Canadian Dental Care Plan patients welcome
Approved for the Canadian Dental Care Plan? Bring your Sun Life member card to our Oakville office. We check your coverage, explain any co-pay up front and bill Sun Life directly for covered care.
CDCP patients welcomeDirect billing to Sun LifeSeniors, adults and kidsFree on-site parking
The short answer
The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) is a federal government program, administered by Sun Life, that helps pay for dental care for Canadian residents with an adjusted family net income under $90,000 and no access to private dental insurance. Yes, you can use CDCP coverage at Palermo Village Dental, a dental clinic in Oakville that welcomes CDCP patients of all ages.
CDCP is not a discount card or membership plan. It’s real dental coverage, but it doesn’t pay for everything, and some families pay a share of the cost depending on income. Most people use it for exams, cleanings and the routine work our general dentistry team does every day.
A lot of people who qualify haven’t seen a dentist in years, and they worry about being judged or hit with surprise bills. You won’t be. We start with an exam, tell you what’s urgent and what can wait, and confirm what CDCP covers before treatment. Parents can book the whole household with our family dentist in Oakville team.
Gum problems are common after a long gap, and CDCP covers many periodontal care services. In pain right now? Our emergency dental clinic in Oakville sees CDCP patients too. Otherwise, book your CDCP appointment online or call 647-584-0017.
Eligibility
According to the Government of Canada, you must meet all 4 of these conditions to qualify.
You can’t have access to dental coverage through work, a pension, a professional association or a plan you bought, even if you don’t use it.
Your adjusted family net income from your most recent tax return must be less than $90,000.
You (and your spouse or common-law partner, if you have one) must have filed your taxes for the previous year.
You must be a resident of Canada for tax purposes.
Good to know: applications are open for the 2026 to 2027 benefit period. Children, adults and seniors can all apply if they meet the conditions. Each spouse or partner submits their own application, and parents can add children under 18. There is no fee to apply or renew, so ignore anyone who asks you to pay.
Your share
CDCP pays a percentage of its established fee for each covered service. Your percentage depends on your adjusted family net income.
| Adjusted family net income | CDCP pays | Your co-payment |
|---|---|---|
| Under $70,000 | 100% of the CDCP fee | 0% |
| $70,000 to $79,999 | 60% of the CDCP fee | 40% |
| $80,000 to $89,999 | 40% of the CDCP fee | 60% |
| $90,000 or more | Not eligible | Not applicable |
There’s one more thing to understand: CDCP sets its own fee for each service. If a clinic’s fee is higher than the CDCP fee, there may be an extra charge on top of your co-payment. At Palermo Village Dental, we tell you before treatment whether anything will be billed to you, so you can decide with the numbers in front of you.
How to apply
Applying is free and usually takes about 15 minutes. Here’s the process.
Look at your T4 or T4A slip. Box 45 (T4) or box 015 (T4A) shows whether your employer offered dental benefits. Code 1 means no access.
You’ll need your Social Insurance Number, date of birth, address, and details of any government dental programs you’re already using.
Apply through My Service Canada Account, the online form on Canada.ca, or by calling Service Canada at 1-833-537-4342.
Once you’re enrolled, Sun Life mails a welcome package with your member card and the date your coverage starts.
Call us with your member ID. We’ll confirm your coverage and book your first visit after your start date.
Coverage runs by benefit period. Watch for your renewal notice and renew on time so there’s no gap in coverage.
What’s included
CDCP covers a wide range of medically necessary oral health care. The main categories are:
Some services, including crowns, partial dentures and certain gum treatments, must be approved by CDCP before we start. We submit the request for you and wait for the answer, so you know what’s covered before any work begins.
Not included
Knowing the limits up front saves frustration later. These are generally outside CDCP coverage.
Implants aren’t generally covered. Dentures or other options may be covered instead, and we’ll explain the trade-offs.
Teeth whitening, veneers and purely cosmetic bonding aren’t covered.
Braces and aligners are only considered in limited cases with preauthorization, mostly for function rather than looks.
Oral appliances for snoring or sleep apnea typically fall outside CDCP. We’ll be clear about this before any sleep treatment.
