Quick answer: Yes. For eligible patients, the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) covers emergency dental treatment, including urgent exams, fillings, extractions, and root canals. Coverage scales with income, with families under $70,000 generally covered at 100 percent of the established CDCP fees. Private insurance also covers most emergency procedures. Keele & Sheppard Dentistry is a participating CDCP provider in North York. Call 416-398-7460.
A dental emergency is stressful enough without the worry of how to pay for it. The good news is that more people in North York are covered than ever, thanks to the expansion of the Canadian Dental Care Plan alongside traditional private insurance.
What Is the Canadian Dental Care Plan?
The CDCP is a federal program that helps eligible Canadian residents who do not have access to private dental insurance afford dental care. Since its launch it has grown quickly, with more than 6 million Canadians now enrolled. For the 2026 to 2027 benefit year, it reached a milestone: the plan is open to eligible residents of all ages, the first year without any age restriction.
Who Is Eligible?
To qualify for the CDCP, you generally must:
- Be a Canadian resident for tax purposes
- Have an adjusted family net income under $90,000
- Have no access to private dental insurance (the plan is a payer of last resort)
- Have filed your most recent tax return
Eligibility is confirmed annually, so the plan requires renewal each year to keep coverage continuous. If you cancel private insurance specifically to qualify, you remain ineligible.
Does the CDCP Cover Emergency Dental Treatment?
Yes. The CDCP covers a broad range of services, and emergency needs fall squarely within them. Covered categories include diagnostic, preventive, restorative, endodontic, periodontal, prosthodontic, and oral surgery services. In practical terms for an emergency, that means:
- Urgent and diagnostic exams
- X-rays needed to diagnose the problem
- Fillings for decay or fractures
- Tooth extractions, simple and, where covered, surgical
- Root canal therapy
How Much Does the CDCP Pay?
Your share depends on your adjusted family net income:
| Adjusted family net income | CDCP coverage of established fees |
|---|---|
| Under $70,000 | 100 percent (no co-payment) |
| $70,000 to $79,999 | Around 60 percent, you pay the rest |
| $80,000 to $89,999 | Around 40 percent, you pay the rest |
Two points to keep in mind. First, the CDCP pays based on its own established fee schedule, which can differ from a clinic’s usual fee, so there may be a small additional charge. Your dentist will explain any difference before treatment. Second, some procedures require preauthorization.
How to Apply or Renew
Applications and renewals are handled through the Government of Canada and administered by Sun Life. Because deadlines and benefit years change, check your status and renewal window before you need care, and file your taxes on time so your eligibility can be confirmed. Missing a renewal can create a gap in which treatment is not covered.
What About Private Insurance?
If you have an employer-sponsored or private plan, it typically covers most emergency procedures, often 50 to 80 percent of the ODA fee, up to your annual maximum. Bring your plan details to your appointment, and many clinics will direct-bill the insurer for you.
Other Coverage in Ontario
- OHIP does not cover dental treatment performed in a dental office.
- Healthy Smiles Ontario covers eligible children and youth under 18 from lower-income families.
- Ontario Works and ODSP recipients may have limited emergency dental coverage.
How Keele & Sheppard Dentistry Helps
As a participating CDCP provider, Keele & Sheppard Dentistry can confirm what your plan covers, explain any co-payment, and handle the paperwork, so you can focus on getting out of pain. The team also offers flexible payment options for costs not covered by a plan.
Emergency Dental Coverage Help in North York
Call: 416-398-7460 · Location: 3-2800 Keele Street, North York, ON M3M 0B8
See the full guide to Emergency Dental Care in North York.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Does the CDCP cover emergency dental treatment?
Yes. For eligible patients, the CDCP covers urgent and diagnostic exams, X-rays, fillings, extractions, and root canals. The percentage covered depends on your adjusted family net income, with families under $70,000 generally covered at 100 percent of the established CDCP fees.
Q2. Who qualifies for the CDCP in 2026?
Canadian residents of all ages with an adjusted family net income under $90,000, no access to private dental insurance, and an up-to-date tax return. The 2026 to 2027 benefit year is the first without an age restriction, so working-age adults can now apply or renew.
Q3. How much will I pay with the CDCP?
If your adjusted family net income is under $70,000, the CDCP generally covers 100 percent of its established fees. Between $70,000 and $89,999, you share a co-payment of roughly 40 to 60 percent. A small extra charge can apply if a clinic’s fee exceeds the CDCP schedule.
Q4. Can I use private insurance for an emergency dental visit?
Yes. Most private and employer plans cover a large share of emergency exams, fillings, extractions, and root canals, commonly 50 to 80 percent up to your annual maximum. Bring your plan details, and many clinics will direct-bill the insurer on your behalf.
Q5. Does OHIP cover emergency dental care?
No. OHIP does not cover dental treatment performed in a dental office. Coverage in Ontario comes from private insurance, the federal CDCP, programs such as Healthy Smiles Ontario for children, or out-of-pocket payment.
Q6. Do I need to renew my CDCP coverage?
Yes. The CDCP requires annual renewal to confirm you still meet the income and insurance requirements. Renew within your benefit-year window and file your taxes on time to avoid a coverage gap during which treatment would not be covered.
