In brief
For a Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) appointment, bring your CDCP member card or member ID and your coverage start date, photo identification, a list of your medications and health conditions, any previous dental records and your questions about costs. Before booking, confirm your coverage is active and that the office accepts CDCP patients. At the visit, ask which services are covered, whether any need preauthorization and whether you will owe a co-payment or other charges.
Key takeaways
- Bring your CDCP member card or enrolment details and government-issued ID.
- A current list of medications and health conditions makes your visit safer and smoother.
- Confirm before booking that the clinic sees CDCP patients.
- Ask in advance whether your planned treatment needs any pre-approval under the plan.
For a dental appointment under the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), bring your CDCP member card or member ID and coverage start date, photo identification, a list of your medications and health conditions, and any recent dental records you have. Before you book, confirm that your coverage is active and that the dental office accepts CDCP patients. At the visit, ask which parts of your care the plan covers and whether you will owe anything.
A little preparation makes the appointment itself about your teeth, not paperwork. This guide gives you a simple checklist, explains the CDCP details that affect your visit, and lists the questions worth asking before treatment. Plan details change over time, so we only include information confirmed on the Government of Canada website as of September 2026.
What should you bring to a CDCP dental appointment?
Here is a checklist you can print or screenshot.
| Bring | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| CDCP member card, or your member ID and coverage start date | Lets the office confirm your coverage and bill the plan correctly |
| Photo identification | Helps confirm your identity matches your CDCP enrolment |
| List of medications, with doses | Some medicines affect bleeding, healing or which anaesthetic is used |
| List of health conditions and allergies | Conditions such as diabetes, heart problems or pregnancy can change how care is planned |
| Previous dental records or X-rays, if available | Can avoid repeating X-rays and shows your treatment history |
| Your questions | Helps you get clear answers about treatment and costs |
| Reading glasses, if you use them | Makes it easier to read forms and estimates |
Your CDCP member card or member ID
According to the Government of Canada, once you are enrolled you receive a letter or email confirming your enrolment. It includes your CDCP plan number and member ID. Your information is then shared with Sun Life, which mails a welcome package with your physical member card and information about the plan.
The government says you will need your member ID and coverage start date to book your first appointment. Bring your card, or the letter showing your member ID, to every visit.
Photo identification
Bring government-issued photo ID. If your name has changed since you enrolled, mention it when you book, because a mismatch can slow down coverage checks.
Your health history and medications
A written list of your medical conditions, allergies and medications, including doses, is one of the most useful things any dental patient can bring. Blood thinners, some bone medications, diabetes and heart conditions are examples of things your dentist needs to know before treatment. Bring the list even if you think nothing has changed.
Previous dental records
If you are changing dental offices, recent X-rays and treatment notes from your previous clinic can help. You can ask your former office to send them before your visit. This is a routine request.
What should you do before booking a CDCP appointment?
Confirm that your coverage is active
The Government of Canada advises members not to book an appointment before their coverage start date, and to always confirm that coverage is active before receiving any treatment. If you are not sure, check your enrolment letter or contact the CDCP before you book.
Confirm the office accepts CDCP patients
The government also advises members to confirm that their provider accepts CDCP clients and will bill Sun Life directly for services covered under the plan. Participation is a decision each dental office makes, so ask when you call.
York Street Dental Centre welcomes eligible CDCP patients. When you book, mention that your appointment is under the CDCP so our team can prepare.
Mention what the visit is for
Let the office know whether you are booking a checkup, a cleaning, a new patient exam or a visit for a specific problem such as a toothache. This helps the team plan the right amount of time and tell you if anything else is needed in advance.
What does the CDCP cover?
The Government of Canada’s coverage page lists these service categories:
- Diagnostic and preventive services, such as exams, X-rays, cleanings, fluoride and sealants
- Basic services, including fillings, root canal treatment and gum (periodontal) treatment
- Major services, including crowns, dentures and oral surgery
- Anaesthesia and sedation services
As of September 2026, the page says orthodontic services are currently not available under the plan. Dental implants are not listed among the covered services.
For dentures, the page lists complete dentures, including standard and temporary dentures, as covered. Partial dentures require preauthorization.
The government points members to the CDCP Dental Benefits Guide and benefit grids on the Sun Life website for more detail on individual services.
