How to Apply for the Canada Dental Benefit (Part II)

Jeremy Barr talking in front of a group — How families applied for the Canada Dental Benefit when it launched in December 2022.

Note: this covers a program that has ended. The Canada Dental Benefit (CDB) was a temporary benefit for children under 12, available from December 2022 through June 2024. It has since been replaced by the permanent Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP). For current eligibility and how to apply, see our Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) page.

Welcome to our launch guide on the Canada Dental Benefit! If you are reading this on or after December 1, 2022, it has already launched. Click here to read Part I of this guide, which is a high-level overview. Yesterday, we were able to attend a presentation hosted by the Federal Government on how the plan is rolling out to Canadians. We will share a good overview of how the plan works, and answer some of the big questions dentists were asking during the presentation.

Video introduction to the Canada Dental Benefit.

A Guide to the Canada Dental Benefit

The Canada Dental Benefit has been implemented by the Government of Canada to provide financial support so families can access dental care. It subsidizes basic dental care for young children while the Government continues to develop a long-term, Canada-wide dental care program.

Infographic summarizing the Canada Dental Benefit: what it is, who can apply, and how to apply.

Overview of the Canada Dental Benefit

The Canada Dental Benefit is available over two benefit periods:

October 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023, and
July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024

To be eligible, the child needs to be under the age of 12 on December 1, 2022. If this is the case, the Canada Dental Benefit will cover treatment as far back as October 1, 2022.

Slide: the two Canada Dental Benefit periods, October 2022 to June 2024.

Eligibility for the Canada Dental Benefit

Here are the eligibility criteria for the first benefit period. As a parent or guardian applying for this benefit, the child in your care must have been born after December 2, 2010. In other words, the child was less than 12 years old on December 1, 2022.

The Canada Dental Benefit does not impact existing federal or provincial programs. So, if you have access to dental care through (for example) Healthy Smiles, you are still eligible for the Canada Dental Benefit, so long as you have out-of-pocket expenses for your child’s oral health care.

In addition, you must have filed your 2021 tax return, and your family net income (your net income plus your spouse or partner’s net income) must have been less than $90,000 in 2021.

Slide: Canada Dental Benefit eligibility (under 12, no private insurance, family income under $90,000).

How to Apply for the Canada Dental Benefit

The easiest and most efficient way to apply for the Canada Dental Benefit is online, through your CRA My Account. If you do not have access to this, the CRA also has a dedicated phone line: 1.800.715.8836. While the CRA has a large number of agents available, they still expect long wait times on the phone. Once you are logged in, the system will walk you through the steps to validate your eligibility.

To apply, you will need:

each eligible child’s dental care provider’s name, address and telephone number
the expected date of the child’s dental appointment
the employer’s name, address, and telephone number (if applicable)
the spouse or common-law partner’s employer’s name, address and telephone number (if applicable)

Slide: how to apply for the Canada Dental Benefit through CRA My Account.

How the Government Validates Applications for the Canada Dental Benefit

The CRA runs through a series of questions during the up-front verification process, and checks eligibility against their own data (for example, phone number, address, net income, and whether you receive the Canada Child Benefit for that child). If you need to reschedule your appointment during the same benefit period, you do not need to contact the CRA unless they ask for that information.

Verification work will be between the CRA and the applicant. The dental office would only be contacted in exceptional circumstances, like if a receipt seems questionable. (For example, “Dear Dental Office, is this a real receipt that you handed out?”)

Slide: how the CRA validates Canada Dental Benefit applications.

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