The Government of Canada has announced details of the upcoming roll-out of the Canadian Dental Care Plan. 

Once fully implemented, the CDCP is intended to help ease financial barriers to accessing oral health care for up to nine million uninsured Canadian residents with an annual family income of less than $90,000.

The plan will be rolled out using a phased approach over the coming months, starting with seniors. Applications will first open for seniors aged 87 and above this month, expanding in phases to those aged 77 to 86 in January 2024, followed by those aged 72 to 76 in February 2024, then those aged 70 to 71 in March 2024. Individuals in these age groups who may be eligible will receive letters inviting them to apply, with instructions on how to validate their eligibility and apply by telephone.

In May 2024, applications will shift to an online portal and will open for eligible seniors 65 and older. Persons with a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate and children under the age of 18 will be able to apply online starting June 2024. All remaining eligible Canadian residents between the ages of 18 and 64 will be able to apply online starting in 2025.

Canadians who are enrolled in the CDCP will be able to start seeing an oral health provider as early as May 2024, starting with seniors. The start date will vary based on when each group can apply, when the application is received and when enrolment is completed. 

The government says a wide range of oral health care services will be covered under the CDCP to prevent and treat oral health disease, including preventive care such as scaling and  polishing, and services such as exams, x-rays, fillings, removable dentures, and root canal treatments.