What Does the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) Cover in 2026? A Patient's Guide

The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) covers a broad range of standard dental care for eligible residents, including examinations and X-rays, cleanings and preventive care, fillings, extractions, root canals, dentures, and some crowns. It is a federal program, managed by Health Canada and administered by Sun Life, that helps pay for dental treatment for Canadian residents who have no access to private dental insurance and an adjusted family net income of under $90,000. In 2026, for the first time, it will be open to eligible residents of all ages. How much of your bill the plan pays depends on your family income, and depending on your dentist, you may still owe a co-payment and, in some cases, a fee difference. This guide explains exactly what is covered, who qualifies, what you can expect to pay, and how the CDCP works at North York Smile Centre.

Key Takeaways

• The CDCP covers diagnostic, preventive, restorative, endodontic, prosthodontic, periodontal, and oral surgery services for eligible Canadian residents.
• To qualify in 2026, you must be a Canadian resident for tax purposes, have filed your previous year's tax return, have an adjusted family net income under $90,000, and have no access to private dental insurance.
• As of the 2026-2027 benefit year, the CDCP is open to eligible residents of all ages.
• Your co-payment depends on income: no co-payment under $70,000, a 40% co-payment from $70,000 to $79,999, and a 60% co-payment from $80,000 to $89,999.
• The CDCP is not free dental care. It pays a portion of the cost; if a clinic's fees exceed the CDCP amount, you are responsible for the difference.
• North York Smile Centre welcomes CDCP patients and bills the plan directly; any remaining balance is due at the time of your appointment.

What Is the Canadian Dental Care Plan?

The Canadian Dental Care Plan is a federal program designed to make dental care more affordable for residents without private coverage. According to the Government of Canada , the plan is managed by Health Canada and administered by Sun Life, the insurer that processes claims and issues member cards. It was introduced in late 2023 for seniors, expanded through 2024 and 2025 to include children and adults in stages, and, in the 2026-2027 benefit year, became available to eligible residents of all ages.

It is important to understand what the CDCP is and is not. It is a government benefit that pays part of the cost of covered care. It is not a free dental program, and it is not meant to replace coverage you already have through work, school, or a private plan. Dentists do not decide who is eligible or which services are covered. Those decisions are made by the program based on your income and insurance status.

Who Is Eligible for the CDCP?

To qualify for the CDCP in 2026, you must meet four requirements simultaneously. Missing any one of them means you cannot enroll, even if the others are satisfied.

The Four Eligibility Requirements

• You are a Canadian resident for tax purposes.
• You have filed your tax return for the previous year, since the Canada Revenue Agency uses it to verify your income.
• Your adjusted family net income is under $90,000 per year.
• You do not have access to private dental insurance through an employer, a pension, a family member, or a group or private plan.

What Counts as Access to Private Insurance

Access is broader than many people expect. You are considered to have access to private dental insurance if it is available to you through your own or a family member's employer or pension, or through a group or individually purchased plan, even if you choose not to use it, have to pay a premium, or never make a claim. There is a limited exception for some retirees who opted out of pension-based dental coverage before December 11, 2023. If you are unsure, check the dental benefit code on your T4 or T4A tax slip before you attest on your application.

How Income Is Assessed

The plan does not look at your gross salary. It uses your adjusted family net income, which combines your and your spouse's or common-law partner's net income and adjusts for certain benefits, such as the Universal Child Care Benefit and Registered Disability Savings Plan income. Because eligibility is tied to your filed tax return, keeping your taxes up to date each year is essential to staying covered.

What Does the CDCP Cover?

The CDCP is designed to cover a wide range of standard oral health services. The specific services available to you, and whether any require preauthorization, are confirmed by the plan. Broadly, coverage falls into the following categories.

Diagnostic and Preventive Care

This includes examinations, X-rays, cleanings (scaling), fluoride treatments, and sealants. These routine services catch problems early and keep your mouth healthy; they form the foundation of what the plan covers.

