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Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP): Are You Eligible?

By Centre Dentaire Oralvie

15 Mon 2026 · 3 min read

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Good news for your smile. The way some dental care is covered has changed recently. If your situation has changed, you may still have a way to keep seeing your dentist without paying full price out of pocket: the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP).

Hands holding a tooth with a heart

What is the Canadian Dental Care Plan?

Illustration of a dental benefits card

The Canadian Dental Care Plan is a federal program that helps cover the cost of dental care for eligible residents of Canada who do not have private dental insurance. It can help pay for a wide range of treatments, from exams and cleanings to fillings and dentures.

Do you qualify?

Eligibility checklist illustration

You may be eligible if all of the following apply to you:

you live in Canada and you filed a tax return last year;
your adjusted family net income is under $90,000;
you do not have access to private dental insurance.

You do not need to be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident to apply. Eligibility is based on your residency for tax purposes, not your immigration status.

Covered 100%? You pay nothing extra with us.

For patients covered by the Canadian Dental Care Plan, Oralvie applies the plan's fee schedule. If your family income is under $70,000, your eligible care is covered at 100% and you have nothing more to pay for eligible treatment, such as:

fillings
x-rays
dentures
extractions
crowns
root canals

The government pays, not you. Between $70,000 and $90,000, coverage is partial: a co-payment may remain, with no charges above the plan's fee schedule.

An accessibility initiative. Policy in effect until December 31, 2026, subject to change afterward.

Haven't filed your taxes in Canada yet?

Illustration of a tax return and a calendar

That is the most common reason people are turned down, and it is easy to fix. Filing a tax return for the previous year is the first step to becoming eligible. Once your return is filed, you can apply for the plan.