AS of Wednesday, more than 2.3 million Canadians have been approved to receive coverage under the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) and close to 450,000 of them have already received care, the federal government said.

Participation among Canadians is steadily increasing, highlighting the importance of dental care and the need for the CDCP to make care more accessible and affordable.

Once fully implemented, the CDCP will help make dental care more affordable for up to nine million Canadian residents who do not currently have access to dental insurance.

The government said that the participation of oral health providers is essential to the success of the CDCP, and it has seen the number of providers supporting the CDCP across the country also increase. Currently, close to 19,000 oral health providers are participating in the CDCP by offering a wide range of services such as cleanings, fillings and dentures, representing more than 75% of active providers in Canada.

Federal Health Minister Mark Holland said: “This program is having a transformational impact on the lives of millions of Canadians and helping make care more accessible and affordable. In just three months, the CDCP has allowed close to 450,000 Canadians to receive care. Every day, more patients are gaining access to dedicated oral health providers. I thank providers who are participating for their continued collaboration in making this program a success and encourage the rest of the provider community to do the same.”

Eligible Canadians who do not currently have a provider can talk to a dentist, dental hygienist, denturist or dental specialist in their community, get care in dental school clinics that are participating in the CDCP, or consult Sun Life’s CDCP Provider Search Tool to find a provider.

Before receiving any services, those covered under the plan should always ask their provider if they agree to bill Sun Life directly and if there are any additional costs that will not be covered by the plan that they will be responsible for paying.

The government said that dental care is health care and no one should have to choose between taking care of their teeth and paying their bills. Canadians deserve access to affordable dental care, which is essential for overall health. By helping cover some or all of the cost of a wide range of services, the CDCP is helping more Canadians get access to the care they need.

The CDCP is currently open to eligible seniors, adults with a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate, and children under 18. Applications for all remaining eligible Canadians will begin in 2025.

For more information, visit Canada.ca/dental.

Quick Facts

• Eligible Canadians who successfully apply to the CDCP will receive a welcome package which will include their coverage start date (benefit effective date). This start date is found in their welcome letter rather than on their CDCP card.
• CDCP patients may have to pay additional charges, in addition to their co-payment, if applicable, depending on the services received and the cost of the treatment.
• The claim submission process is the same regardless of how the provider chooses to participate in the CDCP – they can submit claims directly to Sun Life and be reimbursed either by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) within 48 hours, once a claim is approved (moving toward a 24-hour turnaround time) if they have a Sun Life Direct account, or by receiving a cheque on a monthly basis.
• Oral health providers can find information on how to submit claims as well as a side-by-side comparison of the two provider participation options here.
• The breakdown of participation by provider type is as follows:
  • dentists and dental specialists: 16,612
  • denturists: 1,746
  • dental hygienists: 857