Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)

Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), you must meet all four of the following requirements:

1. You Do Not Have Dental Insurance

This means you do not have dental insurance or coverage through any of the following:

• Employment benefits (your own or a family member’s), including health and wellness accounts
• Professional or student organizations (student benefits)

Note: If you are eligible for dental insurance through employment benefits or a professional or student organization, you are not eligible for CDCP — even if:

• You choose not to enroll
• You must pay premiums
• You do not use the coverage
• Pension benefits (your own or a family member’s), including federal, provincial, or territorial government pension plans
• Privately purchased insurance or group plans purchased through an insurance or benefits company

If your current dental insurance was purchased privately (and is not part of any of the coverage types above), you are not eligible for CDCP while that coverage is active.

2. Your Adjusted Family Net Income Is Below $90,000

Adjusted family net income is calculated as follows:

• Your family net income (Line 23600 of your tax return plus Line 23600 of your spouse or common-law partner’s return, plus any worldwide income not reported to the CRA, such as income earned by new residents)
• Minus any Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) and Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) income received (Lines 11700 and 12500)
• Plus any repaid UCCB and RDSP amounts (Lines 21300 and 23200)

The result is your adjusted family net income.

3. You Are a Canadian Tax Resident

Determining Your Residency Status and Tax Implications

If you leave Canada
You may still be considered a factual resident of Canada if you maintain residential ties and meet any of the following conditions:

• Temporarily working outside Canada
• Teaching or studying in another country
• Commuting between Canada and a workplace in the United States (daily or weekly)
• Vacationing outside Canada
• Spending part of the year in the United States (e.g., for health reasons or vacation)

If you leave Canada, establish permanent residence in another country, and sever residential ties with Canada, you may be considered an emigrant.

If you establish residency in a country with which Canada has a tax treaty and are considered a resident of that country, you may be considered a non-resident of Canada, even if you otherwise meet factual resident conditions.

Government employees working outside Canada (including members of the Canadian Forces posted abroad) are generally considered factual or deemed residents of Canada.

If you enter Canada
You may be considered an immigrant if you settle in Canada, establish significant residential ties, and become a resident during the tax year.

If you maintain residency ties with a treaty country and are considered a resident there, you may be considered a non-resident of Canada, even if you have significant residential ties with Canada.

If you have not established significant residential ties but stay in Canada for 183 days or more in a year, you may be considered a Canadian resident.

If you normally live in another country
You may be considered a non-resident of Canada if:

• You live outside Canada all year (unless deemed a resident), or
• You stay in Canada fewer than 183 days in the tax year

To request a CRA determination of your residency status:

• Use Form NR74 (Entering Canada), or
• Use Form NR73 (Leaving Canada)

4. You Filed a Tax Return for the Previous Year

Covered Services

What Services Are Covered

The CDCP helps cover part of the cost of a wide range of oral health services.

Note: Some services and additional treatments that exceed frequency limits require prior authorization. This means your provider must recommend the treatment and CDCP must approve it before treatment begins. Authorization decisions consider your oral health history and medical condition. Services requiring prior approval became available in November 2024.

Examples of Covered Services (When Recommended by an Oral Health Provider)

Diagnostic and Preventive Services

• Dental exams (complete, routine, specific, and emergency)
• X-rays
• Cleanings (scaling)
• Fluoride treatments
• Sealants

Basic Services – Restorative Care

• Permanent fillings
• Temporary fillings
• Pain control for diseased teeth
• Other cavity treatments

Endodontic (Root Canal) Services

• Root canal treatments
• Pulpotomy (first step of root canal treatment)
• Procedures to reduce infection and relieve pain
• Retreatment of completed root canals (prior authorization required)

Periodontal Services

• Cleaning below the gum line
• Abscess treatment
• Splinting loose teeth (prior authorization required)
• Post-surgical evaluations (prior authorization required)
• Non-surgical gum disease management

Major Restorative Services

• Posts and post removal
• Crown repairs and re-cementation
• Crowns (prior authorization required)
• Core buildup (prior authorization required)
• Crown posts (prior authorization required)

Removable Denture Services

• Complete dentures (standard and temporary)
• Denture repairs, relining, and rebasing
• Tissue-conditioning liners
• Immediate and overdentures (prior authorization required)
• Partial dentures (prior authorization required)

Oral Surgery

• Tooth and root removal
• Surgical removal of tumors and cysts
• Surgical incisions and drainage
• Treatment of jaw fractures

Anesthesia and Sedation

• Minimal sedation (conscious)
• Moderate sedation (prior authorization required)
• Deep sedation (prior authorization required)
• General anesthesia (prior authorization required)

Orthodontic Services

Not yet available. Orthodontic services will be added in 2025 and will be covered only for severe medical need, with maximum spending limits.

For more details, refer to the CDCP Dental Benefits Guide.

How Much Is Covered

CDCP reimburses part of your treatment costs. You may need to pay additional costs directly to your oral health provider if:

• Your adjusted family net income is between $70,000 and $89,999
• Service fees exceed CDCP reimbursement rates
• You and your provider agree to services not covered by CDCP

Co-Payment Based on Income

Additional costs may still apply.

Additional Charges

You may have to pay costs beyond co-payments if:

• Provider fees exceed CDCP rates
• You agree to services not covered by CDCP

Always confirm any non-covered costs with your oral health provider before treatment.

Online Application

What You Need

For each applicant and spouse/common-law partner (if applicable), provide:

• Social Insurance Number (SIN), if applicable
• Date of birth
• Full legal name
• Home and mailing address
• List of dental insurance through government programs (if applicable)

You and your spouse/common-law partner must have filed your 2023 tax return and received your Notice of Assessment.

When You Can See an Oral Health Provider

Enrollment Confirmation & Start Date

Sun Life administers the CDCP on behalf of the Government of Canada.

Once you apply and your eligibility is confirmed, your information is shared with Sun Life. Within approximately 3 months, you will receive a welcome package including:

• CDCP program information
• Your membership card
• Your benefit start date (listed in your welcome letter)

You may only book appointments on or after your benefit start date.

Your start date depends on:

• When your application is received
• When your enrollment is completed