panorama dental care
Your Guide to the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) at Panorama Dental Care
What is the CDCP?
The CDCP is a government-funded dental program that covers a wide range of oral health services for eligible Canadian residents. Its goal is to reduce financial barriers and ensure everyone can access the dental care they need for a healthy smile.
At Panorama Dental Care in Kanata, we’re committed to helping our patients understand and benefit from this important program.
Who is Eligible?
To qualify for the Canadian Dental Care Plan, you must meet all of the following criteria:
Be a Canadian resident for tax purposes
Filed an income tax return for the previous year
You (and your partner, if applicable) must have filed your 2024 tax return and received your notice of assessment.Have an adjusted family net income of less than $90,000 per year
Do not have access to any private dental insurance
This includes:No dental coverage through your employer or a family member’s employer (including health and wellness accounts)
No coverage through a pension plan (your own or a family member’s)
No coverage through a purchased private plan or group plan from an insurance or benefits company
Note: If you decline dental coverage offered through your employer, school, or other group, you are considered to have access and will not be eligible for the CDCP
Meet age or other group requirements as of your application date:
Children under 18
Adults aged 18 to 34 (applications opened May 15, 2025)
Adults aged 35 to 54 (applications open May 29, 2025)
Adults aged 55 and over
Adults with a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate
Permanent residents and those with refugee status may also qualify as long as they meet the above criteria
If you have dental coverage through a government social program (provincial, territorial, or federal), you may still be eligible if you meet all other criteria
What Services Are Covered?
The CDCP covers a broad range of dental services, including:
Preventive Care: Exams, cleanings (scaling), fluoride treatments, sealants
Diagnostic Services: X-rays, routine and emergency exams
Restorative Treatments: Fillings (permanent and temporary), crowns, pain control for diseased teeth
Endodontic Services: Root canal treatments, pulpectomies, infection and pain relief
Periodontal Services: Cleaning under the gumline, abscess treatment, non-surgical gum disease management
Prosthodontic Services: Complete and partial dentures, repairs, relines, rebases
Oral Surgery: Extractions and related procedures
Some services, such as crowns, partial dentures, and certain periodontal treatments, may require preauthorization based on your dentist’s recommendations.
Other services are also available at Panorama Dental Care and listed in the link below:
How to Apply
You must apply yourself: Dental offices cannot sign up patients for the CDCP.
Check your CRA “My Account”: Most eligible Canadians will see a notification in their CRA “My Account” portal.
Follow the instructions: Apply online using the official CDCP application process.
Need help? While we cannot apply for you, we’re happy to answer your questions and provide guidance.
How Does CDCP Work at Panorama Dental Care?
Confirming Coverage: Before your appointment, we’ll help you verify your CDCP eligibility and coverage.
Direct Billing: We submit claims directly to the CDCP
- Balance Billings: we follow a balance billing policy for the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) and all dental insurance programs. This means that if the CDCP does not cover the full cost of your dental treatment, you are responsible for paying the difference between what the plan pays and our office fees.
- ODA Fee Guide: Our Office charges fees based on the current Ontario Dental Association Fee Guide. We do not charge more than what the guide outlines.
Frequently Asked Questions
The CDCP is a federal program that helps cover the cost of dental care for eligible Canadians, making oral health services more accessible.
You must be a Canadian resident for tax purposes, have filed your previous year’s tax return, have an adjusted family net income under $90,000, and have no access to private dental insurance. See the full eligibility list above.
You must apply yourself, usually through the notification in your CRA “My Account” portal. Dental offices cannot apply for you.
The CDCP covers preventive, diagnostic, restorative, endodontic, periodontal, prosthodontic, and oral surgery services. Some treatments may require preauthorization.
Orthodontic services that improve oral health will be covered starting in 2025, with preauthorization required.
Panorama Dental Care is proud to participate in the CDCP. You can also use the official CDCP Participating Dentists Directory to find other providers.
You can appeal the decision. Instructions for the appeal process will be provided by the CDCP.
Yes. Benefits are coordinated so you receive the maximum coverage available, but coverage is not duplicated.
Check the official CDCP website or contact our office for the latest information. CDCP Official website
No. You are not eligible for the CDCP if you have access to private dental insurance—even if you choose to cancel or decline it. The government considers you ineligible if you have access to any employer, group, or privately purchased plan, even if you do not use it or opt out. The Ontario Dental Association and federal guidelines do not recommend cancelling your existing coverage, as you will not qualify for the CDCP by doing so, and your current plan may provide more comprehensive coverage than the CDCP
Yes, dentures are covered under the CDCP, but there are specific rules and frequency limits.
Complete standard dentures are covered once every 8 years
Immediate and overdentures require preauthorization and are also limited to once every 8 years.
Partial dentures (acrylic or cast) require preauthorization for the initial placement and are limited to once every 5 years.
Repairs, relines, and rebases are covered at specific intervals.
Some requests may be denied if they do not meet the plan’s criteria or frequency limits, or if preauthorization is not obtained when required. If you have concerns about your denture claim, speak with our team for clarification
- Some claims have been denied and just require more information being sent to Sunlife Insurance.
The future of the CDCP depends on the federal government in power. While there is political uncertainty due to the possibility of an election, most social programs tend to continue even with a change in government. However, there is no absolute guarantee, and the details or scope of the program could change depending on future government decisions
No. The CDCP does not provide retroactive reimbursement for dental services received before your coverage start date. Only treatments performed after your official enrollment and coverage start date are eligible for payment under the plan
If you have more questions about your eligibility, coverage, or how the CDCP works at Panorama Dental Care, please contact our office. We’re here to help!