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The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) is a federally funded program that helps cover dental care for eligible Canadians with low or no dental insurance. It began rolling out in 2024 and is administered by Sun Life on behalf of the Canadian government.

Why There’s a Price Difference for Patients

The CDCP uses its own national fee guide, not the Ontario Dental Association (ODA) fee guide. This means:

Factor	CDCP	ODA Fee Guide
Fee levels	Usually lower	Higher – more aligned with private practices in Ontario
Set by	Federal government & Sun Life	Ontario Dental Association (ODA)
Applies to	All CDCP-covered patients across Canada	Used by most Ontario dentists

Example of Fee Difference

Let’s say you need a basic crown:

Fee Source	Crown Fee
ODA Fee Guide	$1,200
CDCP Max Coverage	$800
Patient Pays	$400 out-of-pocket

Even though the crown is “covered,” the CDCP will only pay up to their maximum, and many dentists charge more following the ODA guide — the patient pays the difference.

Why Don’t Dentists Just Charge CDCP Rates?

1. CDCP fees are lower than market rates, and many dentists feel they do not reflect the cost of quality care, lab fees, staff, and overhead.
2. Dentists are not required to accept CDCP or its fees.
3. Even those who accept CDCP patients may still balance-bill — charging the patient the difference between their fee and what CDCP pays.

Important Points for Patients

• ✅ Request a pre-treatment estimate showing:
  • Total cost
  • CDCP coverage
  • Your out-of-pocket portion (if any)
• ✅ Know that low-income seniors (under $70k) may get 100% coverage — but only up to CDCP rates.

In Summary

• The CDCP does not use the ODA fee guide, which is typically higher.
• This means that even if a service is covered, you may still owe the difference between the dentist’s actual fee and the CDCP’s allowed fee.
• To avoid surprises, always ask your dental office for a pre-treatment cost breakdown.

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Dentist Kanata