Canadian Dental Care Plan – Brampton, ON

What is the Canadian Dental Care Plan?

The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) is a government dental program that offers coverage to Canadians who have an adjusted household net income below $90,000 a year and are unable to obtain dental benefits.

The plan is now open to all eligible Canadians, regardless of age. It is possible to receive CDCP coverage if you receive some form of dental coverage through a government social program.

What is Covered by the CDCP?

CDCP can be used to help pay for the following services:

• Preventive Care: Dental Cleanings, Exams, X-rays, Dental Sealants, Fluoride Treatment
• Basic Restorative Care: Dental Fillings, Root Canal Treatments, Gum Disease Treatment
• Major Restorative Care: Dentures, Dental Crowns, Tooth Extractions, Jaw Surgery
• It’s also possible to receive coverage for oral conscious sedation. Other forms of anesthesia or sedation require preauthorization.

When it comes to determining how much coverage you can expect to receive, there are a few important factors to consider:

• The CDCP will likely pay a portion of your total cost, not the full amount.
• You will be responsible for additional expenses if your family’s adjusted net income is between $70,000 and $89,999, the cost of your care exceeds the amount the CDCP will reimburse, or if you choose to pursue a service not covered by the CDCP.
• You may have a co-payment depending on your adjusted family net income. For example:
  • If it is lower than $70,000, the CDPC will cover 100% of eligible dental services.

Fee Guide

The Canadian Dental Care Plan uses its own fee guide, which is lower than the Ontario Dental Association (ODA) Fee Guide that our office follows.

• We do not accept the CDCP fee guide as full payment for services.
• Any difference between our standard fees and the CDCP allowance will be billed directly to the patient at the time of treatment.
• In addition, if your plan requires a co-payment, that portion is also due from the patient at the appointment.

Coverage

While the CDCP helps reduce dental costs, it’s important to note that:

• Not all dental treatments are included under the plan.
• Coverage limits may not align with what is clinically recommended for your personal oral health needs.
• For example, many adults benefit from more frequent cleanings and exams than the plan covers. Any additional visits beyond the CDCP allowance would be an out-of-pocket expense.
  • If your adjusted family net income is between $70,000 and $79,999, the CDCP will cover 60% of eligible dental services.
  • If your adjusted family net income is between $80,000 and $89,000, the CDCP will cover 40% of eligible dental services.

Expenses

Depending on your household income, you may qualify for 100%, 60%, or 40% coverage under the CDCP. However, because our office fees are based on the ODA Fee Guide, there will still be some patient responsibility:

• 100% coverage tier → Expect to pay about 15% of our fee out-of-pocket.
• 60% coverage tier → Expect to pay about 50% of our fee out-of-pocket.
• 40% coverage tier → Expect to pay about 65% of our fee out-of-pocket.

All out-of-pocket portions are due at the time of treatment. Final amounts can only be confirmed once claims are submitted to CDCP. If there’s any overpayment, it will be reimbursed later; if there’s underpayment, the balance will be billed to you.

Your Key Takeaway

The CDCP can help reduce the cost of dental care, but it does not fully eliminate expenses. Our team will help you understand your coverage, estimate your portion, and make sure you know what to expect before treatment begins.

How to Apply & Start Using Your Benefits

To ensure that your application is approved, you will need to provide various information for each member of your family receiving coverage. The full list can be found here.

The Government of Canada manages enrollment in the CDCP.

Here’s how you can enroll:

1. Visit the official Government of Canada Dental Care Plan page.
2. Check your eligibility and follow the steps to apply online.
3. Once approved, you’ll receive enrollment confirmation and plan details from Sun Life, the administrator of the CDCP.
4. Bring this information with you to your dental appointment so we can verify your coverage.

Tip: Coverage runs from July 1 to June 30 each year. You’ll need to reapply annually to maintain your benefits.

If you need assistance signing up or would like more information, please contact our team at smile@salvaggiodentistry.ca or call 289-569-0721.