If a fee is higher than CDCP’s established amount, the difference isn’t covered. We’ll tell you before treatment.
Charges for missed or late-cancelled visits aren’t covered by any public plan.
Seniors and dentures
Seniors were the first group enrolled in CDCP, and many of them hadn’t had dental coverage since they retired. For older adults, the plan often covers the care that matters most for comfort and eating.
Many medications cause a dry mouth, which raises the risk of cavities along the gumline. If you take several prescriptions, regular checkups are even more worth booking.
Grandparents often come in with grandkids in tow. If the whole family has CDCP, we can see everyone in one trip.
At our office
Using your coverage with us is simple. Here’s what happens from the first call.
Give us the member ID from your Sun Life card when you book at 647-584-0017. We verify your coverage before you arrive.
Your first visit includes a full exam, the X-rays you need and a check of your gums, bite and any sore spots.
We separate what’s urgent from what can wait and mark which services CDCP covers, which need preauthorization and any amount you’d pay.
For crowns, partial dentures and some gum treatments, we send the request and let you know when it’s approved.
We bill Sun Life directly for covered services. You only pay your co-payment or any agreed extra charge.
We book your next cleaning and checkup at the right interval for your gums, which is what keeps future costs down.
Be prepared
A little prep makes your first appointment faster and avoids billing hiccups. Bring:
If you’re booking for your kids, bring their member details too. We can usually see family members back to back so you only make one trip.
Complete health dentistry
Palermo Village Dental practises complete health dentistry, connecting oral health to your overall wellness. CDCP makes a lot of that care reachable.
Long-term gum inflammation has been linked in research with heart disease, diabetes and other chronic conditions. Regular cleanings and gum treatment are some of the most useful care CDCP covers.
Painful or missing teeth push people toward soft, processed food. Fillings, extractions and dentures help seniors and adults keep eating a healthy diet.
Small cavities become abscesses when they’re left for years. Routine exams catch problems while they’re still small, simple and covered.
During exams we watch for signs of grinding and sleep-disordered breathing. If you snore or feel exhausted, we’ll talk about sleep apnea screening and be clear about what is and isn’t covered.
Other programs
Ontario has a few public dental programs, and it’s easy to mix them up. Here’s how they fit together:
Getting coverage from one of these doesn’t automatically disqualify you from CDCP. When you apply, you list any government dental programs you use, and the plans sort out who pays what.
Bring whatever cards or letters you have to your visit. Our front desk deals with these programs every week and will help you figure out what’s billed where.
Warning signs
Covered care only helps if you book it. These signs mean you shouldn’t wait for your next “someday.”
Usually the first sign of gum disease. Caught early, it often reverses with a cleaning and better home care.
It can mean a cavity, a cracked filling or receding gums. All are easier to fix when small.
Dentures stop fitting as the jaw changes. Sore spots and slipping are worth a check.
Hardened tartar can only be removed professionally. CDCP covers cleanings, so use them.
A gap lets bacteria straight into the tooth. Repair it before it reaches the nerve.
These can point to infection. Call us promptly, because CDCP covers emergency exams too.
Avoid these
These slip-ups cost people coverage or lead to unexpected bills.
Services before your official start date aren’t covered. Check the date in your Sun Life package.
Your co-payment and a clinic’s fee difference are two separate things. Ask about both before treatment.
Missing your renewal leaves a gap in coverage. Set a reminder when your notice arrives.
CDCP eligibility uses your tax filing. No return means no coverage, even with very low income.
If you have access to private dental insurance, you can’t qualify for CDCP. Opting out of a work plan doesn’t make you eligible.
The most valuable part of CDCP is preventive care. Book cleanings before you need a root canal.
Typical scenarios
These composite examples are based on common situations, with details changed. Your coverage depends on your own eligibility and treatment.
A couple in their 70s lost their dental benefits when they retired. With an income under $70,000, they qualify for full CDCP coverage of the CDCP fee. They book cleanings, she gets two fillings, and he gets a new partial denture after preauthorization.
