Federal dental plan expands services Nov. 1 after ‘milestone’ of helping more than one million Canadians

Starting Nov. 1, the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) will expand to include additional services after helping more than one million Canadians access dental care, the Government of Canada announced on Thursday.

“Today marks an important milestone as we continue to expand the claims process. This next step will help ensure more people with complex needs get the treatment they need and deserve,” said Dave Jones, President of Sun Life Health.

The Government of Canada also reported that over 2.7 million Canadians have been approved to participate in the plan, administered by Sun Life.

To access expanded services, the CDCP will begin accepting preauthorization requests, where each request will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to determine whether it meets clinical criteria for CDCP coverage. This expansion means patients may now receive coverage for services such as initial placement of partial dentures or crowns, as well as treatments for those with complex or high-need conditions.

Preauthorization requests must be submitted directly to Sun Life by the provider, along with supporting documentation and justifications, as outlined in the CDCP Dental Benefits Guide.

Since May 2024, most providers have been able to submit claims electronically. As of November, providers who work exclusively with paper claims will also be able to submit claims, broadening access to care.

To date, more than 22,340 oral health providers—about 89% of active providers nationwide—are offering CDCP services.

“Many families who once faced barriers to affordable dental care are now accessing the treatments they need. If you’re eligible and haven’t signed up, we urge you to visit Canada.ca/dental,” said Terry Beech, Minister of Citizens’ Services.

Paper claims will be accepted

Paper claims will also be accepted, something Health Minister Mark Holland said will mean that more dentists and oral care providers are eligible to work under the program. 

Once these expansions are up and running, Holland said the government is on track to begin expanding who can get coverage under the program next year. 

“We haven’t set on the exact date, that’s obviously still being figured out. We are obviously tracking very closely how pre-authorization and paper claims go. But early in 2025 is when we’re looking to expand to additional cohorts,” Holland said. 

In September, Health said nearly 650,000 people had benefited from the dental-care program with about 80% of dental-care providers participating at the time.

Online applications are currently open for seniors aged 65 and above, adults with a valid federal Disability Tax Credit certificate for 2023, and parents or guardians with children under 18. Applications for all remaining eligible Canadians will open in 2025.

(With files from the Canadian Press)