Madison Dental Studio is an enrolled provider for the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP). If you have CDCP coverage, we direct-bill Sun Life for you and you pay only your co-payment at the appointment. This page covers everything you need to know about CDCP, sourced directly from the Government of Canada.

What is the CDCP?

The Canadian Dental Care Plan is a federal program that helps lower the cost of dental care for eligible Canadian residents who do not have access to private dental insurance. It is funded by the Government of Canada and administered by Sun Life, which handles enrollment, member services, and direct billing to dental offices.

Who qualifies for CDCP?

You must meet all four requirements:

  1. No access to private dental insurance. This includes insurance through your employer, a family member’s employer, pension plans, or insurance you purchase yourself. You are considered to have access even if you decline coverage, pay a premium, or do not use it.
  2. Adjusted family net income under $90,000 (combined with your spouse or common-law partner, from your most recent tax return).
  3. Canadian resident for tax purposes.
  4. Filed your most recent tax return and received your Notice of Assessment.

Provincial dental programs (such as Healthy Kids BC) do not disqualify you. CDCP coordinates with provincial coverage.

What you pay (co-payment tiers)

Your co-payment is the percentage of CDCP-approved fees you pay directly to the dental office. CDCP pays the rest.

Adjusted family net income CDCP pays You pay
Under $70,000 100% 0%
$70,000 to $79,999 60% 40%
$80,000 to $89,999 40% 60%
$90,000 or more Not eligible —

One important note: CDCP reimburses according to its own fee schedule, which may be lower than a dental office’s usual fee. If our fee is higher than the CDCP amount, you may also owe the difference. We always provide a written estimate before treatment so you know exactly what you will pay.

What is covered

Coverage is determined on a case-by-case basis based on your oral health needs. The CDCP covers these categories, subject to frequency limits.

Diagnostic

  • Complete, routine, specific, and emergency exams
  • Recall (checkup) exam: once every 12 months
  • X-rays as clinically required
  • Bitewing X-rays: once every 9 months for adults, every 6 months for eligible children

Preventive

  • Scaling and cleaning (measured in 15-minute units, with annual unit caps)
  • Polishing
  • Topical fluoride: once every 9 months for adults, every 6 months for eligible children
  • Pit-and-fissure sealants for children

Restorative

  • Fillings: once per tooth surface in any 24-month period
  • Prefabricated metal crowns for children aged 0 to 11 when restoring under sedation or general anesthesia

Endodontic

  • Root canal treatment when the tooth meets eligibility and restorability criteria

Periodontal

  • Scaling and root planing up to the annual unit cap (preauthorization required beyond)
  • Deep scaling

Prosthodontic (dentures)

  • Standard and temporary complete dentures
  • Immediate dentures and overdentures (preauthorization required)
  • Removable partial acrylic dentures: once every 60 months per arch (preauthorization required)
  • Removable partial cast dentures: once every 96 months per arch (preauthorization required)
  • Denture repairs, relines, and rebases
  • A new denture will not be covered within 24 months of a reline or rebase

Oral surgery

  • Extractions and other minor oral surgery as clinically required

Orthodontics

  • Limited orthodontic services for eligible patients are planned but not yet available as of May 2026. Call Sun Life for current status.

What is NOT covered

  • Dental implants and any implant-related procedures (including implant-supported crowns and dentures)
  • Cosmetic procedures such as whitening and veneers placed for appearance reasons
  • Services beyond CDCP frequency limits unless approved through preauthorization
  • Anything listed in Appendix E of the official Dental Benefits Guide

How to apply

  1. Confirm eligibility (the four requirements above).
  2. File your most recent tax return and get your Notice of Assessment.
  3. Apply online through your My Service Canada Account, on Canada.ca, or by phone through Service Canada.
  4. Receive your confirmation letter stating whether you are enrolled and your coverage start date.
  5. Receive your Sun Life welcome package with your CDCP member card.

Current status (May 2026): Applications for the 2025–2026 benefit year are closed. Applications for the 2026–2027 benefit year (July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027) open June 2, 2026. Existing members renew between April 15 and June 1, 2026.

