What Does the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) Cover?

CDCP coverage, as of 2026, includes diagnostic and preventive care, basic services such as fillings, root canal treatment and gum care, major services such as crowns and dentures, and some sedation. What you actually pay depends on your adjusted family net income, the CDCP-established fee, frequency limits and whether a service needs preauthorization first.

Key Takeaways

• As of 2026, the Canadian Dental Care Plan covers five service groups on paper, but canada.ca states that orthodontic services are "currently not available."
• CDCP eligibility requires no access to private dental coverage, filed Canadian tax returns, Canadian residency for tax purposes and an adjusted family net income below $90,000.
• The CDCP co-payment is 0%, 40% or 60% of the CDCP-established fee, depending on whether adjusted family net income is under $70,000, $70,000–$79,999 or $80,000–$89,999.
• Crowns, partial dentures, root canal re-treatment and deeper sedation are among the services that require preauthorization before treatment.
• CDCP coverage is not the same as free dental care: you may still owe a co-payment and any difference between the clinic's fee and what the plan reimburses.

What is the Canadian Dental Care Plan?

The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) is a federal program that helps eligible Canadian residents pay for oral health care. Service Canada handles applications and eligibility, and Sun Life administers the plan for members and oral health providers. The plan pays oral health providers directly according to a fee schedule the program sets, often called CDCP-established fees.

CDCP dental coverage works differently from a typical workplace plan. Canada.ca notes there is no fee to apply or renew. There is also no way for a member to submit a claim and be reimbursed. According to the CDCP Dental Benefits Guide, "CDCP clients cannot submit claims for reimbursement from the CDCP"; the provider bills Sun Life, and the member pays only the portion the plan does not cover.

The plan runs in benefit periods that end on June 30 each year. As of 2026, canada.ca states that applications are open for the 2026–2027 benefit period and that current members must renew every year to stay covered.

For a plain-language overview of the plan and how to prepare for a visit in our area, see Landmark Dental Care's Canadian Dental Care Plan information page. This article goes deeper into the coverage rules themselves.

Who is eligible for the CDCP?

As of 2026, canada.ca lists four requirements for CDCP eligibility, and you must meet all four:

Requirement	What canada.ca says (as of 2026)
No access to private dental coverage	You cannot have access to private dental insurance or coverage, including health spending accounts that cover dental costs.
Tax returns filed	You and your spouse or common-law partner, if applicable, must have filed tax returns in Canada.
Income	Your adjusted family net income must be less than $90,000.
Residency	You and your spouse or common-law partner, if applicable, must be Canadian residents for tax purposes.

What counts as private dental coverage?

Private coverage is broader than many people expect. According to canada.ca, it includes dental coverage through your own work or pension plan, a family member's work or pension plan, a professional or student organization, and insurance you or a family member bought. A health spending account that can be used for dental costs also counts.

There is a narrow exception. Canada.ca states that some retired people who opted out of a pension dental plan before December 11, 2023, and who cannot opt back in, may still qualify. If you are in that situation, check the eligibility page carefully before assuming you are excluded.

Does government dental coverage disqualify you?

Having a government program does not automatically rule you out. Canada.ca states that if you have dental coverage through a provincial, territorial or federal government social program, "you could still qualify" for the CDCP, and that the plans may coordinate so services are not paid twice. The application asks you to list any dental coverage you have through a government social program.

How is adjusted family net income calculated?

The CDCP uses your family net income from line 23600 of the tax return, adjusted for Universal Child Care Benefit and Registered Disability Savings Plan amounts, according to canada.ca. In plain terms, amounts you received from those two sources are subtracted and amounts you repaid are added back. If you have a spouse or common-law partner, their income is part of the family figure, which is one reason both of you need to have filed.

Eligibility is not a one-time decision. Canada.ca states that you "must confirm every year that you have no access to private dental insurance or coverage," and the renewal page notes that a spouse or common-law partner must submit their own renewal to be covered.

What CDCP coverage includes

As of 2026, canada.ca groups CDCP coverage into five categories. The list below follows canada.ca's wording closely. Coverage for any single visit still depends on clinical need, frequency limits and plan criteria, so treat this as a map rather than a promise.

Diagnostic and preventive services

This group covers dental exams, including complete, routine, specific and emergency exams, plus X-rays, cleaning (scaling), fluoride applications and sealants. These are the services most people use first, and they are the foundation of preventive dentistry. If you have not had a checkup in some time, this is usually where care under the Canadian Dental Care Plan begins; our guide to what happens at a dental checkup walks through a typical visit.

