What the CDCP is
The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) is a federal program that helps eligible Canadian residents pay for dental care. It is administered by Sun Life on behalf of Health Canada, and it is aimed at people who do not have access to private dental insurance.
It is not a card you swipe for free dentistry — think of it as public coverage that pays the clinic a set amount for approved services, sometimes with a co-payment you cover based on your household income.
Who qualifies
To be eligible for the CDCP you generally need to:
- Be a Canadian resident for tax purposes
- Have an adjusted family net income under $90,000 a year
- Not have access to private dental insurance (through an employer, a plan you bought, or a family member)
- Have filed your most recent tax return
What you pay — the co-pay tiers
The CDCP pays a percentage of the plan's set fees, and you cover the rest as a co-payment that depends on your adjusted family net income:
- Under $70,000 — no co-payment (the plan covers its full eligible amount)
- $70,000 to $79,999 — you pay 40% of eligible costs
- $80,000 to $89,999 — you pay 60% of eligible costs
What it covers
The CDCP covers a broad range of services when they are recommended by your oral-health provider: diagnostic exams and X-rays, preventive care such as cleanings and scaling, fillings, extractions, root canals, dentures and more. Some services need pre-authorization, and the plan pays based on its own fee grid, which can differ from your province's suggested fees — so ask the clinic whether any balance will be billed to you.
How to use it at a clinic
First, apply and get your confirmation and coverage start date from Sun Life. Then choose a clinic that accepts the CDCP — not every dentist participates. When you book through SmileMatch, you can tell the clinic you are on the CDCP so they confirm coverage and any co-pay before your visit, and many clinics bill the plan directly so you only pay your share at the desk.