If your family earns less than $90,000 a year and you don’t have dental insurance, the federal government may pay for part of your dental care. That’s the Canadian Dental Care Plan, or CDCP. At Family Dentistry on Locke, we accept it.
The plan helps a lot. It isn’t free, though, and that’s the part that surprises people most. Here’s what it covers, what you may still pay, and what happens when you come in, so you can plan your visit without guessing.
Quick answer
The CDCP is for Canadian residents with an adjusted family net income under $90,000 and no access to private dental insurance. It covers most everyday care, like cleanings, exams, x-rays, fillings, root canals, gum treatment and extractions. How much the plan pays depends on your income and on our fee for each service, so at our office there’s always a portion for you to pay at your appointment. We can send an estimate to Sun Life first, so you know that portion before treatment.
Who qualifies for the CDCP
The government sets four conditions, and you need all of them:
- You don’t have access to dental insurance through an employer, a pension, a family member’s plan or a plan you buy yourself.
- Your adjusted family net income is under $90,000.
- You filed a tax return in Canada for the previous year, and so did your spouse or common-law partner, if you have one.
- You’re a Canadian resident for tax purposes.
Your spouse or partner applies separately to be covered, and your children go on your application as dependants.
Coverage has to be renewed every year. The renewal period for 2026-27 closed on June 1, 2026, and renewals for 2027-28 open in spring 2027. If you missed it, you can send a new application, but any dental care you get before it’s approved isn’t covered, and the plan won’t pay it back later.
Your coverage start date is in your enrolment letter from the Government of Canada. After that, Sun Life, the company that runs the plan for the government, mails you a welcome package with your member card. Book the care you want the plan to pay for on or after your start date.
What the CDCP covers
The plan pays for most of the everyday care a family dentist provides:
- Exams, including emergency exams, and dental x-rays. Our exams and cleanings page explains what a regular visit includes.
- Cleanings (scaling), fluoride and sealants, which help prevent cavities.
- Fillings for cavities and broken teeth.
- Root canal therapy and other treatment to relieve pain and infection inside a tooth.
- Cleaning under the gumline and other non-surgical gum disease treatment.
- Tooth removal, including emergency extractions.
- Complete dentures, plus denture repairs and relines.
Some services, like crowns, partial dentures and treatment beyond the plan’s usual limits, need approval from the CDCP before we start. If a treatment isn’t on the plan’s list, you can still have it and pay for it yourself. Ask us about the cost first, and we’ll tell you before we begin.
How much you may still pay
This is where most of the questions come from. Three things decide your share.
1. Your income. The CDCP covers a different share of its own fee depending on your adjusted family net income:
| Adjusted family net income | What the CDCP covers | What you pay of the CDCP fee |
|---|---|---|
| Under $70,000 | 100% | 0% |
| $70,000 to $79,999 | 60% | 40% |
| $80,000 to $89,999 | 40% | 60% |
2. The CDCP fee versus our fee. The plan pays its own set fee for each service. When a dental office charges more than that fee, the difference is yours to pay, even if your income puts you in the first row. That’s why our financial policies say the plan “will always have a portion to be paid by the patient.”
3. Services outside the plan. If you and your dentist agree on a treatment the CDCP doesn’t cover, that cost is yours too.
The simplest way to avoid surprises is to ask for an estimate. We can send one to Sun Life before your treatment to confirm that your coverage is active, which services are covered and how much the plan will pay. Then you know your share before you sit in the chair.
What happens at your appointment with us
Here’s how a visit works when you use the CDCP at Family Dentistry on Locke:
- When you book, tell us you have CDCP coverage and have your Sun Life member card or member number handy. If you don’t have the card with you, you can download a printable one from your Sun Life online account.
- Before treatment, your dentist explains what’s planned. For anything beyond a check-up and cleaning, ask us for an estimate first.
- On the day, we send the claim to Sun Life. The plan only pays dental offices, never patients, so if you pay the full bill yourself, Sun Life can’t pay you back.
- You pay your portion at the end of the visit by cash, debit or credit card.
If it’s your first time with us, our page on what to expect at your first visit covers the rest.
If you’re on ODSP, Ontario Works, Healthy Smiles or a seniors dental program
If your dental care comes through ODSP, Ontario Works, Healthy Smiles Ontario or a seniors dental program, you’ll need CDCP coverage as well for us to accept payment from those programs. If you’re not sure whether you have it, check your Sun Life account or apply before your appointment.
How to apply
You can apply online through the Government of Canada’s Canadian Dental Care Plan page. It’s the same link we share on our financial policies page. You’ll need your tax information and details for each child you’re applying for. Once you’re enrolled, the government sends a letter with your start date, and Sun Life mails your member card.
Using the CDCP for an emergency
A cracked tooth or a sudden toothache doesn’t wait for paperwork. If your coverage is already active, the plan covers an emergency exam, x-rays and an extraction if you need one. Call us and tell us what’s going on. Our emergency dentist in Hamilton page has what to do while you wait.
Why patients choose us for CDCP care
Dr. Tabesh has been serving downtown Hamilton for 17 years, now at our office on Locke St, open since October 2025. Our dentists explain each step before treatment begins, and when a government plan is paying part of the bill, knowing your share ahead of time matters even more. If you’re looking for a family dentist in Hamilton who accepts the CDCP, we’d be glad to see you and your family.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Canadian Dental Care Plan free?
No. Depending on your income, the plan pays all, 60% or 40% of its own fee for a covered service. If the office’s fee is higher than the CDCP fee, you pay the difference. At our office, there’s always a portion for you to pay.
Can I use the CDCP if I have dental insurance through work?
No. The plan is for people who don’t have access to private dental coverage. If you can get dental coverage through work, a pension or a family member’s plan, you don’t qualify, even if you’ve never used it or chose not to sign up.
Does the CDCP cover children?
Yes. You apply for your children as dependants on your own application, as long as your family meets the income and insurance conditions.
Do I have to renew my CDCP coverage?
Yes, every year, during the renewal period the government opens each spring. If you miss it, you can apply again, but care you get before the new application is approved isn’t covered.
What happens if I pay the full bill myself?
Sun Life can’t pay you back. The plan only pays dental offices, so let us know you have CDCP coverage before treatment and we’ll send the claim.
Does the CDCP cover root canals?
Yes, root canal therapy is on the list of covered services. If you’ve had one recently, our article on side effects after a root canal explains what’s normal while you heal.
Book your visit
Have CDCP coverage and need a check-up, a cleaning or something that’s been bothering you? Call Family Dentistry on Locke at (905) 525-9414 or contact us to book. We’re at 101 Locke St S, Suite 1A, Hamilton. Tell us you’re with the CDCP when you call, and we’ll explain what the plan covers before your visit.