Oral health is an important part of our overall health and well-being. Regular visits to an oral health professional have proven to reduce the risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and other serious problems, such as cardiovascular disease and stroke. Yet, in 2022, one in four Canadians reported avoiding visiting an oral health professional because of the cost. Access to oral health care should not be dependent on Canadians’ ability to pay.
Since December 2023, our government has been gradually rolling out the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) for eligible seniors through mail. Currently, the CDCP is open for eligible seniors 65 and up, children under 18, and Canadians with a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate. In 2025, all eligible Canadians will be able to apply for the CDCP.
To be eligible, you must not have access to dental insurance, have an adjusted family net income of less than $90,000, be a Canadian resident, and have filed your tax return. Learn more about the eligibility requirements here.
Additionally this month, over 2.4 million Canadians have been approved for the CDCP, and nearly 650,000 have already received care. In Newmarket-Aurora, over 5,900 Canadians have enrolled in the CDCP and can begin receiving quality dental care. Over the summer, we made the plan more accessible for dental professionals. Currently, over 20,500 providers are participating in the CDCP, accounting for 82% of active providers in Canada.
CDCP patients are also able to see any oral health provider of their choice, as long as the provider agrees to direct bill Sun Life for services provided under the plan. Providers will be able to direct bill Sun Life for services provided on a claim-by-claim basis, without formally signing up for the CDCP. If you do not already have an oral health provider, you can consult Sun Life’s CDCP Provider Search to find a dentist, dental hygienist, denturist, or dental specialist in your community.
The CDCP is going to help make dental care more affordable for up to nine million Canadians who currently do not have coverage. Participating providers continue to support our collective efforts to ensure that as many Canadians as possible receive the oral health care services they need to stay healthy.
