If you have just been approved for the Canadian Dental Care Plan, the next question is usually a practical one: Which dentist in London can I go to, and what will I still have to pay?
The plan has grown quickly, and the rules around it can be confusing. Here is a straightforward explanation of how the CDCP works, what it covers, and what happens when you book with us.
What the CDCP actually is
The Canadian Dental Care Plan is a federal programme that helps cover the cost of oral health care for Canadians who do not have access to private dental insurance. It is administered by Sun Life on behalf of the Government of Canada.
It is not free dental care for everyone, and it is not a replacement for private insurance. It is designed for people who do not have access to workplace, pension or private dental coverage and whose income is below the eligibility threshold.
Applications for the 2026–2027 benefit year are open, and the plan is available to eligible Canadians of all ages.
Do you qualify?
There are four requirements, and you must meet all four.
1. You have no access to private dental insurance.
This one catches people out, so it is worth being precise. You are not eligible if you have dental coverage through your work, pension, a family member’s work or pension plan, a professional or student organisation, or a policy you bought yourself. This applies even if you have never used the coverage, chose not to enrol, pay a premium for it, or it only covers part of your costs.
There is one exception. If you are retired, opted out of your pension dental coverage before December 11, 2023, and cannot opt back in, you may still be eligible.
A quick way to check is to look at box 45 on your T4 or box 015 on your T4A. A 1 means you do not have access to dental coverage through that employer or pension. A 2, 3, 4 or 5 means you do. Check your spouse or partner’s slips too, because their plan may cover you.
2. You have filed your tax return in Canada.
You and your spouse or common-law partner, if you have one, need to have filed your tax return for the previous year so your income can be assessed.
3. Your adjusted family net income is under $90,000.
This is your family net income from line 23600, minus any universal child care benefit and registered disability savings plan income, plus any of those amounts you repaid.
4. You are a Canadian resident for tax purposes.
One useful thing to know: if you already have dental coverage through a provincial, territorial or federal social programme, you can still qualify. The plans coordinate so there is no duplication.
What the plan covers?
The CDCP covers a broad range of care. Some services are covered without preauthorisation, while others require preauthorisation. This means we submit the proposed treatment and the plan confirms whether it will pay before we proceed.
- Checkups and prevention. Exams, including routine, complete, specific and emergency exams; X-rays; cleaning; fluoride; and sealants.
- Fillings and root canals. Permanent and temporary fillings, pain control for diseased teeth, root canal treatment, pulpectomies, and treatment to reduce infection. Retreatment of an existing root canal requires preauthorisation.
- Gum treatment. Cleaning below the gumline, treatment for abscesses, and non-surgical management of gum disease. Bonding for loose teeth and post-surgical evaluations require preauthorisation.
- Crowns, dentures and extractions. Complete dentures, denture repairs, relines and rebases, and removal of teeth and roots. Crowns, cores and posts are covered but require preauthorisation, as do partial dentures and immediate or overdentures.
- Sedation. Nitrous oxide and oral sedation. Deeper sedation and general anaesthesia require preauthorisation.
- Orthodontics are not available yet. A limited range of orthodontic services is planned for a future date that has not been set. If you are asking about braces or aligners for a child, the plan does not cover them at the moment.
Will you still have to pay something?
Sometimes, yes. There are two separate things that can leave you with a balance, and they are worth understanding before treatment begins.
Your co-payment depends on your income. If your adjusted family net income is under $70,000, the plan covers 100% of eligible services at the CDCP’s established fees. Between $70,000 and $79,999, it covers 60%. Between $80,000 and $89,999, it covers 40%. You pay the remaining amount.
The plan’s fees are not always the same as a dentist’s fees. The CDCP sets its own fee schedule. If the cost of care is higher than what the plan reimburses, or if you and your dentist agree to treatment that the plan does not cover, you pay the difference.
Before we begin treatment, our team goes through what the plan is expected to cover and what you would owe, so you can make an informed decision. If a treatment needs preauthorisation, we handle the submission and wait for the response before proceeding.
One thing worth knowing: if you are covered, you should not pay the full cost upfront and claim it back. The plan reimburses providers directly. You pay only the balance, if there is one.
What to bring to your first appointment
- Your Sun Life member card or confirmation of enrolment if the card has not arrived yet
- Photo identification
- Any records from a previous dentist, if you have them
- A list of medications you take and any medical conditions we should know about
If you are not sure whether your coverage has started, your welcome package from Sun Life will give you the date it begins. Coverage does not start on the day you are approved, so check the date before you book.
A note on renewals and scams
Your eligibility is not permanent. You have to confirm every year that you still have no access to private dental insurance. If your situation changes, such as starting a job with a benefits plan, you need to update your information. Staying on the plan when you are no longer eligible can mean repaying the government for treatment it covered.
The CDCP will never ask you to pay to apply or renew. If you receive a call, text or email asking for payment or banking details to keep your dental coverage, it is not from the plan.
Booking with us
If you are covered under the CDCP and are looking for a dentist in London, we would be glad to see you. Call us at (519) 672-0931, and our front desk team can discuss your coverage before you book an appointment.
If you are new to the practice, our new patients page covers what to expect at your first visit. If you are dealing with something urgent, our emergency dental page explains how to reach us quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Olive Tree Dental accepts the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP). Coverage depends on your individual plan and eligibility. Call (519) 672-0931 to confirm your coverage and what is included before booking.
No. The CDCP reimburses the dental office directly, not the patient. You may still owe a co-payment based on your income or the difference if treatment costs more than the plan’s established fee. That portion is paid to the practice.
You can still be covered, but not in full. Between $70,000 and $79,999, the plan pays 60% of eligible services at its established fees. Between $80,000 and $89,999, it pays 40%. Above $90,000 in adjusted family net income, you are not eligible.
Not currently. Orthodontic services are planned for a future date that the government has not yet set. They will require preauthorisation when they become available.
No. Having access to any private dental coverage makes you ineligible, even if it is limited, you never use it, or you pay a premium for it. The only exception is for retirees who opted out of pension dental coverage before December 11, 2023, and cannot opt back in.
Your welcome package from Sun Life gives your coverage start date. It is not necessarily the same day you are approved, so check the date before booking treatment you expect the plan to cover.