The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) is a federal government program that helps make the cost of oral health care more affordable for eligible Canadian residents.
The CDCP may cover the following services when recommended by an oral health provider:
- Diagnostic and preventive services such as dental exams
- Radiographs
- A limited number of scaling units
- Fluoride applications
- Sealants
- Non-surgical gum disease management
- Temporary fillings
Many services are covered without preauthorization, but some services will require preauthorization. Preauthorization must happen before a client receives these additional services, and not all requests are approved.
Inform Before You Perform
Whether or not an oral health provider will be fully reimbursed or partially reimbursed for services provided under the CDCP depends on several factors. Clients may have to pay additional charges directly to the oral health provider. All clinic staff must be fully transparent and inform clients about potential costs before treatment is provided. CDHO receives questions from clients reporting that they were not informed before treatment began that they may have out-of-pocket charges or that additional scaling appointments may be required based on the RDH’s assessment. As part of the informed consent process, RDHs are reminded to provide information to clients about the full cost of treatment so that the client can make a fully informed decision. For more information, view the Guideline: Informed Consent.
Clients can also check their CDCP eligibility by visiting the Canadian Dental Care Plan website or calling 1-833-537-4342.