Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) dentist in North York

Using the CDCP at Emerald Forest Dental

The Canadian Dental Care Plan is a Government of Canada program that helps eligible residents without dental insurance pay for oral health care. Sun Life administers the plan for the government. Emerald Forest Dental Clinic accepts CDCP members, so you can use your coverage for check-ups, cleanings, fillings and many other services at our North York clinic.

We bill Sun Life directly. That means you don't pay the full cost up front and wait to be paid back. Sun Life only reimburses dental offices, never members, so direct billing is how the plan is designed to work. You pay only your co-payment, if you have one, and any amount the plan doesn't cover. We tell you both before treatment.

• We check your coverage first. Before your appointment we can send an estimate to Sun Life to confirm your coverage is active and see what the plan will pay.
• No surprise costs. If our fee for a service is higher than the CDCP fee, or a service isn't covered, we explain the difference and you decide whether to go ahead.
• Help with preauthorization. Some services need approval from the CDCP before treatment. We prepare and send the request for you.
• Care for the whole family. Each family member covered by the plan can use their own member ID, and we can book back-to-back visits.

Who qualifies for the CDCP?

According to the Government of Canada, you must meet all four of these requirements to apply:

1. No access to private dental insuranceThis includes coverage through your job, your pension, a family member's plan, a professional or student group, or insurance you buy yourself. A health spending account that covers dental costs also counts as private coverage, even if you never use it.
2. You filed your taxes in CanadaYour spouse or common-law partner, if you have one, must also file a tax return for the previous year.
3. Your adjusted family net income is under $90,000This is your family net income (line 23600 of your tax return), adjusted for certain child care benefit and disability savings plan amounts.
4. You are a Canadian resident for tax purposesThis also applies to your spouse or common-law partner.

Tip: Before you apply, check your tax slips. Box 45 on a T4 (for employees) or box 015 on a T4A (for pension income) shows whether your employer or pension plan offered dental coverage. A code of 1 means no coverage was offered. Codes 2 to 5 mean coverage was offered, and you likely won't qualify.

If you have dental coverage through a government social program, you may still qualify for the CDCP. The programs coordinate so the same service isn't paid twice.

CDCP co-payments: how much you pay

Your co-payment depends on your adjusted family net income. It is a percentage of the CDCP's set fee for each covered service.

Your co-payment level is shown in the enrolment letter you receive from the Government of Canada.

Additional charges can apply even if your co-payment is 0%. This happens when a dental office's fee is higher than the CDCP fee for that service, or when you choose a service the plan doesn't cover. At Emerald Forest Dental, we always show you these amounts before treatment so you can make an informed choice.

What the CDCP covers

The CDCP helps pay for a wide range of oral health care when your dental provider recommends it. The government groups covered care into five categories:

Preauthorization: some services, including those beyond the plan's frequency limits, need approval before treatment. We send the request with your records. The CDCP decides based on your oral health history and medical conditions, and not every request is approved. If a service isn't approved, you can still choose to go ahead and pay for it directly.

Cosmetic treatments such as teeth whitening are not part of the CDCP. The exact list of covered services and frequency limits is in the CDCP Dental Benefits Guide on canada.ca.

How to apply for the CDCP

Applications for the 2026–2027 benefit period are open. Dental offices can't apply for you. You apply directly with the Government of Canada, and there is no fee.

1. Gather your informationFor each person applying: Social Insurance Number (if available for children), date of birth, full name, home and mailing address, and any dental coverage through government programs. Your spouse or common-law partner applies separately.
2. Apply onlineSign in to My Service Canada Account and choose "Apply for Canadian Dental Care Plan coverage". If you can't use My Service Canada Account, you can apply through canada.ca.
3. Or apply by phoneCall Service Canada at 1-833-537-4342 (TTY 1-833-677-6262).
4. Watch for your letterIf you're enrolled, your letter shows your CDCP plan number, member ID, coverage start date and co-payment level. Sun Life also sends a welcome package.
5. Book on or after your start dateCare received before your coverage starts, or during a gap in coverage, is not covered.

Beware of scams. The government never charges a fee to apply or renew, and won't ask for banking or credit card details by text, email or phone.

You must renew every year to keep your coverage. Renew during the renewal period to avoid a gap.

Your first CDCP visit at our North York clinic

1. Call or book onlineTell us you have CDCP coverage and share your member ID. New patients are welcome, including for dental emergencies.
2. We confirm your coverageWe check that your coverage is active and note your co-payment level.
3. Exam and treatment planYour dentist examines your teeth and gums, takes X-rays if needed, and explains your options.
4. Clear costs before treatmentWe show what the CDCP pays, your co-payment and any extra amount. Where needed, we send a preauthorization request first.
5. We bill Sun LifeYou pay only your share at the visit.

What to bring

• Your CDCP member ID (from your government letter or Sun Life card)
• Photo ID
• A list of medicines you take
• Details of any other government dental coverage you have

Our team speaks English, Farsi, Cantonese, Mandarin and Tamil, and our street-level entrance is step-free. We're a short walk from Don Mills station and Fairview Mall, with free underground parking. See parking and directions.

Related pages

Sources

• Canadian Dental Care Plan (Government of Canada)
• Do you qualify
• What services are covered
• Apply
• After you apply

Plan details checked against Government of Canada pages in October 2026. Eligibility, fees and covered services are set by the government and can change; canada.ca has the latest information.