available soon. People who are eligible to apply starting in May 2024 (who turn 70 after May 2024 and meet the financial requirements) will be able to register online. More information on how to apply online will be available at a later date.

If you receive a letter:

  • Follow the instructions in the letter to apply by phone.
  • Wait for Service Canada to let you know if you qualify for the CDCP.
  • If you do qualify, wait to receive your welcome package from Sun Life before scheduling any dental appointments. It will explain how and when you can get your care paid for.

If you need help applying for this benefit you can ask a trusted person to help you apply by phone or visiting a Service Canada office. You must give clear consent that you agree to let them help you. This could be a:

  • friend
  • relative
  • caregiver
  • translator, or
  • interpreter

You can also get help applying through a delegate, including:

  • powers of attorney/mandates, or
  • Trusteeships

Learn more on how to apply if someone is helping you.

Last updated: March 14, 2024