The short version

• The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) can cover up to 100% of eligible dental costs at its set fees, if your adjusted family net income is under $70,000.
• You must meet all four rules, including no access to private dental insurance and a tax return filed in Canada for the previous year.
• Applying and renewing are free. You renew every year.
• Only care received after your start date is covered.

The situation

You have a toothache, no dental plan at work, and a bill you did not plan for.

There is a federal plan built for that gap. It is called the Canadian Dental Care Plan. Here is what it pays, who may be eligible, and the steps to apply.

What the CDCP pays

What the plan pays depends on your adjusted family net income:

• Under $70,000: the CDCP covers 100% of eligible costs at its set fees. You pay 0% of those fees.
• $70,000 to $79,999: the CDCP covers 60%. You pay 40%.
• $80,000 to $89,999: the CDCP covers 40%. You pay 60%.

For incomes from $70,000 to $89,999, you may also face additional charges. These also apply if a provider charges more than the plan reimburses, or if you agree to a service the plan does not cover.

Covered services, when your oral health provider recommends them, include:

• Exams, x-rays, cleanings, fluoride and sealants.
• Fillings, root canals and gum care.
• Crowns, dentures and tooth extractions.
• Nitrous oxide and sedation.
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Orthodontics is not currently available. Some services, such as crowns and dentures, need preauthorization before you book them.

The 4 rules

You must meet all four before you apply:

1. No access to private dental insurance or coverage. That includes a plan through work, a spouse or common-law partner, a pension, a professional or student organization, or one you bought yourself.
2. You filed a tax return in Canada for the previous year. If you have a spouse or common-law partner, they must have filed too.
3. Your adjusted family net income is under $90,000. The official page shows which tax return lines to use.
4. You are a Canadian resident for tax purposes. So is your spouse or common-law partner, if you have one.

The newcomer catch

The CRA says most newcomers become residents for tax purposes from the first day they live in Canada. It also says you do not have to file your first Canadian return until the year after you become a resident. For example, if you arrived in 2025, your 2025 return was due April 30, 2026.

The CDCP asks for a return filed for the previous year. Its pages do not say what that means for people who arrived this year. Call Service Canada at 1-833-537-4342 before you apply, and ask.

Where people commonly go wrong

1. Assuming a spouse is covered. A spouse or common-law partner has to submit their own application.
2. Booking care first. Only care received after your start date is covered.
3. Skipping the renewal. You renew every year. Care received during a gap is not covered or reimbursed.
4. Answers that do not match your tax slips. If your answers do not match your T4 or T4A, you may be selected for an eligibility review. If you are found ineligible, you can be removed from the plan and may have to repay what it paid.

What to do: four steps

1. Check for dental insurance. Work, spouse, pension, student plan. If you have access to any of it, you do not meet rule 1.
2. Check your tax return and income. Confirm you filed, and find your adjusted family net income.
3. Apply. Sign in to My Service Canada Account and select the Canadian Dental Care Plan, use the Canada.ca application, or call 1-833-537-4342. For each person, have their SIN (if available for children), date of birth, full name and address ready. You can apply for yourself and your dependants.
4. Wait for your letter, then book. It confirms your start date and co-payment level. Sun Life mails a member card, but you do not need to wait for it to get care. To find a provider, use Sun Life's CDCP Provider Search or call 1-888-888-8110.

Where to check

• Who qualifies: Canadian Dental Care Plan: Who qualifies (Canada.ca)
• How to apply: Canadian Dental Care Plan: How to apply (Canada.ca)
• What is covered: Canadian Dental Care Plan: Coverage (Canada.ca)
• After you apply: Canadian Dental Care Plan: After you apply (Canada.ca)
• Newcomers and tax residency: Newcomers to Canada (immigrants) (CRA)

Canada.ca warns about scams. Applying and renewing are free, so do not give banking or credit card details to anyone who contacts you about the plan.

The bottom line

The Canadian Dental Care Plan can cover up to 100% of eligible dental costs if your family income is under $70,000. Check the four rules, confirm your tax return, apply, and book care only after your start date.

Work with a licensed consultant

Questions about your own situation?

The guide above is general information. Melisa Alexander, a Licensed Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC), R531703, can look at yours in a 60-minute consultation. CAD $200.

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