Using the CDCP at a Dentist in Ontario: Eligibility, Co-Pays, and What's Covered
The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) lets eligible Ontarians see a participating dentist with the government paying some or all of the plan’s established fees. To use it, you need to qualify, apply, receive your member card, and book with a provider who accepts CDCP patients, this guide walks through each step.
The plan is no longer new or niche: as of May 31, 2026, more than 6.5 million Canadians were approved for the 2025–26 benefit year, and nearly 4.5 million members have received care through the CDCP since launch.
Who is eligible for the CDCP in Ontario?
You qualify for the CDCP if you meet all four requirements set by the Government of Canada: no access to private dental insurance, you and your spouse or partner filed last year’s Canadian tax return, your adjusted family net income is under $90,000, and you’re a Canadian resident for tax purposes.
Spelled out, the four requirements are:
- No access to private dental insurance: through an employer or a family member’s employer benefits, a pension plan, a professional or student organization, or a plan you purchased yourself.
- Taxes filed: you (and your spouse or common-law partner, if you have one) filed last year’s Canadian tax return.
- Adjusted family net income under $90,000.
- Canadian resident for tax purposes.
The word access is stricter than most people expect. Canada.ca is explicit that having access to a private plan disqualifies you even if you declined it, pay a premium for it, or never use it: employers report this via box 45 of your T4 (box 015 of a T4A), so check there before applying. False attestations lead to removal from the plan and repayment of amounts claimed.
Two more eligibility details worth knowing:
- Government social programs don’t disqualify you. Dental coverage through a provincial, territorial, or federal government social program is fine, if you qualify for the CDCP, the plans coordinate benefits.
- There is no age limit. Since the plan’s mid-2025 expansion, the CDCP is open to eligible Canadians of all ages.
How much do you pay at the dentist with the CDCP?
Your co-payment depends on your adjusted family net income. Families under $70,000 pay no co-payment; between $70,000 and $89,999 you pay 40% or 60% of the CDCP’s established fees. You may also owe extra if your dentist charges more than the plan reimburses.
Here are the exact tiers from the official coverage page:
| Adjusted family net income | CDCP pays (of established fees) | Your co-payment |
|---|---|---|
| Under $70,000 | 100% | 0% |
| $70,000 – $79,999 | 60% | 40% |
| $80,000 – $89,999 | 40% | 60% |
One caveat applies to every tier, including the 0% one: CDCP established fees are set independently of provincial fee guides and may be lower than what a given office charges. If your provider’s fee exceeds the CDCP reimbursement, or you agree to services the plan doesn’t cover, you pay the difference directly to the office. Ask about any extra charges before treatment starts.
The upside is substantial: Health Canada reports that CDCP members save an average of $800 per year on oral health care, a government-published average, not an individual guarantee.
What does the CDCP cover at a dental visit?
The CDCP covers a typical new-patient visit, exams, x-rays, and cleanings (scaling) are all listed as covered diagnostic and preventive services, subject to frequency limits. It also helps pay for fillings, root canals, dentures, and extractions, though some services require preauthorization.
Broken down by category, per canada.ca’s coverage page:
| Category | Examples | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic & preventive | Exams (complete, routine, specific, emergency), x-rays, cleaning (scaling), fluoride, sealants | Subject to frequency limits |
| Restorative | Permanent and temporary fillings | , |
| Endodontics | Root canals | Re-treatments need preauthorization |
| Periodontal | Gum treatment | , |
| Major restorative | Crowns, cores, posts | Preauthorization required |
| Prosthodontics | Complete dentures; partial dentures | Partials need preauthorization |
| Oral surgery | Extractions | , |
| Anesthesia / sedation | , | , |
| Orthodontics | Braces, aligners | Not available yet: “at a date to be determined” |
Two limits to keep in mind: services beyond frequency limits and certain treatments require preauthorization, and not every request is approved. And there is no published annual dollar maximum, coverage is governed by the plan’s established fees, frequency limits, and preauthorization rules rather than a cap you can look up.
Do Ontario dentists have to accept the CDCP?
No, provider participation in the CDCP is voluntary, so not every Ontario dental office takes it. The Government of Canada advises confirming your provider accepts CDCP clients before booking. Nearly 29,000 providers across Canada participated as of May 31, 2026.