You do not need to wait for your Sun Life welcome package to book with us, as long as you have your member ID, coverage start date, co-payment level, and a piece of government ID.

Sun Life CDCP Contact Centre: 1-888-888-8110

Booking with us under CDCP

Booking with CDCP is the same as booking a regular appointment:

  1. Tell us you have CDCP coverage when you call or book online.
  2. Bring to your appointment: your CDCP member ID, your coverage start date and co-payment level (from your enrollment letter), and a piece of government-issued ID.
  3. We submit the claim to Sun Life directly on your behalf.
  4. You pay only your co-payment (0%, 40%, or 60% of CDCP fees) plus any non-covered amounts. You do not pay the full cost upfront.

Renewal

You must renew your CDCP coverage every year. The renewal window for the 2026–2027 benefit year is April 15 to June 1, 2026. You can renew online through My Service Canada Account or by phone.

To renew, you must have filed your most recent tax return, received your Notice of Assessment, and re-attest that you still meet the eligibility criteria. Renew by June 1 to avoid a gap in coverage starting July 1.

If your income or insurance status changes (income rises to $90,000 or more, or you gain private dental insurance), you are no longer eligible. Sun Life and Service Canada may conduct a Member Eligibility Review. If you remain enrolled while ineligible, you may be required to repay amounts the CDCP paid for your care.

Common CDCP questions

About the income limit (this is the most common question)

Is the $90,000 limit for me alone, or my whole family?
It is your adjusted family net income. That means:

  • If you are single with no spouse or common-law partner: your own adjusted net income must be under $90,000.
  • If you are married or in a common-law relationship: your income and your partner’s income combined must be under $90,000, even if only one of you would use the CDCP. There is no scaling for family size.
  • The $90,000 limit applies regardless of how many children you have. Children’s income does not count toward the family total.
What is “adjusted family net income”?
It is your net income (line 23600 on your tax return), plus your spouse or common-law partner’s net income if you have one, with certain adjustments. The CRA calculates this for you when you file your taxes. You can find your family net income on line 23600 of your Notice of Assessment. CDCP applies an adjustment to this amount; the result is what is compared against the $70K, $80K, and $90K thresholds.
What if I am single with no kids?
Your own adjusted net income from your most recent Notice of Assessment is what matters. The same three tiers apply:

  • Under $70,000: 100% covered, you pay 0%
  • $70,000 to $79,999: 60% covered, you pay 40%
  • $80,000 to $89,999: 40% covered, you pay 60%
  • $90,000 or more: not eligible
What if I am married and only one of us has a job?
The income from the working spouse counts as your family income (since the non-working spouse’s net income is $0). If the working spouse’s adjusted net income is under $90,000, both of you can qualify for CDCP, subject to the other eligibility rules.
What if my partner has private dental insurance through their work?
If your partner’s employer benefits offer dental coverage to family members (you and your kids), then technically you have access to that coverage even if you do not enroll in it. In that case, you would not be eligible for CDCP. If their benefits do not extend to family members, you may still qualify. Confirm with Sun Life at 1-888-888-8110 if you are unsure.
Where on my tax return do I find this number?
On your Notice of Assessment from the CRA, look at line 23600 (Net Income). For couples, add line 23600 from both partners. CDCP then applies a small adjustment for things like Universal Child Care Benefit and Registered Disability Savings Plan income. If you applied online through My Service Canada Account, CDCP pulls these numbers automatically from the CRA.
What if my income changed since I filed taxes?
CDCP eligibility is based on your most recent Notice of Assessment. If your income drops mid-year, you cannot use the new (lower) figure until you file your next tax return. If your income rises above $90,000, you may need to leave the plan. Sun Life conducts periodic Member Eligibility Reviews using T4 and T4A data. If you remain enrolled while ineligible, you may have to repay amounts CDCP paid for your care.
What if I am just over the $90,000 limit?
If your adjusted family net income is $90,000 or more, you are not eligible for CDCP. You may want to look at:

  • Private dental insurance plans (some employers offer optional family add-ons)
  • The provincial Healthy Kids BC program (for children under 19 from low-income families)
  • Direct billing with your existing private insurance through us

Call us at 604-282-3800 and we can talk through what works for your situation.

