Parents in Nolan Hill, Sage Hill, Kincora, Evanston and Citadel usually ask us two things about the Canadian Dental Care Plan: are my kids covered, and what will I still pay? Children can be covered by the CDCP, and lower-income Alberta families may also have the Alberta Child Health Benefit. This guide explains how each plan works for kids, how the two fit together, and what neither one pays for.
How children get covered by the CDCP
Children don’t need a separate application. The CDCP application asks for information about each applicant, meaning you and any dependants. A child’s Social Insurance Number is only needed if they have one. Your spouse or common-law partner has to send in their own application to be covered.
Your family still has to meet the plan’s four requirements: no access to private dental insurance, a tax return filed in Canada, adjusted family net income under $90,000, and Canadian residency for tax purposes. Check both parents’ T4 slips. In box 45, a code of 1 means the employer reported no access to dental coverage, while codes 2 to 5 mean coverage was offered. A dental plan through either parent’s job can give the children access, which would make them ineligible.
The family’s co-payment level (0%, 40% or 60% of the CDCP fee) applies to your children’s visits too. Our CDCP co-pay guide walks through the government’s own examples.
What the CDCP covers for kids
The plan’s coverage list on canada.ca includes most of what a child needs at a dental visit:
- Exams, including emergency exams, and X-rays
- Cleanings and fluoride
- Sealants, a thin coating that protects the grooves of back teeth
- Temporary and permanent fillings
- Treatment to relieve pain and infection in a tooth
- Removal of teeth
- Nitrous oxide (laughing gas)
Some services need approval from the plan before treatment, including crowns and anything beyond the plan’s frequency limits. Our front desk sends those requests to Sun Life for you and books the treatment once the answer comes back.
We see children from their first tooth, at about six months old. A first visit is short: a look at the teeth and gums, a talk with you about brushing and feeding, and time for your child to get used to the chair. Read what happens at a child’s first dental visit, or see our children’s dentistry page. For nervous kids over 4, we offer nitrous oxide (laughing gas), and we can talk it through with you at the visit.
The Alberta Child Health Benefit
The Alberta Child Health Benefit is a provincial health plan for children in lower-income families. It covers children up to 18. Children who are 18 or 19 also qualify if they live at home and attend high school, and a declaration form (AEHB3654) keeps them on the plan. For dental care it covers basic and preventive services such as fillings, X-rays, exams and cleanings.
Eligibility depends on net household income. For the benefit year October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027, Alberta assesses 2025 income, and the maximum incomes are:
| Family | Maximum net income |
| 1 adult + 1 child | $26,023 |
| 1 adult + 2 children | $31,010 |
| 1 adult + 3 children | $36,325 |
| 1 adult + 4 children | $41,957 |
| Couple + 1 child | $31,237 |
| Couple + 2 children | $36,634 |
| Couple + 3 children | $41,594 |
| Couple + 4 children | $46,932 |
Add $4,973 for each child after the fourth. To apply, send form AEHB3931 to Alberta’s Health Benefits Contact Centre (toll free 1-877-469-5437). Families who get health benefits through Income Support, AISH or the federal Non-Insured Health Benefits program aren’t eligible for this plan.
Using the CDCP and the Alberta Child Health Benefit together
A child can have both. For a service both plans cover, the claim goes to the CDCP first. The Alberta Child Health Benefit can then cover eligible costs that are left over, which can lower what you pay.
At Avyan we bill both for you: Sun Life for the CDCP and Alberta Blue Cross for the Alberta plan. Bring your child’s CDCP member ID and their Alberta Child Health Benefit card, and we’ll tell you before any treatment what, if anything, is left for you to pay. If you’re at the 0% co-payment level, we accept the CDCP fee as payment in full for covered services. See how direct billing works at our clinic.
Braces and aligners aren’t covered
Orthodontic services are “currently not available” under the CDCP, so braces and clear aligners are paid privately. The Alberta Child Health Benefit lists basic and preventive dental care, not orthodontics.
If you’re wondering about your child’s bite or crowding, start with a free orthodontic consultation. We offer SureSmile clear aligners, metal braces and ceramic braces, plus in-house myofunctional therapy as part of our airway and sleep care. See orthodontic treatment for how it works. You’ll get a written estimate, and you can pay with financing in-office or through iFinance.
Booking the whole family
We can book siblings and parents back to back, so one trip covers everyone. We’re open Monday and Tuesday 10 am to 6 pm, Wednesday and Thursday 11 am to 7 pm, Friday 9 am to 5 pm and Saturday 9 am to 4 pm, which leaves room for after-school and weekend visits. New patients under 12 get a free backpack, parking in the Royal Vista plaza is free, and our team speaks English, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu and Arabic. Grandparents can read how the CDCP works for seniors.
Questions about your application?
Your dental office can’t see or change 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 member card, coverage start date or claims, call the Sun Life CDCP Contact Centre at 1-888-888-8110.
Book your child’s visit in NW Calgary
Avyan Family Dental is at 4 Royal Vista Way NW, Suite 2160, in Royal Oak. Read more about using the CDCP at our clinic, then book online or call (587) 358-2160.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are kids covered by the CDCP?
Yes, if the family qualifies. Children are included as dependants on a parent’s application. The family needs no access to private dental insurance, a filed tax return, adjusted family net income under $90,000 and Canadian residency for tax purposes.
At what age should my child first see a dentist?
When the first tooth comes in, at about six months old. We see children from that first visit onward at our Royal Oak clinic.
Does the CDCP cover braces or aligners for kids?
No. Orthodontic services are currently not available under the CDCP, so braces and aligners are paid privately. Our first orthodontic and aligner consultation is free, and we offer SureSmile aligners, metal braces and ceramic braces.
Can my child have the CDCP and the Alberta Child Health Benefit?
Yes. For services both plans cover, the claim goes to the CDCP first, and the Alberta Child Health Benefit can cover eligible costs that are left. We bill Sun Life and Alberta Blue Cross directly.
Does the CDCP cover sealants and fluoride?
Yes. Fluoride applications and sealants are on the CDCP’s list of preventive services. Your co-payment level still applies.
Do I need a separate application for each child?
No. Your children are included on your application as dependants, with a Social Insurance Number if they have one. Your spouse or common-law partner sends in their own application.