Even more people will be able to take advantage of Canada's dental care plan next month

More people will be able to apply to the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) next month.

Introduced in 2023, the measure aims to help lower dental costs for those earning less than $90,000 annually.

According to the government, the dental care plan will help up to nine million uninsured Canadians get the necessary care.

Applications are currently open for the coverage period ending June 30 for eligible seniors aged 65 and over, children under 18 and adults with a valid federal Disability Tax Credit certificate for 2023.

In May, the CDCP will expand to allow qualified Canadians ages 18 to 64 to apply for coverage.

Canadians already covered by the CDCP will need to renew for the 2025-2026 period before June 1 to avoid a potential gap in coverage. To do so, they'll need to have filed their 2024 tax return and received the notice of assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency.

Do you qualify for the Canadian Dental Care Plan?

You must meet all four of the following requirements to qualify for the dental care plan:

• You're a Canadian resident
• You don't have access to dental insurance through your employer, student organization, a family member's employer benefits, your pension, or a family member's pension benefits
• You've filed your tax return
• Your adjusted family net income is less than $90,000

Canadian residents who access dental coverage through a province or territory's social program can still qualify for the CDCP if they meet all eligibility criteria.

What does the CDCP cover?

Here are some of the oral healthcare services the CDCP covers:

• Preventive services, including scaling (cleaning), polishing, sealants, and fluoride
• Diagnostic services, including examinations and X-rays
• Restorative services, including fillings
• Periodontal services, including deep scaling
• Oral surgery services, including extractions

The dental care plan expanded the services it covers in October to include the following:

• Complete specialist examinations
• Crowns
• Root canal re-treatments
• Removable partial dentures, overdentures, and immediate dentures
• Major surgical procedures
• Moderate sedation, deep sedation, and general anesthesia

It's important to note that the plan does not directly pay eligible members for the cost of dental care services. Even if you qualify, you may still have to pay your oral health provider any amount not covered by the CDCP.