A regular cleaning runs $150 to $250 in most Canadian dental offices. A filling can land between $200 and $400. A full upper denture sits north of $1,800. For a senior on a fixed income, those numbers are why nearly 3 in 5 Canadians over 65 went without dental insurance before 2024, and why a quarter of seniors aged 65 to 79 skipped a dentist visit in the past year because of cost (Statistics Canada, 2024).
The problem with skipping the dentist is that untreated dental issues rarely stay dental. They become infections, malnutrition, hospitalizations, and emergency-room visits - outcomes Canadian seniors and their families pay for in stress, time, and money.
The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) is the federal answer. Launched in late 2023 and rolled out group by group through May 2025, it now covers close to 6 million Canadians of every age, with the average member saving roughly $800 a year on their dental care (Health Canada, December 2025). Seniors were the first group enrolled, and you may already qualify without realizing it.
This guide walks you through who's eligible, what's actually covered, how to apply, and - the part most other guides skip - how CDCP fits alongside the other senior benefits you already receive. If you'd like to talk any of this through with a real person in Canada, our team is at 1-888-445-0192.
Table of Contents
- What the Canadian Dental Care Plan actually is
- Are you eligible? Seniors-specific CDCP eligibility
- What CDCP covers for seniors
- What CDCP does not cover
- How to apply for CDCP (step by step)
- How CDCP stacks with your other senior benefits
- After you apply - what to expect
- Frequently asked questions
What the Canadian Dental Care Plan actually is
The Canadian Dental Care Plan is a federal program administered by Health Canada and operated by Sun Life as the benefits administrator. It pays a defined portion of dental costs for Canadians who don't have access to private or employer-sponsored dental insurance and whose household income falls under a set threshold.
The federal government committed $13 billion over five years plus $4.4 billion ongoing to the program when it launched (Canada.ca, December 2023). The rollout came in phases, oldest seniors first:
- December 2023 to April 2024: Invitation letters went out to Canadians aged 87 and older.
- May 1, 2024: Coverage opened for seniors 70+, with online applications opened for ages 65 to 69.
- June 27, 2024: Adults with a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate and children under 18 became eligible.
- May to June 2025: The remaining adult age groups (18 to 64) joined.
- June 2, 2026: Applications for the 2026 to 2027 benefit year opened. As of today, every age group can apply.
In other words, the rollout is complete. If you're a senior reading this and you haven't applied, you've been eligible for at least two years.
Are you eligible?
CDCP eligibility comes down to four boxes you have to check at the same time. Miss any one and you don't qualify. Check all four and you do.
You must be a Canadian resident filing taxes
You need to be a Canadian resident for tax purposes, and you need to have filed your individual tax return for the previous year and received a Notice of Assessment from the CRA. For the 2026 to 2027 benefit year, that's your 2025 tax return. If you have a spouse or common-law partner, both of you need to have filed.
You must not have access to other dental coverage
This is the rule most seniors misunderstand. The CDCP "no access" rule says you don't qualify if you have access to dental coverage through an employer, a family member's employer, a professional or student organization, a pension plan, or a privately purchased plan - even if you choose not to use it. Access is the load-bearing word, not use.
There is one important exception for retirees. If you opted out of a pension dental plan before December 11, 2023 and the plan's rules don't allow you to opt back in, you may still be eligible for CDCP (Federal Retirees). This specifically covers many former federal employees who left the Pensioners' Dental Services Plan.
Coverage through a provincial, territorial, or federal social program does not disqualify you. Provincial seniors dental programs, Veterans Affairs Canada dental, and Non-Insured Health Benefits all coordinate with CDCP rather than blocking it.
Your Adjusted Family Net Income must fall under the threshold
Adjusted Family Net Income (AFNI) is the figure CRA uses on your tax return for income-tested benefits. For a single senior, it's essentially your net income. For couples, it's the combined net income of both spouses or common-law partners.
Here's how the AFNI tiers work for the 2025 to 2026 benefit year (Ontario Dental Association, February 2026):
| AFNI Range | CDCP Pays | You Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Under $70,000 | 100% of the CDCP fee | 0% |
| $70,000 to $79,999 | 60% of the CDCP fee | 40% |
| $80,000 to $89,999 | 40% of the CDCP fee | 60% |
| $90,000 or more | Not eligible | n/a |
If you receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement, your AFNI is almost certainly well under $70,000, which means you fall into the full-coverage tier. You don't need to do the math yourself.