Key dates and upcoming changes

When did CDCP open for my age group?
The CDCP was phased in by age group:

  • December 2023: Seniors aged 87 and older
  • January 2024: Seniors aged 77 to 86
  • February 2024: Seniors aged 72 to 76
  • March 2024: Seniors aged 70 to 71
  • May 2024: Seniors aged 65 to 69 (online portal)
  • June 2024: Children under 18 and adults with a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate
  • May 2025: All remaining eligible adults aged 18 to 64; coverage started as early as June 1, 2025

As of May 2026, all eligible age groups can be enrolled.

When does the next application window open?
Applications for the 2025-2026 benefit year (July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026) are currently closed. Applications for the 2026-2027 benefit year (July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027) open June 2, 2026. If you missed the 2025 window and need coverage, you will need to wait until June 2, 2026 to apply for the next benefit year.
What is the renewal window if I am already enrolled?
Existing CDCP members renew between April 15 and June 1, 2026 for the 2026-2027 benefit year. Renew by June 1 to avoid a gap in coverage starting July 1. To renew, you must have filed your most recent tax return and received your Notice of Assessment.
What is changing in the 2026-2027 benefit year?
The federal government publishes updates to CDCP coverage on canada.ca/dental. As of May 2026, the key planned addition is limited orthodontic services for eligible patients (orthodontic coverage is on the roadmap but not yet available). For the most current updates, see canada.ca/dental or call Sun Life at 1-888-888-8110.
Will the income limit change in future years?
The Government of Canada reviews CDCP parameters (income brackets, co-payment percentages, covered services, frequency limits) annually. Any changes are announced on canada.ca/dental before each benefit year starts. As of May 2026, the $70K / $80K / $90K thresholds have not been increased since the program launched. We update this page when government announcements are published.

About coverage and the dental office

Can children be covered under CDCP?
Yes. Children under 18 in eligible families have been able to apply since June 2024. They are enrolled under the household plan based on the family’s adjusted net income.
What if I have private dental insurance?
You are not eligible for CDCP if you have access to private dental insurance through any source (your employer, a family member’s employer, a pension, or insurance you purchased), even if you decline coverage, pay a premium, or never use it.
Are dental implants covered by CDCP?
No. Dental implants and all implant-related procedures (including implant-supported crowns and dentures) are explicitly excluded.
Are cosmetic procedures covered?
No. Only services determined to be clinically necessary are eligible. Whitening, cosmetic veneers, and similar procedures are not covered.
Is there a deductible or annual maximum?
CDCP does not publish a traditional deductible. Your out-of-pocket cost is your co-payment based on income tier, plus any difference between the dental office fee and the CDCP fee schedule, plus any non-covered services. The Government of Canada does not publish a fixed annual dollar maximum per member; coverage is governed by service-by-service frequency limits in the official Dental Benefits Guide. For specifics on your situation, call Sun Life at 1-888-888-8110.
Can I switch dentists once enrolled?
Yes. CDCP has no assigned-provider rule. You can see any oral health provider who participates in the CDCP and bills Sun Life directly. Confirm participation when you book.
How do provincial programs like Healthy Kids BC work with CDCP?
Provincial dental programs are not “private” insurance and do not disqualify you from CDCP. The plans coordinate. See the official BC coordination of benefits fact sheet for details.
What is preauthorization and when is it needed?
Certain services (such as partial dentures, immediate dentures, and overdentures) always require preauthorization before treatment. Services above standard frequency limits can also be requested through preauthorization. We submit the request and required clinical documentation to Sun Life on your behalf, then review their decision with you before starting treatment.

Ready to book with CDCP?

Call us with your member ID and we will handle the rest.

Call 604-282-3800
Book Online

Sources: Information on this page is from the Government of Canada (canada.ca) and Sun Life CDCP. Last reviewed: May 11, 2026. CDCP rules and amounts can change. For the most current information, see canada.ca/dental or call Sun Life at 1-888-888-8110.