Canadian Dental Care Coverage
Simple guide to government dental care coverage in Canada
For Canadians, universal health care is one of our most beneficial government programs, even if there are some limitations to the services it covers. However, recent developments in health care funding in Canada have led to increased funding for dental care and the introduction of a new Canadian Dental Care Plan to help cover the cost of basic dental care. Find out more about how this program works and what Canadians need to know.
It’s no secret that dental care is an essential part of our overall health and well-being. Nevertheless, in many cases, the responsibility for paying for dental care services has historically been on the individual. For some families, the majority of their dental costs can be managed through dental care coverage commonly included in corporate benefits programs offered to employees. Other Canadians who do not have employer-provided dental benefits may purchase a dental insurance policy for individuals or for a family. However, for low-income families, these may not be options. This is why the introduction of a government-funded dental health care plan is such an important step forward for Canada.
Here, we’re going to look at the Canadian Dental Care Plan, along with several other government-funded dental care programs that you may not currently be aware of. If you’ve been holding back on getting essential dental care services because of costs, this information could hold the answers you’ve been looking for. Let’s begin by exploring the details of the new federal dental care plan that was introduced and signed into law in 2022.
The program was released in three phases. The first phase established the temporary Canada Dental Benefit in December 2022 that provided the parents or guardians having an adjusted net income less than $90,000 of children 12 years old and younger who do not have dental coverage a $650 tax-free payment per child each year.
The second phase was the establishment of the Canadian Dental Care Plan providing coverage to individuals less than 18 years old, those over 65 years old, and those with disabilities. During this phase, starting in December 2023 and completing in December 2024, parents of children less than 12 years old could obtain benefits from both the Canada Dental Benefit and the Canadian Dental Care Plan.
The third phase extended the benefits program to all individuals with a net adjusted family income less than $90,000 that had no dental insurance. This phase was expected to provide dental benefits to 8.5 million Canadians and improve dental benefits for 1.4 million Canadians. It released in June 2025.
Other federal dental health care programs
Above and beyond the Canadian Dental Care Plan, there are also several other programs available that include partial dental coverage for certain individuals.
Interim Federal Health Program—For refugees to Canada, an emergency dental benefit program is available to provide partial temporary coverage and treat dental health conditions such as infections, severe pain, or hemorrhages resulting from oral trauma.
Non-Insured Health Benefits Program—First Nations and Inuit can take advantage of a range of government-funded dental health care services under this program. Eligible recipients can obtain services such as x-rays, fillings, cleanings, fluoride, crowns, root canals, and treatments for gum disease and periodontitis.
Provincial dental care programs
Federal dental care benefits are not the only source of dental coverage for those people living in Ontario. There are also provincial programs that are available to Ontario residents who match certain criteria. To begin with, it’s important to know what types of services are covered under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP).
Limitations on OHIP Coverage for Dental Care – OHIP covers a wide range of health services, but is quite limited when it comes to dental coverage. In most cases, OHIP will only cover emergency dental work performed in a hospital, as well as certain types of dental surgeries that require extensive reconstruction. Some examples of procedures that may be performed in a hospital include the removal of tumors, repair of facial or oral fractures, and emergency tooth extractions.
Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program – Low-income seniors can obtain a variety of routine dental care services under the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program. Services are able to be accessed at the local level through community health centers that are participating in the program, as well as public health units and Aboriginal health service centers.
Ontario Works Program – People who are in financial need can utilize the services provided by the Ontario Works program to obtain assistance with employment, as well as with a variety of health care services. For adults under the Ontario Works program, dental coverage is determined at the individual level, so they would need to contact the program directly to obtain specifics on what could be covered.
Ontario Disability Support Program – Ontario residents living with a disability and their spouse may be eligible for dental coverage under the Ontario Disability Support Program. This coverage is limited to basic dental care treatments like checkups and cleanings, but can be expanded to include other services if the patient is in need of prescription medications that may have adverse effects on their oral health.
Healthy Smiles Ontario – Under the Ontario Works program and the Ontario Disability Support Program, children under 17 are automatically eligible and enrolled in Healthy Smiles Ontario. This program includes regular checkups, cleanings, X-rays, fillings, scaling, and extractions through a licensed dental care provider. Emergency dental care for pain or toothaches is also included under the Healthy Smiles Ontario program for children.
Easy Financing Options for Dental Health Care Costs
While these dental programs can certainly make it easier to obtain basic dental care services, sometimes they just don’t go far enough to provide coverage on all the services that a patient may want. For example, common dental services such as tooth whitening, orthodontics, dental implants, or dentures may still need to be paid for by the patient. Some of these procedures, particularly orthodontics and reconstructive dental work using dental implants or All-On-4 mouth restoration, can be more costly than expected.
In cases like these, there are other options available that can help patients manage costs and make it easier to get the dental treatments they need. Here at Georgian Dental, we help patients with fast and easy in-house financing plans that work for them. If you’ve been wanting to get your smile in style with a restorative or cosmetic dental procedure, but are apprehensive about the costs, affordable financing plans can help get you where you want to be.
Learn more about detnal benefit coverage & flexible financing plans today
There’s never been a better time to get your smile looking great, and we here at Georgian Dental are eager to help you obtain all the important dental care treatments that you need. We’ll gladly walk through all your available options in a no-stress, no-obligation consultation. You should have all the information before you make a decision, and that includes knowing each and every one of your choices when it comes to managing the costs of your dental care. If there’s a program you are eligible for, we’ll help you find out all the details.