Restorative and Endodontic Care

Fillings to treat cavities and root canal treatment to save an infected tooth are covered. Crowns may also be covered, but often require preauthorization, meaning the plan reviews the treatment before it is approved.

Prosthodontics, Periodontics, and Oral Surgery

The plan covers removable complete and partial dentures, gum-related (periodontal) treatment, and oral surgery such as extractions . Together, these services help patients who are missing teeth or dealing with more advanced dental problems restore function and comfort.

Coverage details and fee amounts can change from year to year, so the current, authoritative list of covered services is always the one published on canada.ca. Some treatments have frequency limits, and more complex procedures may require preauthorization before they proceed.

How Much Will You Pay? Co-payments Explained

The CDCP helps with the cost of your care, but it is important to understand that it rarely covers the entire bill. Two separate things determine what you pay at your visit.

The first is your co-payment. Based on your adjusted family net income, the plan pays a set percentage of its official eligible amount, and you cover the rest as your co-payment. Higher household incomes have a larger co-payment, and families with an adjusted net income of $90,000 or more are not eligible for the plan.

The second is the fee difference. The percentages are calculated on the plan's official eligible amount, not on the full fee a clinic charges. When a clinic's fee is higher than the plan's amount, you are responsible for that difference regardless of your income. This is why most patients can expect some out-of-pocket cost, and why it is best to ask for a personal estimate before treatment. Our team is always happy to review exactly what the plan covers and what your share would be.

How the CDCP Works at North York Smile Centre

North York Smile Centre welcomes patients with CDCP coverage and bills the plan directly on your behalf, so you do not have to submit claims yourself. Like many established practices, the clinic follows the standard Ontario Dental Association fee guide rather than the CDCP amount. This means that in addition to any income-based co-payment, you may be responsible for the difference between the clinic's fee and the amount the plan pays. That remaining balance is due at the time of your appointment. Our dental team will always review your estimated coverage and out-of-pocket cost with you before treatment begins, so there are no surprises.

If you are new to the practice, our team of dentists in North York , who welcome new patients , will walk you through your coverage, treatment options, and estimated costs at your first visit.

H2: CDCP vs Private Insurance

A common question is how the CDCP compares with a private dental plan. Each works differently, and which one applies to you depends mostly on whether you already have access to workplace or private coverage.

A few points are worth keeping in mind before you look at the details:

• The CDCP has no monthly premiums and no deductibles. Private plans often have both.
• You cannot hold the CDCP and have access to private insurance at the same time. Having access to a private plan makes you ineligible, even if you never use it.
• With either option, your dentist's fees may be higher than the amount the plan pays, so it is always worth asking for a personal estimate before treatment.

The table below sums up the practical differences at a glance:

Feature	CDCP	Private insurance
Monthly premium	None	Usually yes
Deductible	None	Often yes
Who sets eligibility	Government, by income	Insurer or employer
Income tested	Yes, under $90,000	No
Services covered	Standard dental care	Varies by plan

For most eligible residents without workplace coverage, the CDCP is the most affordable route to routine care. If you do have a private plan, that coverage generally comes first, and the CDCP is not available to you while you have access to it.

What to Bring to Your First CDCP Appointment

Once your coverage is active, a little preparation makes your first visit smoother and helps our team confirm your coverage and accurately estimate your costs. Bring the following with you:

• Your Sun Life CDCP member card, which shows your member number and confirms your coverage.
• Your determination or welcome letter, especially if your co-payment level changed at renewal, since the Ontario Dental Association advises bringing it to your appointment.
• A piece of government-issued identification.
• A current list of your medications and a brief summary of your medical history.
• Any questions about your treatment plan or your estimated out-of-pocket cost?

With these in hand, our team can verify your coverage, explain your co-payment and any fee difference before treatment begins, and help you plan care around what the plan covers.

How to Apply for the CDCP

Applying is straightforward and is done through the federal government, not through your dentist. The process uses your CRA information to confirm your income and residency.