A note on the word "co-pay": the CDCP fee schedule is not the same as your dentist's usual fee. If your dentist charges $150 for a service the CDCP fee guide values at $100, you'll owe the $50 gap regardless of your income tier. This is called balance billing, and we explain it more in the coverage section below.
What CDCP covers
CDCP coverage is grouped into three categories. The patient share percentage from the table above applies the same way across all of them.
Preventive and diagnostic
Routine exams, recall checkups, x-rays, cleanings (scaling and polishing), fluoride treatments, and dental sealants. None of these require preauthorization. A comprehensive oral exam is covered once every 60 months; recall exams and routine cleaning are covered once every 12 months.
Basic and restorative
Fillings (permanent and temporary), simple tooth extractions, emergency dental services, and desensitization. Most basic services don't require preauthorization.
Major services
This is where things get more involved. Crowns, dentures, root canals on molars or multi-rooted teeth, additional scaling beyond frequency limits, complex extractions, and sedation beyond basic levels all require preauthorization from Sun Life. Your dentist submits the request - you don't.
Two important data points seniors should know about major-services preauthorization:
- Processing time is typically 25 to 30 business days or longer.
- Between November 2024 and June 2025, 52 percent of preauthorization requests were denied when complex treatments were involved (Canadian Dental Association, July 2025). When incomplete submissions are stripped out, the denial rate is closer to 38 percent. The Canadian Dental Association called this rate unacceptable and is pushing for reform.
If a denial comes back, your dentist can appeal within 60 days with new clinical information. As Lindy Vanamburg, Director General of Health Canada's Oral Health Branch, put it in a July 2025 interview: "It's not as black and white as it might seem, in terms of a 'no being a no.' If something changes in the patient's mouth, they can resubmit again. So it's never like a hard, hard no" (Canadian Affairs, July 2025).
Dentures specifically (because seniors ask)
CDCP covers standard removable dentures. Implant hardware and surgery are not covered. Replacement frequencies:
| Denture Type | Replacement Frequency |
|---|---|
| Standard complete denture (full upper or lower) | Once per arch every 8 years |
| Removable partial cast denture | Once per arch every 8 years |
| Removable partial acrylic denture | Once per arch every 5 years |
| Denture repairs | Generally once per 12 months |
| Relines and rebases | Typically every 24 months |
Your first set of complete dentures does not require preauthorization. Partial denture initial placements and any subsequent denture replacement do.
What CDCP does not cover
Honesty matters here. CDCP isn't unlimited. The plan won't pay for:
- Cosmetic services - whitening, veneers, Invisalign.
- Dental implant hardware and surgery.
- Services from non-participating dentists - if your dentist hasn't agreed to bill Sun Life, CDCP pays nothing and you'll pay full freight.
- Services above the CDCP fee guide - the gap is yours to cover, separate from any income-based co-pay.
- Anything outside Canada.
- Medical transportation to your appointment.
On average across Canada, CDCP reimburses about $86 for every $100 of dental treatment under its fee guide, which is meaningfully better than many provincial seniors dental programs that average closer to $32 per $100 (Ontario Dental Association, February 2026). But it isn't 100 percent of every dollar, and the gap is the part that surprises seniors at the chair.
The single most useful thing you can do before a procedure: ask your dentist for a written estimate. The estimate should show what CDCP will pay, what your income-based co-pay is, and what any balance-billing gap will be.
How to apply
Three paths, depending on how you'd like to do it.
Apply online
The application lives at canada.ca/dental. You can sign in with your My Service Canada Account (using GCKey or a Sign-In Partner) or apply without an account. Same intake as you'd use for GIS - if you've already applied for that, the login pattern will feel familiar.
You don't upload documents. You give your SIN, date of birth, name, address, and confirm that you've filed your 2025 taxes. The CRA and Service Canada then cross-check your records, including any T4 or T4A boxes that show employer dental access.
Apply by phone
Call 1-833-537-4342 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. local time. The TTY line for hearing impairment is 1-833-677-6262. A Service Canada agent walks you through the same questions you'd answer online.
