Canada Dental Care Plan: Who Qualifies and What It Costs
The federal dental plan for people without dental insurance and an adjusted family net income under $90,000. Here is who qualifies, what you pay at each income level and what the plan covers.
Get started free➜ Download the app➜
Who qualifies for the Canada Dental Care Plan?
You qualify for the Canada Dental Care Plan if you have no access to private dental insurance, your adjusted family net income is under $90,000, you are a Canadian resident for tax purposes, and you and any spouse filed last year's tax returns. Families under $70,000 pay no co-payment; those between $70,000 and $89,999 pay 40% or 60%.
What is the Canada Dental Care Plan?
The Canada Dental Care Plan, officially the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), is a federal program that pays part or all of the cost of dental care for residents who cannot get dental insurance elsewhere. It is administered by the Government of Canada, with Sun Life processing claims. Most dental providers in Canada now accept CDCP patients.
The plan was phased in by age group. Since May 2025 it has also been open to eligible residents aged 18 to 64, and the current application page lists no age limit, so any eligible person can apply. Coverage runs in benefit periods that end on June 30 each year, and the 2026 to 2027 period is open for applications.
Who is eligible for the Canada Dental Care Plan?
You must meet four rules: no access to private dental coverage, adjusted family net income under $90,000, Canadian residency for tax purposes, and filed tax returns for the previous year for you and any spouse or common-law partner. Meeting three of the four is not enough.
- No access to private dental coverage. This includes employer plans, plans through a spouse, and health spending accounts that pay for dental. You count as having access even if you never enrolled or never used it. Retirees who opted out of pension dental coverage before December 11, 2023 and cannot opt back in are an exception.
- Income under $90,000. Adjusted family net income is line 23600 of your return plus your spouse's, with a few adjustments for UCCB and RDSP income.
- Tax returns filed. Both you and your spouse must have filed for the previous year. See our tax filing deadline guide for the dates.
- Canadian residency. You and your spouse must be residents for tax purposes.
Provincial, territorial or federal dental programs do not disqualify you. The CDCP can coordinate with them. You must confirm each year that you still have no private dental coverage.
What is the Canada Dental Care Plan income limit and co-payment?
The income limit is an adjusted family net income below $90,000. Under $70,000, the plan pays 100% of eligible costs at CDCP fees. From $70,000 to $79,999 you pay a 40% co-payment, and from $80,000 to $89,999 you pay 60%. At $90,000 or more you are not eligible.
| Adjusted family net income | CDCP pays | You pay |
|---|---|---|
| Under $70,000 | 100% | 0% |
| $70,000 to $79,999 | 60% | 40% |
| $80,000 to $89,999 | 40% | 60% |
| $90,000 or more | Not eligible | Not eligible |
The percentages apply to CDCP's own fee schedule, which can be lower than your dentist's usual fees. You may face an extra charge if your provider charges more than CDCP reimburses, or if you agree to a service the plan does not cover. Ask your clinic for an estimate before treatment.
Figures checked October 2026; confirm current amounts on the Canadian Dental Care Plan pages on Canada.ca.
Track every paycheque
- Add each income source in seconds
- See income against spending every month
- Plan from your real take-home pay
Worked example: what a family at $75,000 pays
Take a family with an adjusted family net income of $75,000. That puts them in the 40% co-payment band. Suppose a check-up, x-rays and cleaning come to $400 at CDCP fees, and the clinic's own price for the visit is $450.
- Find the band: $75,000 falls between $70,000 and $79,999, so CDCP pays 60%.
- CDCP's share: $400 times 0.60 is $240.
- Co-payment: $400 times 0.40 is $160.
- Extra charge: $450 clinic price minus $400 CDCP fee is $50.
- Total out of pocket: $160 plus $50 is $210.
The same visit for a family under $70,000 would cost only the $50 difference, or nothing if the clinic charges CDCP rates. Putting a dental line in your budget, even $20 a month, means the co-payment does not land as a surprise. The budget calculator can help you find room for it.
The $400 and $450 amounts are illustrative, not CDCP fee schedule figures.
What does the Canadian Dental Care Plan cover?