Basic services

Basic services under the CDCP include three kinds of care:

• Restorative: permanent and temporary fillings, pain control for diseased teeth and other treatments for cavities.
• Endodontic: root canal treatments, pulpectomies (the first step of a root canal), procedures to reduce infection and relieve pain, and re-treatment of previously completed root canals (preauthorization required).
• Periodontal: cleaning under the gumline, treating abscesses, non-surgical gum disease management, bonding for mobile teeth (preauthorization required) and post-surgical evaluations (preauthorization required).

Much of this is everyday general dentistry, the work a family dental office does to treat decay, infection and gum problems before they become larger issues.

Major services

Major services under the CDCP fall into three groups:

• Restorative: posts and post removal, repairs to crowns and re-bonding of crowns and posts, crowns, cores that support crowns, and posts for crowns. Crowns, cores and crown posts require preauthorization.
• Removable prosthodontics: complete dentures, including standard and temporary dentures; denture repairs, relines and rebases; tissue-conditioning liners; complete immediate dentures and overdentures (preauthorization required); and partial dentures (preauthorization required).
• Oral surgery: removal of teeth and roots, surgical removal of tumours and cysts, surgical incisions including draining, and treatment for broken jaw bones.

Anesthesia and sedation

Canada.ca lists nitrous oxide, oral sedation or both together. Conscious sedation by inhalation or combined technique, and deep sedation or general anesthesia, require preauthorization.

Orthodontic services

Orthodontic care is listed as a category, but as of 2026 canada.ca states: "Orthodontic services are currently not available." Braces and aligners should not be planned around CDCP coverage until that changes.

Frequency limits

Many CDCP services can only be covered a certain number of times in a period. The CDCP Dental Benefits Guide explains that frequency limits use rolling periods: if a recall exam has a 12-month limit and is done on April 1, 2025, the next covered recall exam would be on or after April 2, 2026. If you have seen another provider recently, tell the new office, because an exam or X-ray done too soon may not be covered.

Which CDCP services need preauthorization?

Preauthorization means your oral health provider asks the plan to approve coverage before the treatment is done. The CDCP Dental Benefits Guide describes it as "a process to request coverage for services prior to proceeding with treatment." The provider submits the request, not the patient.

As of 2026, canada.ca marks these services as requiring preauthorization:

Service group	Services that need preauthorization (as of 2026)
Endodontic	Re-treatment of a previously completed root canal
Periodontal	Bonding for mobile teeth; post-surgical evaluations
Major restorative	Crowns; cores to support crowns; posts for crowns
Removable prosthodontic	Complete immediate dentures and overdentures; partial dentures
Sedation	Conscious sedation (inhalation or combined); deep sedation or general anesthesia

Preauthorization adds a step between the treatment plan and the appointment where the work is done. It is worth asking your dental office how long a response typically takes and what happens to your temporary care in the meantime. A preauthorization approval also is not a final bill. As the Landmark CDCP page notes, an estimate or preauthorization does not guarantee final coverage, because eligibility and plan rules are applied when the claim is processed.

How the CDCP co-payment works

The CDCP co-payment is the share of the CDCP-established fee that the member pays. It is based on adjusted family net income. As of 2026, canada.ca lists three levels:

Adjusted family net income	CDCP pays (of the CDCP-established fee)	Your co-payment
Under $70,000	100%	0%
$70,000 to $79,999	60%	40%
$80,000 to $89,999	40%	60%

Your co-payment level appears in your enrolment information from the plan. Canada.ca's after-you-apply page lists it with your plan number, member ID and coverage start date.

Co-payments and additional charges are different things

A co-payment is a percentage of the CDCP-established fee. An additional charge is something else. Canada.ca states that you may have to pay fees on top of a co-payment if "the cost of your oral health care services is more than what the CDCP will reimburse," or if you and your provider agree to services the CDCP does not cover.

That means a person with a 0% co-payment level can still owe something if the clinic's usual fee is higher than the CDCP-established fee. Canada.ca publishes a factsheet with worked examples of co-payments and additional charges, and it advises: "Before receiving oral health care, you should always ask your oral health provider about any costs that won't be covered by the plan."

You should not be asked to pay the whole bill upfront

Because providers bill Sun Life directly, canada.ca's information for oral health providers states that "CDCP clients should not be asked to pay the full cost upfront." You pay only the outstanding amount the plan does not cover, if any. If an office asks you to pay the full fee and claim it back yourself, that does not match how the Canadian Dental Care Plan is set up, and you should ask them to explain.

What CDCP coverage does not do

Knowing the limits of CDCP coverage prevents surprises. The plan is broad, but it is not open-ended.