What is preauthorization under the CDCP?
Some services need approval from the plan before you receive them. The Government of Canada says some services, including those beyond established frequency limits, require preauthorization, and that this pre-approval must happen before you can receive those services.
Services listed as needing preauthorization include:
- crowns and cores
- partial dentures
- complete immediate dentures and overdentures
- re-treatment of a previously completed root canal
- conscious sedation, deep sedation and general anaesthesia
In practice, this means some treatment may be planned at one visit and completed at a later one, once the plan has responded. If your dentist recommends one of these services, ask whether preauthorization is needed and roughly how the timing will work.
Will you pay anything at a CDCP appointment?
It depends on your income and on the treatment. The Government of Canada explains two possible costs.
Co-payments based on family income
Your co-payment is based on your adjusted family net income. As of September 2026, the coverage page shows:
| Adjusted family net income | CDCP pays | You pay (co-payment) |
|---|---|---|
| Under $70,000 | 100% of eligible costs | 0% |
| $70,000 to $79,999 | 60% | 40% |
| $80,000 to $89,999 | 40% | 60% |
These percentages apply to the amount the CDCP reimburses for eligible services.
Charges above what the plan reimburses
The government also notes that you may have to pay fees in addition to any co-payment if the cost of your care is more than what the CDCP will reimburse. Those additional charges are paid directly to the dental office.
The government’s advice is simple: before receiving care, always ask your provider about any costs that will not be covered by the plan. At York Street Dental Centre, we explain findings, options, alternatives and estimated fees before treatment, so you can decide with the full picture.
What questions should you ask at your CDCP appointment?
Use your visit the way you would any dental appointment, plus a few coverage questions:
- What did the exam and X-rays show?
- What treatment do you recommend, and why?
- Are there other options, including what happens if I wait?
- Is this treatment covered by the CDCP?
- Does it need preauthorization before it can be done?
- Will I have a co-payment or any other charges?
- How many visits will it take, and what order should treatment happen in?
- When should I come back for my next checkup?
Our article on how direct insurance billing works explains the general billing process.
What happens at your first CDCP visit?
If you are new to the office, a first appointment usually looks like any new patient visit:
- Paperwork and health history. You fill in or review forms, and the team confirms your CDCP details.
- A full examination. The dentist checks your teeth, gums, bite and soft tissues, including an oral cancer screening.
- X-rays if needed. These show decay between teeth, the roots and the bone.
- A cleaning, either at the same visit or a separate one, depending on your needs and scheduling.
- A treatment plan. The dentist explains what they found, your options and the estimated fees.
Allow a few extra minutes for your first visit. You can read more about what happens during a new patient dental exam and our new patient information.
How do you keep your CDCP coverage active?
The CDCP runs on a yearly benefit period that ends on June 30. The Government of Canada says members must renew their coverage every year to confirm they still meet the eligibility requirements. To renew, you and your spouse or common-law partner must have filed your tax return in Canada for the previous year and received your notice of assessment.
If you miss the renewal period, you can apply again, but there will be a gap in coverage until the new application is approved. The government says dental care received during that gap will not be covered or reimbursed retroactively. If you have treatment planned over several visits, keep an eye on renewal timing.
You can update your personal information through My Service Canada Account, by phone, or with Sun Life.
Bringing a child, parent or someone with special needs
If you are booking for a family member who is enrolled in the CDCP, bring their member card or ID, their photo ID if they have one, and their medication and health history. Mention when booking that the visit is under the CDCP.
We see children, adults and seniors, and can accommodate children, adolescents and patients with special needs. If your family member has particular needs, such as extra time, a quieter setting or help with mobility, let us know when you call so we can plan the visit. For young children, how to prepare your child for a dental visit has practical tips.
What if you have a dental problem before your appointment?
If a tooth starts to hurt or swell while you are waiting for a routine CDCP visit, do not wait quietly for the booked date. Call the office, explain your symptoms and mention that you are a CDCP patient. The team can advise how soon you should be seen. The same coverage questions apply to urgent care: ask what the plan covers for the treatment you need and whether any part of it needs preauthorization or involves extra costs.
