Canadian Dental Care Plan
Important information about the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)
This page is intended for the general public. The ACDQ would like to inform you about the federal government's new financial assistance program for dental care. Here are the main links to find out how it works. Full details of this new federal government program can be found on the Health Canada website.
What you'll have to pay
At your dentist's, all patients, whether insured or not, pay the same fee for the same treatment. Patients eligible for the CDCP must therefore pay the difference between their dentist's usual fee and the amount he or she will be reimbursed.
Read the letter from dentists on this subject.
Dentist’s participation in the CDCP is optional.
As a first step, you should check whether your dentist is registered with the CDCP. You can contact your dentist to find out if he or she participates in the plan.
OR
You can consult the list of dental care providers enrolled in the plan on the Sun Life page. If your dentist's name is not listed, you must select another dentist to benefit from the plan.
As of July 8, 2024, even dentists who are not CDCP-registered will be able to treat their CDCP-eligible patients, subject to certain conditions. Talk to your dentist!
Your CDCP eligibility
How do you know if you are eligible?
Plan member eligibility is reviewed annually by Health Canada. For more details, visit their site.
Discover Health Canada's current coverage
Dental Care Benefits Guide
Have questions?
1. Your dentist asks you to pay an additional amount on top of what he will receive as compensation from the RCSD for the proposed care? Does he have the right?
All dentists in Quebec have the right and obligation to charge the same fees for the same treatments, regardless of who the patient is. The only exception is for treatments covered by the RAMQ, as they are determined by law. The CDCP provides financial assistance to facilitate access to dental care for a wider number of Canadian taxpayers, but like any program, it has its limits.
2. You are eligible for the RCSD. Your dentist informs you that the treatment plan he submitted for evaluation to Sun Life indicates that you will have an amount to pay. Is this normal?
Yes, it is normal to have fees to pay for your treatments. Depending on your coverage plan with the CDCP, it is possible to have a significant amount to pay for your care, even if you are eligible for the program, whether it be the co-payment or the difference between the fee schedule of the RCSD and that practiced by your dentist.
3. Your dentist tells you that some treatments are not currently covered by the CDCP. Is this normal?
The government has opted to roll out covered treatments progressively, so it's normal that some of them may not be covered at the time you expect. Additionally, the program will not cover all treatments. You should consult your file and the CDCP fee grid to know the list of eligible treatments and the frequency with which they are reimbursed.
4. Your dentist gave you a treatment plan and advised you to contact Sun Life to find out your coverage and the fees you will have to pay for these treatments. Is this normal?
it is normal for them to ask you to verify what will be covered by the CDCP yourself before proceeding with treatment. This way, you will have an accurate understanding of the coverage provided and paid by the CDCP, as well as the balance you will have to pay to the dentist if you proceed with this treatment plan.