The CDCP covers a broad range of care when an oral health provider recommends it, from exams and cleanings to fillings, root canals, dentures and extractions. Some services need approval in advance, called preauthorization, and Canada.ca states that orthodontic services are not currently available.
| Category | Examples | Preauthorization |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic and preventive | Exams, x-rays, cleaning, fluoride, sealants | Only beyond frequency limits |
| Basic restorative | Fillings, pain control for diseased teeth | Only beyond frequency limits |
| Endodontic | Root canals, pulpectomies | Needed for re-treatments |
| Periodontal | Cleaning below the gumline, abscess treatment | Needed for some procedures |
| Major restorative | Posts, crown repairs | Needed for crowns |
| Removable prosthodontics | Complete dentures, relines, repairs | Needed for partial and immediate dentures |
| Oral surgery | Extractions, cyst removal | Varies |
| Orthodontics | Braces | Not currently available |
How do you apply and renew?
Apply online through My Service Canada Account, through the Canada.ca online form if you cannot use that account, or by phone with Service Canada. Applying and renewing are free. After approval, check that your provider accepts CDCP patients and bills Sun Life directly before you book.
- Check the four eligibility rules and make sure last year's tax returns are filed for you and your spouse.
- Sign in to My Service Canada Account and choose the CDCP application, or call Service Canada at 1-833-537-4342.
- Once approved, view your plan details and member card in your my Sun Life online account.
- Ask your dental office whether it accepts CDCP and how much any extra charge will be.
- Renew each spring. Canada.ca says renewals for the 2027 to 2028 period open in spring 2027.
Renewal deadlines matter. The 2025 to 2026 renewal closed on June 1, 2026. People who missed it can apply again, but care received during the gap before approval is not covered or reimbursed.
How the CDCP fits into your budget
Dental costs are irregular, which makes them easy to forget until a bill arrives. Track what you pay in co-payments and extra charges for a year, then divide by twelve to set a realistic monthly amount. EMOH Pay lets you photograph receipts and set a health budget with overspend alerts, free on iPhone, Android and the web.
The CDCP is one of several federal programs for low and middle incomes. If someone in your household has a Disability Tax Credit, the Canada Disability Benefit may also apply. Families with children should check the Canada Child Benefit calculator, and our guide to budgeting in Canada brings the main supports together.
Your income in EMOH Pay
Put the numbers on autopilot
EMOH Pay tracks your spending, budgets and net worth on your phone and in the browser, always in sync. Free to start, made in Canada.
Get started free➜Canada Dental Care Plan: Who Qualifies and What It Costs: frequently asked questions
Can I get the Canada Dental Care Plan if I have dental insurance through my spouse?
No. Access to private dental coverage through any source, including a spouse's employer plan or a health spending account, makes you ineligible, even if you do not use it.
Does the CDCP cover braces?
Not at the time of checking. Canada.ca states that orthodontic services are currently not available under the plan.
Do I have to pay anything with the CDCP?
If your adjusted family net income is under $70,000 there is no co-payment, though your provider may charge the difference between its fee and the CDCP fee. Between $70,000 and $89,999 you pay 40% or 60% of the CDCP fee plus any difference.
What happens if I miss the renewal deadline?
You can apply again, but you will have a gap in coverage until the new application is approved. Dental care during that gap is not covered or reimbursed retroactively.
Is there a fee to join the Canada Dental Care Plan?
No. Canada.ca says there is no fee to apply for or renew CDCP coverage.
Related guides and tools
Cost of living, sales tax and budgeting guidance for every Canadian province and territory. Free budgeting app made in…
Canada Disability Benefit: Amount, Eligibility and Payment DatesThe Canada Disability Benefit pays up to $204.20 a month from July 2026. See who qualifies, how income reduces it, a worked…
Canada Child Benefit CalculatorCanada Child Benefit calculator: enter your family net income and your children's ages to estimate your monthly and yearly…
Tax Filing Deadline Canada 2026Tax deadline Canada 2026: 30 April for most people, 15 June for the self-employed. See every filing, payment and instalment…
50/30/20 Budget CalculatorThe 50/30/20 rule splits after-tax income: 50% to needs, 30% to wants, 20% to savings. Enter your monthly take-home pay to…
Receipt Tracker App: Snap, Search and StorePhotograph receipts and EMOH Pay attaches them to transactions. Search by store, amount or date, and keep them organized for…
Start free today
Free on iPhone, Android and the web. Upgrade to EMOH Pro anytime for advanced AI and unlimited family sharing.
Download for iOS➜ Get it on Android➜