Participating offices, dentists, denturists, dental hygienists, specialists, and dental schools, either sign up formally through Sun Life (the plan’s administrator) or bill on a claim-by-claim basis. Sun Life’s CDCP Provider Search lists participating providers, per canada.ca’s provider page.
The billing rule that matters most: never pay the full bill yourself expecting to be paid back. Under the CDCP, only providers are reimbursed, participating offices bill Sun Life directly, and you pay only your co-payment plus any agreed additional charges. If you pay the full cost out of pocket, Sun Life will not reimburse you.
How do you apply for the CDCP?
Apply online through My Service Canada Account (or via Canada.ca if you can’t use MSCA), or by phone at 1-833-537-4342. You’ll need your SIN, date of birth, address, and details of any government dental coverage, and you must have filed last year’s tax return.
The steps, per the official application page:
- File last year’s tax return (you and your spouse/partner) and wait for your notice of assessment.
- Gather your details: SIN, date of birth, full name, address, and any dental coverage you have through a government social program.
- Apply: online through My Service Canada Account or Canada.ca, or call Service Canada at 1-833-537-4342 (TTY 1-833-677-6262). Applications for the 2026–2027 benefit year are open.
- Wait for your enrolment letter: it includes your CDCP plan number, member ID, co-payment level, and your coverage start date, followed by a Sun Life welcome package with your member card.
Coverage isn’t permanent once granted: you must renew every year after filing taxes to confirm you still qualify, and care received during a coverage gap is not covered or reimbursed. Renew as soon as you receive your latest CRA Notice of Assessment.
What happens at your first CDCP appointment?
Bring your member ID and confirm your coverage start date, only care received on or after that date is covered. Canada.ca advises confirming your coverage is active before every appointment, and your dental office can submit an estimate to Sun Life beforehand to verify what’s covered.
That pre-visit estimate is worth asking for by name. Because CDCP fees can differ from an office’s own fees, an estimate submitted to Sun Life in advance tells you what the plan will pay and what, if anything, you’ll owe on top, before you’re in the chair. The after-you-apply guidance covers this process in detail.
If it’s your first dental visit in a long time, that’s nothing to be embarrassed about, our guide on getting back to the dentist after years away covers what to expect from a catch-up visit.
How do you book a CDCP dental visit through Orbit Dental?
CDCP members, privately insured, and out-of-pocket patients are all welcome through Orbit Dental. You share your details, add your coverage information in your secure portal, and your personalized estimate, including any co-pay, is shown for you to review and accept before you book. No surprises at the desk.
That up-front step matters more with the CDCP than with most private plans, because of the additional-charges rule above: knowing your number before you book is the difference between a predictable visit and an awkward conversation at checkout. Once you complete your visit, Orbit Dental’s reward program applies to CDCP patients the same as everyone else, see how the rewards work.
If you’re weighing the CDCP against private coverage or paying cash, our breakdown of dental costs, insurance, and the CDCP in Canada compares the three. And if it turns out you don’t qualify for the plan, you still have options, here’s how to see a dentist in Toronto without insurance.
New to choosing a dentist entirely, CDCP or not? Start with our complete guide to seeing a dentist in Toronto, how to choose a clinic, what visits cost, and what to expect at your first appointment.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get the CDCP if my employer offers dental benefits I don't use?
No. Having access to private dental insurance disqualifies you, even coverage you declined, pay a premium for, or never use. The one exception: retirees who opted out of pension dental coverage before December 11, 2023 and cannot opt back in may still be eligible.
Does the CDCP have an age limit?
No. Since the plan's expansion in mid-2025, the CDCP is open to eligible Canadian residents of any age, the current eligibility criteria list only the four requirements, with no age restriction.
Can I pay my dentist and get reimbursed by the CDCP later?
No. Only oral health providers are reimbursed under the CDCP, participating offices bill Sun Life directly. If you pay the full cost yourself, you will not get it back, so pay only your co-payment plus any agreed extra charges.
Does the CDCP cover braces?
Not yet. Canada.ca states that a specific range of orthodontic services will be available in the future, "at a date to be determined." The plan currently covers exams, x-rays, cleanings, fillings, root canals, dentures, and extractions, with some services requiring preauthorization.
Do I need to renew my CDCP coverage every year?
Yes. Members must renew annually, based on their latest notice of assessment, to confirm they still meet the eligibility requirements. Dental work done during a coverage gap won't be covered, so renew before booking anything.