Canadian Dental Care Plan

Political origins and background

The Canadian Dental Care Plan has its political origins in the 2021 federal election, which resulted in a minority Liberal government led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. In March 2022, the Liberal Party entered into a confidence and supply agreement with the New Democratic Party, led by Jagmeet Singh, to secure governing stability until 2025. A central condition of the NDP's support was the establishment of a national dental care program, a policy the party had campaigned on in both the 2019 and 2021 elections. The agreement committed the government to creating a program for low and middle income Canadians. The need for such a program was shown by data showing about 35 percent of Canadians lacked private dental insurance, including more than half of all seniors. The Canadian Dental Association had also publicly advocated for a national plan, with its president, Heather Carr, stating dentists supported the concept. A 2014 study highlighted the systemic cost of unmet dental needs, recording over 60,000 visits to hospital emergency departments for oral health issues at a cost exceeding $30 million annually.

Program development and phased implementation

The development of the CDCP was modelled in part on the existing Non Insured Health Benefits Program provided to First Nations and Inuit peoples. Officials stated they addressed known complaints about excessive paperwork from that program during the CDCP's design. In the final stages of creation, Health Canada, under Minister Mark Holland, consulted with groups like the Canadian Dental Association that signed confidentiality agreements, though provincial and territorial dental associations refused to sign such agreements. The program was implemented through three distinct phases. The first phase was the temporary Canada Dental Benefit, established in December 2022, which provided a $650 tax free payment per child annually to parents or guardians of children under 12 without dental insurance and with a family income under $90,000. This interim measure was opposed by the Bloc Québécois and Conservative Party of Canada, whose MPs voted against it. The second phase began the rollout of the permanent Canadian Dental Care Plan in December 2023, initially covering seniors aged 65 and older, children under 18, and adults with a disability. During this overlap period, parents of children under 12 could access benefits from both the temporary benefit and the new plan. The third and final phase, extending coverage to all remaining eligible Canadians aged 18 to 64 without insurance, launched in June 2025, completing the program's full expansion.

Eligibility criteria and application process

Eligibility for the Canadian Dental Care Plan is based on four key criteria. Applicants must be Canadian residents, have an adjusted family net income below $90,000, have filed a tax return for the preceding year, and have no access to private dental insurance. Insurance provided by provincial, territorial, or federal governments, such as the Non Insured Health Benefits program, does not disqualify an applicant. Adjusted family net income is calculated by subtracting universal child care benefits and registered disability savings plan repayments from net income. To facilitate eligibility verification, the Canada Revenue Agency mandated that all employers and pension plan administrators report on T4 and T4A slips whether an individual or their family had access to dental insurance, using box 45 on the T4 and box 015 on the T4A. The application process was conducted through a staggered, age based rollout managed by Service Canada, beginning with the oldest seniors in late 2023 and culminating with all eligible adults in 2025. The initial enrolment sequence proceeded in a staggered manner beginning in December 2023.

• December 2023: Applications opened by phone for individuals aged 87 and older.
• January 2024: Applications opened for those aged 77 to 86.
• February 2024: Applications opened for those aged 72 to 76.
• March 2024: Applications opened for those aged 70 to 71.
• May 2024: Applications opened for those aged 65 to 69, and an online application system launched.
• June 2024: Applications opened for individuals under 18 and adults with a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate.
• 2025: Applications opened for all other eligible Canadians aged 18 to 64.

Once Service Canada approves an application, the individual's information is forwarded to Sun Life Financial to complete enrolment. Eligible individuals receive a letter inviting them to apply, and upon approval, a welcome package with a member card and coverage details. Eligibility is verified annually, and members must renew their coverage for each benefit year, with the renewal period for the 2026 to 2027 year closing on June 1, 2026. New applications for the 2026 to 2027 benefit year opened on June 2, 2026, following the renewal deadline.

Covered services and cost sharing structure

The CDCP covers a wide range of essential oral health services based on a fixed fee schedule that varies by province and service type. Covered services include preventive care like cleanings, diagnostic services such as exams and X rays, restorative procedures including fillings, endodontic treatments like root canals, prosthodontic services such as dentures, periodontal care for gum disease, and oral surgery. The plan explicitly excludes cosmetic dentistry, such as tooth whitening, and does not cover products like dental implants or mouthguards. The program is administered by Sun Life Financial under a five year contract valued at $747 million, which includes an option for a five year renewal. The system was designed to process roughly 500,000 enrolment applications per month. Providers were able to begin submitting claims for services in May 2024, with coverage for patients effective from their specified start date. For more complex services requiring preauthorization, dentists could begin billing the plan in November 2024. A dedicated call centre was established at Service Canada to handle inquiries about eligibility and coverage.

The plan incorporates an income based co payment structure for families with higher incomes within the eligible range. The level of coverage is determined by the adjusted family net income reported on the applicant's tax return. Individuals with an adjusted family net income of more than $70,000 but less than $80,000 will have to make a 40 percent copayment. Those with an adjusted family net income exceeding $80,000 will have to make a 60 percent copayment. Patients are responsible for any difference between the dentist's actual charge and the CDCP's approved fee, in addition to the applicable co payment. The 2026 dental benefit grids, which set the approved fees, were released and apply to services rendered on or after April 1, 2026.