Some symptoms need a hospital rather than a dental office. If you have difficulty breathing or swallowing, swelling spreading to the eye or neck, fever with facial swelling, bleeding that will not stop or a serious facial injury, go to the emergency department or call 911. Our guide on what counts as a dental emergency explains the difference.
What if you do not have a dentist yet?
The Government of Canada suggests that members without a provider contact one in their community or use Sun Life’s CDCP Provider Search, or call Sun Life at 1-888-888-8110. When you contact an office, ask three things:
- Do you accept CDCP patients?
- Are you taking new patients?
- What should I bring to my first visit?
If you are in the Cornwall area, you are welcome to call us with those questions.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Booking before your coverage start date. Care before that date is not covered.
- Assuming everything is covered. Some services are not in the plan, and some need approval first.
- Forgetting your member ID. Call ahead if you cannot find it.
- Skipping the health history. It matters for your safety, whatever your coverage.
- Letting renewal lapse in the middle of planned treatment.
- Not asking about costs first. Ask about co-payments and any charges the plan will not cover before treatment starts, not afterward.
CDCP dental care in Cornwall
York Street Dental Centre, at 118 York Street, is a family dental office that welcomes eligible CDCP patients. No referral is needed for routine care, and we are accepting new patients. Many of our CDCP patients live in Cornwall neighbourhoods such as downtown, Riverdale, Eamer’s Corners and Churchill Heights, and others come from nearby Lakeview Heights, Glen Walter and Cornwall Island (Akwesasne).
When you call, our team can tell you what to bring for your situation and how CDCP appointments work at our office. Regular care matters under any coverage, and how often you should visit the dentist depends on your oral health.
Book your CDCP appointment
To book, call York Street Dental Centre at (613) 932-1620 or request an appointment online. Have your CDCP member ID and coverage start date ready. You can also read more on our Canadian Dental Care Plan page.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to bring proof of income to the appointment?
No — eligibility and income assessment happen during CDCP enrolment through the Government of Canada, not at the dental office. The clinic needs your member details, not your financial documents.
What if I forget my CDCP card?
Contact the clinic before the appointment and ask what they can do — they may be able to verify coverage with your member number or other enrolment details. Arriving with nothing may mean rescheduling, so a quick call ahead is worth it.
Will every treatment be covered at my appointment?
Not necessarily. The plan defines which services it covers and under what conditions, and some care may require pre-approval or involve a patient contribution. Coverage and patient contributions can vary, so review your current CDCP information and confirm treatment details with the clinic before proceeding.
Can I book a CDCP appointment for my child or parent?
Yes — if they are enrolled in the plan, you can arrange care on their behalf. Bring their CDCP details and ID, plus their health and medication history, and mention when booking that the appointment is under the CDCP.
Will I have to pay anything at a CDCP dental appointment?
Possibly. The Government of Canada says your co-payment depends on your adjusted family net income, and you may also pay extra fees if a provider's cost is more than the CDCP reimburses. Some services are not covered at all. Ask the dental office about any costs the plan will not cover before treatment begins.
Do I need to renew my CDCP coverage?
Yes. CDCP coverage runs for a benefit period that ends on June 30 each year, and members must renew annually. The Government of Canada says you and your spouse or common-law partner must have filed your previous year's tax return and received your notice of assessment to renew. Care received during a coverage gap is not reimbursed.
Sources
- Government of Canada — Government of Canada — Canadian Dental Care Plan
- Sun Life — Sun Life — CDCP member information
- Canadian Dental Association — Visiting the Dentist
- Government of Canada — Canadian Dental Care Plan covered services
- Government of Canada — Canadian Dental Care Plan, after you apply
- Government of Canada — Renew your Canadian Dental Care Plan coverage
About the author
This article was written by the York Street Dental Centre Team and reviewed for clinical accuracy by the York Street Dental Centre dental team. York Street Dental Centre is a family dental office at 118 York Street, Cornwall, Ontario K6J 3Y8, providing general, preventive, restorative, and cosmetic dental care for patients of all ages.
Our articles explain common dental questions in plain language, cite reputable health and government sources where relevant, and are updated when guidance changes. Read our editorial policy or learn more about our practice.
This content is intended for general educational purposes and does not replace an examination, diagnosis or personalized treatment recommendation from a dental professional.