Step by Step

• Confirm you meet all four eligibility requirements, including that your previous year's tax return is filed.
• Apply online or by phone through the Government of Canada. Have your Social Insurance Number and basic identification ready.
• Wait for your welcome package from Sun Life, which includes your member card, your co-payment level, and your coverage start date.
• Book your appointment at a participating clinic once your coverage start date has arrived.

Renewing Your Coverage

Coverage is not automatic year after year. You must renew, and renewal reassesses your income bracket based on your most recent tax return, so your co-payment level can change. If your income rises above $90,000, you become ineligible. Filing your taxes on time each year is the single most important thing you can do to keep your coverage active and avoid a gap.

Why This Coverage Matters for Your Health

Cost has long been one of the main reasons Canadians delay or avoid dental care, and delaying care often turns small, treatable problems into painful and expensive ones. Complete tooth loss still affects part of the population: according to Statistics Canada , about 3% of adults aged 20 to 79 and 8% of seniors have no natural teeth. By covering routine exams and cleanings, the CDCP makes it easier to prevent these outcomes rather than treat them later.

“The patients who benefit most from the CDCP are the ones who use it for prevention. A covered checkup and cleaning today can save you from a root canal or an extraction tomorrow, both for your health and for your wallet,” says Dr. James C.H. Ko, DDS, of North York Smile Centre .

If you are considering more involved treatment, such as dental implants in North York, it is worth asking which parts of your treatment plan may be eligible and what your estimated share of the cost would be.

Making the Most of Your CDCP Coverage in North York

The Canadian Dental Care Plan has made dental care accessible to millions of residents who were previously priced out. If you are a Canadian resident with an adjusted family net income under $90,000, no access to private insurance, and an up-to-date tax return, you can now access covered exams, cleanings, fillings, root canals, dentures, and more, with your share of the cost scaled to your income. Remember that the plan pays a portion, not always the full fee, so understanding your co-payment and any fee difference in advance is the key to avoiding surprises.

North York Smile Centre is ready to help you make the most of your coverage. We bill the CDCP directly, explain your estimated costs before treatment, and focus on preventive care to keep your future dental bills low. If you have your CDCP card or are wondering whether you qualify, contact North York Smile Centre to book a visit and put your coverage to work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the CDCP free?

No. The CDCP is a government benefit that pays a portion of the cost of covered care, not a free dental program. Depending on your income, you may owe a co-payment, and if your clinic's fees exceed the plan's amount, you are responsible for the difference.

Does the CDCP cover dental implants?

The CDCP focuses on standard care, including exams, cleanings, fillings, root canals, extractions, and dentures. Coverage for major or specialized treatments is limited and may require preauthorization. Ask your dentist and check canada.ca for the current list of covered services, and we can review which parts of a treatment plan may be eligible.

Does the CDCP cover braces or orthodontics?

General orthodontic treatment, such as braces, is not part of the core CDCP coverage. For children, some consultations may be in scope. Always confirm current coverage details on canada.ca before assuming a specific service is included.

Are children and seniors covered?

Yes. Children under 18 and seniors aged 65 and over were among the first groups covered, and as of the 2026-2027 benefit year, the plan is open to eligible residents of all ages, provided income and insurance criteria are met.

How do I check my application or coverage status?

You can check the status of your application and renewal through the Government of Canada's CDCP pages on canada.ca, or by contacting the program's helpline. Your welcome package from Sun Life also confirms your co-payment level and coverage start date.

Do I need to renew every year?

Yes. Coverage must be renewed each benefit year, and your income bracket is reassessed based on your most recent tax return, so your co-payment level may change. Filing your taxes on time is required to renew and to avoid a gap in coverage.

Does North York Smile Centre accept the CDCP?

Yes. North York Smile Centre welcomes CDCP patients and bills the plan directly on your behalf. Any co-payment or fee difference is due at the time of your appointment, and our team will review your estimated costs with you beforehand.