Program uptake and stakeholder response

The program saw rapid uptake following its launch. By the end of January 2024, over 400,000 applications had been approved, a figure that grew to over 1 million by early March and over 1.7 million by mid April 2024. By September 2024, nearly 2.5 million Canadians were enrolled, with about 751,000 having submitted a covered claim. At that time, 21,000 dental health providers, representing approximately three quarters of practitioners in Canada, had registered with the program. For the 2025 to 2026 benefit year, the government reported more than 6.5 million approved applicants nationally, including over 2.6 million in Ontario alone. Stakeholder response has been mixed. A March 2024 survey by the Canadian Dental Association found 61 percent of licensed dentists would not register to provide service under the CDCP. Initial opposition centred on administrative requirements, leading the government in April 2024 to eliminate the mandatory clinic registration process, requiring only that a provider agree to direct bill Sun Life. The Canadian Dental Hygienists Association has criticized the fee schedule for reimbursing hygienists at lower rates than dental clinics. The NDP, a key architect of the plan, has advocated for its expansion into a universal program, with health critic Don Davies stating this as a party goal. An analysis by economist David Macdonald estimated that extending coverage universally, regardless of income, would cost an additional $1.45 billion annually.

Program administration and recent updates for 2026

The Canadian Dental Care Plan is a federally funded program administered through a partnership between Service Canada, which handles eligibility verification and applications, and Sun Life Financial, which manages claims processing and provider payments. The program operates on a benefit year cycle from July 1 to June 30, requiring annual renewal from members to maintain continuous coverage. Key updates for the 2026 period include the release of new dental benefit grids effective for services rendered on or after April 1, 2026. The renewal period for existing members for the 2026 to 2027 benefit year ran from April 15 to June 1, 2026, with coverage for the 2025 to 2026 year remaining active until June 30, 2026. New applications for the 2026 to 2027 benefit year opened on June 2, 2026. The program is now fully expanded, with all eligible age groups, including adults aged 18 to 64, able to apply. The expansion is projected to provide dental benefits to an estimated 8.5 million Canadians and improve benefits for another 1.4 million, while approximately 4.4 million Canadians with a family net income above $90,000 are not covered.

Questions about Canadian Dental Care Plan

How do I apply for the Canadian Dental Care Plan?

Eligible individuals must apply through Service Canada. The process began with a staggered, age based rollout starting in December 2023. Applications can be submitted online through the Service Canada website or by phone. You will need your Social Insurance Number, your most recent Notice of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency to confirm income, and details about any existing dental insurance. A separate application is required for each eligible family member. Once approved, Service Canada forwards your information to Sun Life Financial, which sends a welcome package with a member card.

How many people are enrolled in the Canadian Dental Care Plan?

The program has seen significant enrolment since its launch. By September 2024, nearly 2.5 million Canadians were enrolled. For the 2025 to 2026 benefit year, the federal government reported more than 6.5 million approved applicants across Canada. In Ontario alone, there were over 2.6 million approved applicants for that benefit year. The program's full expansion aims to eventually cover approximately 8.5 million Canadians.

When is the renewal period for CDCP coverage?

The CDCP operates on a benefit year from July 1 to June 30. Members must renew their coverage annually to maintain it. For the 2026 to 2027 benefit year, the renewal period ran from April 15, 2026, to June 1, 2026. Coverage for the previous 2025 to 2026 benefit year remained active until June 30, 2026. New applications for the 2026 to 2027 year opened on June 2, 2026, following the close of the renewal period.

Who is eligible for the Canadian Dental Care Plan?

Eligibility for the Canadian Dental Care Plan requires applicants to be Canadian residents with an adjusted family net income below $90,000, have no access to private dental insurance, and have filed a tax return for the preceding year. This program, fully expanded as of 2025, is designed for uninsured individuals including seniors aged 65 and older, children, adults aged 18 to 64, and persons with disabilities. Government provided coverage, such as provincial plans or the Non Insured Health Benefits for First Nations and Inuit, does not affect eligibility. Service Canada verifies eligibility annually, and once approved, enrollees' information is forwarded to Sun Life Financial for final processing.

What dental services are covered by the CDCP?

The Canadian Dental Care Plan covers essential oral health services including preventive care like cleanings, diagnostic services such as X rays, and restorative work including fillings. It also includes endodontic services like root canals, prosthodontic services such as dentures, periodontal treatments, and oral surgery. Cosmetic dentistry, including tooth whitening, and products like implants or mouthguards are not covered. Coverage is based on a fixed fee schedule established by the government, which varies depending on the specific service provided and the province in which it is delivered. The plan is managed by Sun Life Financial under a federal contract, and providers can submit claims for services rendered, with more complex procedures requiring preauthorization as of November 2024.

How much will I have to pay out of pocket under the CDCP?

Out of pocket costs under the Canadian Dental Care Plan are determined by your adjusted family net income. Individuals with an adjusted family net income of more than $70,000 but less than $80,000 will have to make a 40 percent copayment. Those with an adjusted family net income exceeding $80,000 will have to make a 60 percent copayment. Patients are responsible for any difference between the dentist's actual charge and the CDCP's approved maximum fee for a given service. The approved fees are set on a provincial basis and are detailed in the program's dental benefit grids.

Sources and further reading

• Canadian Dental Care Plan (Wikipedia)
• What's the Canadian Dental Care Plan and who qualifies? (cma.ca)
• Canadian Dental Care Plan 2026 | CDCP Dentist Ottawa (ottawadowntowndentist.ca)
• How to Apply for Canadian Dental Care Plan 2026 (123dentist.com)
• The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) Expanded in 2026 (prismadentistes.ca)

Checked by the Nosy Mag desk. Last updated 2026-11-02.