A self-employed mom has no workplace insurance. She applies for herself and adds her kids. Their family income puts her at a 40% co-payment, so she books checkups for all three on one afternoon and knows her share before they arrive.
A 31-year-old delivery driver has been ignoring a sore molar. He’s enrolled in CDCP but hasn’t used it. An emergency exam shows deep decay, and a covered root canal saves the tooth.
Staying covered
CDCP coverage isn’t a one-time sign-up. Your eligibility is reviewed every benefit period, so a few life changes are worth knowing about.
You’ll get a renewal notice before your benefit period ends. Renew as soon as it arrives. If you miss the deadline you can reapply, but you may have a gap where visits aren’t covered.
Starting a job that offers dental benefits, getting married or separating, or a major change in family income can affect your eligibility or co-payment level. Update your information so you aren’t billed for care you thought was covered.
Your co-payment level comes from your most recent tax return. If you skip a year, your coverage can stop, even if nothing else changed.
Before a crown or partial denture, we’ll confirm your coverage is active and send any preauthorization request. It’s a 2-minute check that saves a lot of stress.
Choosing a clinic
Any clinic can say “we accept CDCP.” These are the questions that tell you how it’ll actually go:
Palermo Village Dental is one of the best dental clinics in Oakville for families and seniors who want clear answers and care that looks at their whole health. Our vision is to help make 10,000 people in Oakville healthier within 10 years, and making care reachable through programs like CDCP is part of that.
Our office also has CEREC same-day crowns, SOLEA laser, CBCT 3D imaging, MATRx Plus home sleep testing, the SleepImage Ring and Solea Sleep laser for snoring, plus sleep apnea screening and management alongside full dental care. Some of these services fall outside CDCP, and we’ll always say so first.
Find us at Suite #290, 2525 Old Bronte Rd, Oakville, ON L6M 4J2, with free on-site parking. Call 647-584-0017 or email info@palermovillagedental.com. Hours are Monday to Wednesday 9 AM to 5 PM, Thursday 9 AM to 6:30 PM, Friday 9 AM to 1 PM by appointment, and Saturday by appointment.
Myths and facts
Plenty of confusing information is floating around about this plan.
Fact: it’s for people without dental insurance access and with adjusted family net income under $90,000. Some pay a co-payment.
Fact: seniors were enrolled first, but children and adults who meet the conditions can now apply too.
Fact: it’s a federal government program administered by Sun Life, not a private membership or discount plan.
Fact: co-payments and fee differences can apply. A good clinic explains them before treatment.
Scam warning: the Government of Canada says there is no fee to apply for or renew CDCP. Never share your SIN or banking details with anyone who contacts you out of the blue about your coverage. This page is general information based on publicly available CDCP details, which can change. For final eligibility decisions, check Canada.ca or call Service Canada.
FAQ
You may qualify if you have no access to private dental insurance, your adjusted family net income is under $90,000, you have filed your taxes in Canada, and you are a Canadian resident for tax purposes. Children, adults and seniors who meet all four conditions can apply.
Yes. Palermo Village Dental in Oakville welcomes CDCP patients of all ages. We verify your coverage with your Sun Life member ID, explain any co-payment or extra charges before treatment, and bill Sun Life directly for covered services.
It depends on your adjusted family net income. Under $70,000 there is no co-payment, $70,000 to $79,999 has a 40% co-payment, and $80,000 to $89,999 has a 60% co-payment. Extra charges can apply if a fee is higher than the CDCP fee.
CDCP generally does not cover dental implants, teeth whitening, veneers or other cosmetic treatment. Orthodontics is only considered in limited cases with preauthorization, and sleep or snoring appliances usually fall outside the plan.
Apply online through My Service Canada Account or the Canada.ca application form, or by phone at 1-833-537-4342. You will need your Social Insurance Number, date of birth and address. There is no fee to apply.
The Canadian Dental Care Plan helps eligible Oakville residents pay for exams, cleanings, fillings, dentures and more.
Knowing your co-payment, what needs preauthorization and what isn’t covered keeps your visits free of surprises.
If you have CDCP coverage, Palermo Village Dental is ready to help you put it to good use.
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