Canadian Dental Care Plan: Eligibility, Coverage, How to Apply

You’ve probably noticed the ads: the Canadian government is rolling out a new dental plan, promising coverage for millions who’ve been paying out of pocket. This guide breaks down who qualifies, what’s covered, and how it changes the math on heading abroad for cheaper dental work.

Coverage range: 40% to 100% of eligible costs based on income ·
Income eligibility: Family net income under CAD 90,000 ·
Age groups: Children under 18, seniors 65+, adults with Disability Tax Credit ·
Annual maximum: No annual limit ·
Administrator: Sun Life Financial

Seven key facts about the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) — one pattern: coverage tiers increase as income decreases, and there is no annual cap.

The plan’s structure is straightforward, as shown in the table below.

Who is eligible for the Canadian Dental Care Plan?

Age requirements

• Children under 18 are automatically eligible if the family meets income criteria (Government of Canada (eligibility policy)).
• Seniors aged 65 and older were the first group allowed to apply, starting December 2023 (123Dentist (dental network)).
• Adults with a valid Disability Tax Credit (DTC) certificate became eligible on 27 June 2024 (123Dentist (dental network)).
• All other eligible Canadian residents are scheduled to apply starting in 2025 (RCSD FAQ (plan information portal)).

Income thresholds

• Adjusted family net income must be below CAD 90,000 (Canadian Dental Association).
• Coverage is 100% of RCSD-established fees when income is below CAD 70,000 (Canadian Dental Association).
• Coverage is 60% of RCSD-established fees when income is between CAD 70,000 and CAD 79,999 (Canadian Dental Association).
• Coverage is 40% of RCSD-established fees when income is between CAD 80,000 and CAD 89,999 (Canadian Dental Association).

Residency and dental insurance status

• Applicants must be Canadian residents who do not have access to private dental insurance (Government of Canada (eligibility policy)).
• Residents with access to dental coverage through a provincial, territorial, or federal social program may still qualify (Canadian Dental Association).
• Applicants must attest at application and renewal that they have no private dental insurance (Government of Canada (eligibility policy)).

The pattern: the CDCP is designed specifically for the uninsured middle-to-low-income bracket — not as a substitute for employer-provided plans. The trade-off: Canadians with partial private coverage must choose between dropping it or staying out.

What dental services are covered by the Canadian Dental Care Plan?

List of covered procedures

• Preventive care: examinations, radiographs, cleanings, sealants (clients aged 17 and under are eligible for sealants and preventive resin restorations on tooth surfaces) (Government of Canada (coverage guide)).
• Basic restorative services: fillings, extractions (Government of Canada (coverage policy)).
• Major restorative services: crowns, dentures, and other prosthodontic work (Government of Canada (coverage policy)).
• Some services require prior authorization, while others do not (Government of Canada (coverage policy)).

Coverage percentages by income

• Income below CAD 70,000: 100% of RCSD-established fees covered (Canadian Dental Association).
• Income CAD 70,000 to CAD 79,999: 60% covered (Canadian Dental Association).
• Income CAD 80,000 to CAD 89,999: 40% covered (Canadian Dental Association).

What is not covered

• Cosmetic procedures are excluded (Government of Canada (coverage policy)).
• Orthodontics for adults is not explicitly mentioned in current coverage lists (Government of Canada (coverage guide)).

The implication: patients should check with their dentist about fee differences before proceeding.

How to apply for the Canadian Dental Care Plan?

1. Check eligibility: Confirm family net income is below CAD 90,000 (Canadian Dental Association). Verify that you do not have access to private dental insurance (Government of Canada). Check that your age group’s application window is open (seniors are currently eligible, children and DTC holders eligible from June 2024, others from 2025) (123Dentist).
2. Gather required documents: Social Insurance Number (SIN), date of birth, income tax return information for the most recent tax year, and if applying as a person with a disability, the DTC certificate (all from Government of Canada).
3. Submit your application: Apply online through the official government portal at canada.ca (Government of Canada). Sun Life Financial processes claims and handles reimbursement (Canadian Dental Association).
4. Receive approval: An approval letter will detail your coverage; coverage begins after approval.

Why this matters: the phased rollout means that not everyone eligible today can apply. A family with a 16-year-old and a net income of CAD 75,000 can apply for the child’s coverage starting June 2024, but the parents won’t be able to apply until 2025. Timing is everything.

What are the costs and coverage levels of the Canadian Dental Care Plan?

Income-based coverage tiers

• Income below CAD 70,000: 100% of RCSD-established fees covered (Canadian Dental Association).
• Income CAD 70,000 to CAD 79,999: 60% covered (Canadian Dental Association).
• Income CAD 80,000 to CAD 89,999: 40% covered (Canadian Dental Association).

No annual maximum

• Unlike typical private plans that cap annual benefits at CAD 2,000 to CAD 5,000, the CDCP has no annual limit (Canadian Dental Association).

Cost-sharing details

• No monthly premiums or deductibles (Canadian Dental Association).
• Patients pay the remaining percentage of the cost after the plan pays its share.
• Providers set their own fees; the plan pays based on RCSD-established fees, which may be lower. Patients cover the difference (Canadian Dental Association).

The pattern: the plan’s no-annual-maximum feature is a significant advantage for those needing extensive care.

How does the Canadian Dental Care Plan compare to dental tourism?

Cost comparison

• Dental tourism destinations like Mexico, Costa Rica, and India offer procedures at 50-70% lower prices than Canadian private clinics (Government of Canada (coverage guide)).
• CDCP covers local care with no travel costs, but does not cover procedures performed abroad.
• For a family earning CAD 60,000, CDCP covers 100% of local costs — often cheaper than traveling.
• For a family earning CAD 85,000, CDCP only covers 40%, making dental tourism potentially more affordable for major work.

Quality of care and follow-up

• Canadian dental clinics follow provincial regulations and national standards (Canadian Dental Association).
• Dental tourism carries risks: different standards of sterilization, materials, and post-treatment support.
• Follow-up care for complications from dental tourism is not covered under any Canadian plan, including CDCP.

Convenience and access

• CDCP patients can see a local dentist without travel time or accommodation costs.
• Dental tourism requires coordination: flights, hotels, and scheduling across multiple days.
• For routine preventive care, CDCP is clearly more convenient for eligible patients.

The implication: CDCP makes local care genuinely affordable for low-income households. But for middle-income earners (CAD 80,000-89,999), the 40% coverage may still leave a big bill — and that’s where the calculus shifts toward dental tourism for expensive procedures like implants or full dentures.

“The CDCP will help ensure that no one has to choose between taking care of their teeth and paying for other necessities.”

— Health Canada spokesperson, official announcement

“The plan covers a broad range of oral health services including exams, radiographs, cleanings, and some restorative and prosthodontic services.”

— Canadian Medical Association (CMA), plain-language summary

For the 9 million uninsured Canadians the plan aims to reach, the choice is becoming clearer: CDCP works well for low-income households needing routine and standard restorative care. For those near the income cap needing major work, the numbers may still point south of the border.