• It does not cover everything a dentist can do. Services outside the covered list, including many elective cosmetic treatments such as whitening, are not part of CDCP coverage. If you choose them, you pay the office's fee.
• It does not cover orthodontics right now. As of 2026, canada.ca says orthodontic services are not available.
• It does not guarantee a service will be approved. Some services depend on clinical criteria, frequency limits or preauthorization.
• It does not cover care during a gap. Canada.ca's renewal page warns that if you miss the renewal deadline and reapply, care received during the gap "will not be covered nor reimbursed retroactively."
• It does not choose a provider for you. You find an office yourself and confirm that it accepts CDCP clients and bills Sun Life directly. Our companion guide on how to find a dentist who accepts the CDCP covers the questions to ask.

It also does not replace your own daily care. Brushing, cleaning between teeth and regular recall visits are what keep future treatment smaller, whatever plan is paying.

Special situations

Children. In Nova Scotia, children may also be eligible for the provincial Children's Oral Health Program. According to novascotia.ca, the program covers basic dental care for children aged 14 and younger with a valid Nova Scotia health card, and private insurance must be used first when it applies. Because canada.ca says government program coverage does not automatically rule out the CDCP, ask the dental office how the two programs apply to your child.

Seniors and denture wearers. Complete dentures, relines, rebases and repairs are listed services, while immediate dentures, overdentures and partial dentures need preauthorization. If you are planning new dentures, ask about that step early.

Anxiety or medical conditions. Nitrous oxide and oral sedation are listed. Deeper sedation requires preauthorization and a clinical reason. Share your medical history and medication list at the first visit so your provider can plan safely.

Couples. Both partners' incomes count toward adjusted family net income, and each partner must renew for their own coverage.

Using CDCP coverage in Truro and Colchester County

If you live in Truro, Bible Hill or elsewhere in Colchester County, using CDCP coverage starts the same way as anywhere else: confirm you are enrolled, find an oral health provider who accepts CDCP clients, and ask about costs before treatment.

Landmark Dental Care is a family general practice at 125 Queen St in downtown Truro, open Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm. We do not want anyone to assume their plan will or will not work with us. Please call 902-893-2919 before booking to confirm our current CDCP participation and how billing would work for your visit. Have your member ID, coverage start date and co-payment level handy when you call.

When you come in for any visit, bring:

• your CDCP member information or enrolment letter (canada.ca notes you do not have to wait for the physical member card);
• government identification;
• a list of your medications and relevant health information;
• details of any recent dental visits elsewhere, so frequency limits can be checked.

For hospital-level problems, such as spreading facial swelling or difficulty breathing or swallowing, call 911 or go to the Emergency Department at the Colchester East Hants Health Centre. Nova Scotians can call 811 at any time for nurse advice.

FAQ

Is dental care free with the CDCP?

Not always. As of 2026, members with adjusted family net income under $70,000 have a 0% co-payment, but anyone can still owe the difference if a clinic's fee is higher than the CDCP-established fee, or for services the plan does not cover. Ask the office for an estimate first.

Does the CDCP cover crowns?

Yes, crowns are listed as a major restorative service, as of 2026. Crowns, the cores that support them and posts for crowns all require preauthorization, so your provider must request approval before the crown is made.

Does the CDCP cover braces or Invisalign?

Not at present. As of 2026, canada.ca states that orthodontic services are "currently not available" under the Canadian Dental Care Plan. Check canada.ca for changes before making plans.

Can I get CDCP if I have a health spending account?

Usually not. Canada.ca counts a health spending account that covers dental costs as private dental coverage, and having access to private coverage makes you ineligible. There is a narrow exception for some retirees who opted out of a pension dental plan before December 11, 2023.

How do I know my CDCP co-payment level?

Your co-payment level is included in the enrolment information you receive after you are accepted, with your member ID and coverage start date. If you cannot find it, the Sun Life CDCP Contact Centre can help at 1-888-888-8110.

Next step

If you have CDCP coverage or think you qualify, read our CDCP information for Truro patients, then call Landmark Dental Care at 902-893-2919 to confirm our current participation and billing before you book. We are at 125 Queen St, Truro, and you can also reach us through our contact page.

References

• Government of Canada: Canadian Dental Care Plan
• Government of Canada: Canadian Dental Care Plan – Do you qualify
• Government of Canada: Canadian Dental Care Plan – What is covered
• Government of Canada: CDCP examples of co-payments and additional charges
• Government of Canada: CDCP Dental Benefits Guide
• Government of Canada: Canadian Dental Care Plan – Renew
• Government of Nova Scotia: Children's Oral Health Program

This article provides general educational information and is not a diagnosis or a substitute for care from a dentist or other qualified health professional.