“Is it free?” is the question our front desk hears most from patients who’ve just been approved for the Canadian Dental Care Plan. For many families in Royal Oak, Rocky Ridge and Tuscany the honest answer is “mostly, but not always.” What you pay depends on two things: your co-payment level and the gap, if there is one, between the dentist’s fee and the CDCP’s fee. This post explains both with the government’s own numbers.
Your co-payment level comes from your income
The CDCP uses your adjusted family net income from your last tax return to set a co-payment level. The co-payment is a share of the CDCP fee for each covered service.
| Adjusted family net income | You pay (co-payment) |
| Under $70,000 | 0% |
| $70,000 to $79,999 | 40% of the CDCP fee |
| $80,000 to $89,999 | 60% of the CDCP fee |
Your co-payment level is printed in the letter Sun Life sends when you enrol. It can change each benefit year, because it’s based on the latest tax return. The benefit year runs from July 1 to June 30.
If your income is $90,000 or more, you don’t qualify for the CDCP.
The CDCP fee isn’t always the dentist’s fee
The plan publishes its own fee for every covered service. A dental office’s fee for the same service can be the same, lower or higher. When the office’s fee is higher, the difference is an extra charge, and the patient pays it at the visit. This applies at every co-payment level, including 0%.
You may also pay the full cost of any service the CDCP doesn’t cover. Orthodontics (braces and aligners) is “currently not available” under the plan, and cosmetic treatments aren’t covered.
Three examples from canada.ca
The Government of Canada uses the same case for all three income levels. The dentist charges $145 for a service, and the CDCP fee for that service is $134, so there’s an $11 gap.
| Family income | CDCP pays | Co-payment | Extra charge | You pay |
| $32,000 | $134.00 | $0 | $11.00 | $11.00 |
| $76,000 | $80.40 | $53.60 | $11.00 | $64.60 |
| $82,000 | $53.60 | $80.40 | $11.00 | $91.40 |
At $76,000 the co-payment is 40% of $134, which is $53.60. At $82,000 it’s 60% of $134, which is $80.40. The $11 extra charge is the same in every case, because it’s the difference between the two fees and doesn’t depend on income.
At Avyan: if you’re at the 0% co-payment level, we accept the CDCP fee as payment in full, so you pay nothing for covered services. In the canada.ca example, that $11 extra charge wouldn’t apply. At the 40% and 60% levels, you pay your co-payment plus any difference between our fee and the CDCP fee, and we tell you the exact amount before treatment.
Services that need approval first
Some treatments need preauthorization from the plan before they’re done. The list includes crowns, cores, partial dentures, a repeat root canal on the same tooth, deep sedation and general anesthesia, and any service beyond the plan’s frequency limits. Not every request is approved. If treatment goes ahead without approval, the plan may not pay, so ask before booking.
At Avyan, our front desk submits preauthorization requests to Sun Life for you, and we schedule that treatment once the answer comes back.
How to know your cost before treatment
- Bring your CDCP member card or member ID and your co-payment level.
- Ask the front desk for the cost of each planned service, split into the CDCP’s share, your co-payment and any extra charge.
- For crowns, partial dentures or other treatment that needs preauthorization, wait for the approval before booking.
- If you’re 65 or older, or your child is covered by the Alberta Child Health Benefit, ask whether the Alberta program can cover part of what’s left. For services both plans cover, the CDCP is billed first.
We bill Sun Life directly, so you won’t pay the full bill and wait for a refund. The CDCP pays providers, not patients, so a patient who pays the full amount up front isn’t reimbursed by the plan. Read how direct billing works at our clinic.
Questions about your application or your member card?
Your dental office can’t see your CDCP application. To apply, renew or check your status, use canada.ca/dental or call Service Canada at 1-833-537-4342. For your card, coverage start date or claims history, call the Sun Life CDCP Contact Centre at 1-888-888-8110.
Book your CDCP visit in NW Calgary
Avyan Family Dental is at 4 Royal Vista Way NW, Suite 2160, with free parking, Saturday hours and a team that speaks English, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu and Arabic. We see the whole family, from first visits at about six months old to dentures for grandparents. See everything about using the CDCP at our clinic, then book online or call (587) 358-2160.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is dental care free with CDCP?
It can be for families with adjusted net income under $70,000, but not always. You may still pay an extra charge if the dentist’s fee is higher than the CDCP fee, and you pay for anything the plan doesn’t cover. At Avyan, patients at the 0% co-payment level pay nothing extra for covered services.
How much is the CDCP co-pay?
It’s 0% of the CDCP fee if your adjusted family net income is under $70,000, 40% from $70,000 to $79,999, and 60% from $80,000 to $89,999.
Where do I find my co-payment level?
It’s in the enrolment letter Sun Life sends you. You can also call the Sun Life CDCP Contact Centre at 1-888-888-8110.
Does CDCP pay for braces or SureSmile aligners?
No. Orthodontic care isn’t currently available under the CDCP, so braces and aligners are paid privately. Our first orthodontic consultation is free.
Will I be asked to pay the full bill and claim it back?
No. The CDCP pays dental offices directly, and patients shouldn’t be asked to pay the full cost up front. We bill Sun Life for you.
Can my co-payment level change?
Yes. It’s based on your adjusted family net income from the previous year’s tax return, so it can change when you renew for a new benefit year.