Dental health is a crucial aspect of the overall wellbeing. However, it is still often overlooked possibly due to lack of awareness, but more so because of the cost that comes with it.
It is not a secret that dental care can cause quite a dent in the wallet. To address this issue and to help more Canadians improve their oral health without breaking the bank, the government established the Canada Dental Care Plan (CDCP).
To learn more about the specifics of the CDCP, including the goals of the project, who is eligible to receive treatment under this plan, and the associated costs, carry on reading the blog below.
What is the Canada Dental Care Plan (CDCP)?
The Canada Dental Care Plan is a government-initiated project designed to provide essential dental treatments to eligible individuals across the country. It targets low- to middle- income families who may be financially challenged and those who do not have access to private dental insurance.
The goal of the CDCP is to improve the oral health outcomes of covered individuals by providing comprehensive dental treatments such as general dental care and specialized dentistry. This is to prevent, manage, and treat dental diseases and other associated health complications.
Who is Eligible for the CDCP in Seton?
To qualify for the Canada Dental Care Plan, you must meet these 4 criteria:
- Citizenship – You must be a Canadian resident for tax purposes.
- Family income threshold – You must have an adjusted family net income of less than $90,000. This is mainly to address the financial barriers of low-income households.
- Non-insured – You must not have access to employer or pension-sponsored or private dental insurance.
- Filed tax return – You must have filed your tax return in the previous year.
How to apply for the CDCP?
Applications for the Canada Dental Care Plan are done in phases depending on your age bracket. If you meet the 4 eligibility criteria, you can apply by mail or through the CDCP website.
Seniors aged 70 and above have already started receiving invitations to apply by mail. Meanwhile, online applications for seniors 65 to 69, adults 18 to 64 with a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate, and children under 18 years of age can fill out and send applications via the online website. As for the rest of the eligible citizens, online applications will open starting 2025.
The requirements for the online application include:
- Social Insurance Number (SIN), if available
- Date of birth
- Full name
- Home and mailing address
- List of dental coverage through other government programs, if any
- Notice of Assessment from tax return year 2023
Once you have completed your online form, you are to wait a few days and you will receive information regarding your application status when ready.
What dental treatments do the CDCP cover?
The Canada Dental Care Plan offers financial coverage, whether partial or full, for a wide range of dental treatments. These include:
- Preventive – routine dental check-ups, teeth cleaning, fluoride treatments
- Diagnostic – X-rays and scans
- Restorative – dental fillings, partial or full crowns
- Endodontics – root canals
- Periodontics – gum disease treatment, deep cleaning, periodontal surgery
- Oral Surgery – tooth extraction
By covering these essential services, the CDCP aims to ensure that individuals who are eligible for the program can improve and maintain optimal oral health. This will prevent serious consequences and more extensive and expensive dental treatments down the line.
What are the fees for the CDCP?
The fees and payment structure depend on your family’s net income and the type of dental treatment required. The lower the net income, the higher the expected treatment coverage.
For some beneficiaries, a nominal fee or co-payment may be required depending on the procedure to be done. In many cases, preventive and diagnostic services are fully covered, while more extensive procedures may involve cost-sharing.
Generally, the goal is to cover a substantial portion of the treatment costs to reduce out-of-pocket expenses. If you are unsure of your coverage plan, it is best to discuss it with your dentist so they can inform you of your plan benefits.
Canada Dental Care Plan in Seton
Effective dental care is a necessity and is something everyone should have access to. However, dental treatments do not come cheap. So, to address the financial constraints that come with receiving proper dental treatments, the government developed the Canada Dental Care Plan (CDCP) as an initiative that can help with this.
With its incredible goal of dental care for all, the CDCP aims to ease the financial load of accessible oral health care for up to nine million eligible Canadian residents.
If you are within the eligibility criteria, Sierra Dental in Seton accepts payment through the Canada Dental Care Plan (CDCP). This includes general to specialty dental services. Call us today to schedule your appointment and to know how you can use your benefits under the CDCP.
Why Choose Sierra Dental?
EVENING & WEEKEND APPOINTMENTS
We understand that you are busy and don’t always have time to visit a dentist for a routine checkup in the middle of your Monday. That’s why we offer extended hours and weekend appointments.
DIRECT BILLING TO INSURANCE PLANS
To support our clients, we offer direct billing, predeterminations of treatments, and financial arrangements to all our patients to ensure smooth and easy payment transactions.
PAYMENT PLANS & FINANCING AVAILABLE
We understand that dental services can be an unexpected expense. That’s why we offer flexible payment plans and options to suit our patients’ needs. Speak with one of our dental assistants to learn more.
FREE PARKING
At Sierra Dental, you will never struggle to find parking. Our clinics offer convenient parking options that are free of charge to our patients. It’s one more way we work to put a smile on your face.