Applying for a parent
If you're an adult child helping a parent, there are two paths:
- Trusted Person (phone only). During the phone application, your parent gives verbal consent for you to assist. You can be on the call and help with the questions. Your parent needs to be able to communicate that consent in the moment.
- Legal Delegate. If your parent can't give consent - for example, due to cognitive impairment - you'll need legal authority (Power of Attorney, Mandate in Quebec, or trusteeship). You submit original or certified documents by mail to your regional Service Canada office or in person. Once accepted, you can apply on their behalf.
Processing typically takes a few weeks to several months. After approval, Sun Life sends a welcome package within roughly three months. Coverage does not start until the benefit effective date printed in that welcome package, so don't book the dental work in advance.
How CDCP stacks
This is the section other CDCP guides skip. CDCP is one piece of a larger senior-benefits picture, and the pieces interact.
Old Age Security and the Guaranteed Income Supplement
If you receive GIS, your AFNI is almost certainly under $70,000, which puts you in the full-coverage CDCP tier. CDCP benefits are not taxable income and do not affect your OAS or GIS payments. The same filed Notice of Assessment that keeps GIS current keeps you eligible for CDCP renewal.
Alberta Seniors Benefit and DOAS
Alberta runs the Alberta Seniors Benefit and a separate Dental and Optical Assistance for Seniors program (DOAS). DOAS pays up to $5,000 every 5 years for basic dental work for seniors with single income under $27,300 (couple under $54,600). Because DOAS is a provincial social program, you're not disqualified from CDCP - the two coordinate, and CDCP usually provides broader ongoing coverage above DOAS's 5-year cap.
BC Seniors Supplement
British Columbia does not have a provincial dental program for seniors. The BC Seniors Supplement is a cash top-up of OAS and GIS, not dental coverage. For most BC seniors without private insurance, CDCP is the only meaningful public dental option. More than 720,000 BC residents are enrolled.
Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program
Ontario's OSDCP covers seniors 65+ with single income under $25,000 or couple income under $41,500. It stacks with CDCP, and the Ontario Dental Association recommends OSDCP recipients also apply for CDCP because CDCP's reimbursement rate is materially higher per dollar. Ontario also runs the Ontario Seniors Care at Home Tax Credit for related home-support expenses.
Quebec
Quebec's public RAMQ plan does not provide meaningful dental coverage for seniors. With 81.7 percent of Quebec seniors uninsured before CDCP, the federal plan is the primary dental coverage for most Quebecers over 65. Quebec residents apply through the same national CDCP channels - there's no provincial opt-out.
Veterans Affairs Canada
If you receive a VAC disability benefit, Veterans Independence Program benefit, War Veterans Allowance, or long-term-care assistance, you likely already have VAC dental coverage that pays up to 100 percent of provincial fee-guide rates. VAC dental is automatic and you receive a healthcare card. Because VAC dental is a federal social program, VAC-eligible veterans can still apply for CDCP and have benefits coordinated. We cover the broader VAC picture in our Veterans Independence Program guide.
Caregiver and disability tax credits
CDCP doesn't change your eligibility for the Canada Caregiver Tax Credit or the Medical Expense Tax Credit. The portion of dental costs that you pay out of pocket - your income-based co-pay plus any balance-billing gap - remains claimable as a medical expense on your tax return, subject to the standard thresholds. If you're supporting a parent financially, you can also explore the broader financial support available to Canadian caregivers.
Non-Insured Health Benefits
If you're a registered First Nations or recognized Inuit, your NIHB dental coverage is already comprehensive. You can still apply for CDCP if you meet the eligibility rules. When both apply, claims go to NIHB first and CDCP may cover remaining eligible costs.
After you apply
The welcome package from Sun Life arrives within roughly three months of approval. It contains your member card, your benefit effective date, your co-pay tier, and the CDCP Dental Benefits Guide.
When you visit the dentist, bring your member card, photo ID, and the welcome letter showing your benefit effective date. Your dental office verifies your eligibility with Sun Life on the day of the visit. For services that need preauthorization, the dental office submits the request before treatment begins. Don't schedule the procedure for the same week - you'll need approval in hand first.
