Canada's new dental care plan could impact nearly 9 million Canadians — are you one of them?

The federal government unveiled details about its highly anticipated Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) on Monday, December 11, 2023

Applications will first open to eligible seniors aged 87 and older. Applications for other age groups will then be phased in with a staggered approach, with the process opening up to all eligible applicants aged 18 and above sometime in 2025.

Who pays for what under the CDCP?

The CDCP will help cover the cost of various oral health-care services, with the focus on "those deemed medically necessary by an oral health-care professional."

Services covered under the Canadian Dental Care Plan include:

• Preventive services, including scaling (cleaning), polishing, sealants and fluoride.

• Diagnostic services, including examinations and X-rays.

• Restorative services, including fillings, crowns and dentures.

• Endodontic services, including root canal treatments.

• Prosthodontic services, including complete and partial removable dentures.

• Periodontal services, including deep scaling.

• Oral surgery services, including extractions.

​​​​​​Some of these services will be available in the fall of 2024. Other services such as teeth whitening, implants and mouth guards will not be covered under the plan.

Applicants with household incomes below $70,000 will not have to pay participating dentists, hygienists or denturists — Ottawa will pick up the tab for covered services.

Families with incomes between $70,000 and $79,999 will see 60 per cent of service fees covered by the government. The other 40 per cent they will have to cover out of pocket in what's known as a co-pay.

For those in the $80,000 to $89,999 income bracket, the co-pay jumps to 60 per cent, with the federal plan covering the rest of the costs.

Who is eligible?

• To qualify for the CDCP, applicants must have an annual adjusted family net income under $90,000 and cannot have access to other dental insurance.

• All eligible applicants will receive a letter inviting them to apply, according to the government's announcement.

• Applicants must be a Canadian resident for tax purposes, and an income tax return from the previous year must have been filed prior to applying for the CDCP.

• Applicants will be reassessed every year to confirm they still meet eligibility requirements, but those reassessment details will be provided at a later date.

• Applicants who have access to dental benefits through a program offered by a province, territory or the federal government can still apply for the CDCP if they meet all eligibility criteria

Can I use CDCP with my employer's plan?

Canadians who have access to dental insurance are not eligible to apply for the CDCP.

According to the government of Canada's website, this includes individuals who:

• Have dental insurance through their employer or a family member's employer benefits, including health and wellness accounts.

• Have dental insurance through their pension from a previous employer or a family member's pension benefits.

• Have dental insurance purchased by themselves, by a family member or through a group plan from an insurance or benefits company.

Can I use my current dentist, denturist or dental hygienist?

If enrolled, oral health providers will directly submit claims to Sun Life for reimbursement; and if there's a co-pay, those using CDCP will pay the cost out of pocket to the provider.

If I'm eligible, when can I apply?

• Applications for the CDCP will be open this month, initially over the phone.

• Only eligible seniors aged 87 and older can apply at first. Applications for other age groups will be phased in with a staggered approach.

• Starting in January 2024, seniors aged 77 to 86 can apply, followed by seniors aged 72 to 76 in February, and seniors aged 70 to 71 in March.

• Seniors aged 65 to 69 can start applying in May 2024 — the same month the application process switches from telephone to online.

People with valid disability tax credit certificates and children under 18 will be able to apply starting in June 2024. Eligible low- and middle-income Canadians between the ages of 18 and 65 can start applying in 2025.