You don't pay the CDCP portion upfront. Sun Life reimburses your dentist directly. You pay only your income-based co-pay and any balance-billing gap on the day of service.
If you need to find a participating provider, the Sun Life provider search lives at sunlife.ca/sl/cdcp and the member contact line is 1-888-888-8110. As one denturist told the Canadian Health Coalition in July 2024, the plan is "more than just a plan, it is a lifeline" for seniors whose finances had ruled out major dental work for years (Canadian Health Coalition, 2024).
Coverage is not automatic year over year. You renew annually. The 2026 renewal window ran from April 15 to June 1, 2026, and is now closed. If you missed it, you can re-apply starting June 2 but you'll have a gap.
Need help thinking through how CDCP fits with the rest of your senior-care planning? Our team in Canada is at 1-888-445-0192.
Frequently asked questions
What is the income limit for the Canadian Dental Care Plan for seniors?
Your Adjusted Family Net Income must be under $90,000 to qualify for any CDCP coverage. Under $70,000, the plan covers 100 percent of the CDCP fee. From $70,000 to $79,999, it covers 60 percent. From $80,000 to $89,999, it covers 40 percent.
Do I have to reapply for CDCP every year?
Yes. Coverage doesn't roll over automatically. You re-attest to all four eligibility conditions each spring. The renewal window for the 2026 to 2027 benefit year ran from April 15 to June 1, 2026.
Does CDCP cover dentures for Canadian seniors?
Yes - standard removable complete and partial dentures are covered. Complete dentures can be replaced once every 8 years; partial acrylic dentures every 5 years; partial cast dentures every 8 years. Dental implants are not covered. Partial denture placements and any replacement after the first set require preauthorization.
Can I get CDCP if my former employer's retirement plan offers dental?
Generally no - if you have access to dental coverage through a pension or employer plan, you don't qualify, even if you don't use it. The one exception is for retirees who opted out of pension dental coverage before December 11, 2023 and cannot opt back in. Check your pension paperwork carefully before applying.
Does CDCP work with my provincial dental program?
Yes. Provincial seniors dental programs are treated as government social programs and don't disqualify you. The two coordinate so you don't get double coverage but you also don't get gaps. In most cases CDCP's reimbursement rate is materially higher per dollar than provincial programs.
Can my dentist refuse to take CDCP?
Yes. There is no obligation on dentists to participate. If your regular dentist doesn't bill CDCP, you can ask whether they'll bill Sun Life on a claim-by-claim basis (any provider can do this since July 2024), find a participating provider via Sun Life's search tool, or continue paying privately. As of late 2025, more than 27,000 oral-health providers participate - close to 100 percent of active providers.
How is CDCP different from the old Canada Dental Benefit?
The Canada Dental Benefit was an interim direct-payment program for families with children under 12, paid through CRA. It ended in 2024. CDCP is the permanent, broader federal program for Canadians of all ages without private dental coverage, administered through Sun Life rather than direct CRA payment.
Closing the loop on senior safety at home
The Canadian Dental Care Plan is real, the application is reasonable, and most low- and middle-income Canadian seniors qualify. If you've been quietly skipping the dentist because the bill scared you, the 30 minutes it takes to apply is worth it.
Dental care is one piece of staying healthy and independent at home as you age. The other pieces - fall prevention, medication routines, home modifications, and 24/7 Canadian monitoring for the moments when something does go wrong - are how Canadian families build a complete safety net around an aging parent. If you'd like to talk through how a Canadian medical alert fits into that picture, our team is at 1-888-445-0192, and every Holo Alert plan comes with a 10-day risk-free guarantee so you can try it without committing.
For more on the dental side of healthy aging, our guide to maintaining dental health after 65 covers the day-to-day care that protects your teeth between dentist visits. For the bigger picture on independent living, start with our complete guide to medical alert systems for Canadian seniors.
This guide explains the Canadian Dental Care Plan based on Health Canada's published rules as of June 2026. Eligibility thresholds, covered services, and patient-share percentages change annually - verify your specifics on canada.ca before applying. Holo Alert is not a dental insurance provider and does not administer CDCP. Sources include Health Canada, the Canadian Dental Association, the Ontario Dental Association, Statistics Canada, Sun Life, and the Canada Revenue Agency.
