Blue Bird Dental is a participating provider for the Canadian Dental Care Plan. If you have CDCP coverage, you can be seen at our downtown Kamloops office, and we bill the plan directly on your behalf rather than asking you to pay up front and claim it back.
For a lot of people this is the first dental coverage they have ever had. If you have been putting off care because of cost, this is the page worth reading.
What the Plan Is
The Canadian Dental Care Plan is a federal program that helps cover the cost of dental care for Canadian residents who do not have access to private dental insurance. It is administered by Sun Life on behalf of Health Canada, and it pays participating dental offices directly for covered services.
It is not a discount card and it is not a provincial program. It is dental coverage, and for many households it covers most or all of the cost of routine care.
Who Can Get It
As of the 2026–2027 benefit year, the plan is open to Canadian residents of any age who meet all of the following:
- You do not have access to private dental insurance, through an employer, a pension, a spouse's plan or a personal policy.
- Your adjusted family net income is under $90,000.
- You have filed your most recent tax return, as has your spouse or common-law partner if you have one.
- You are a Canadian resident for tax purposes.
Coverage runs for a benefit year ending 30 June, and it must be renewed every year. Missing the renewal window means coverage lapses.
Applications and renewals are handled by the federal government, not by our office. Start at canada.ca/dental.
What You May Still Pay
This is the part patients most often misunderstand, so it is worth being plain about it.
Your income determines your co-payment. Under $90,000 family income you qualify, but the share the plan pays varies: households under $70,000 have no co-payment, those between $70,000 and $79,999 pay a portion, and those between $80,000 and $89,999 pay a larger portion. Your determination letter states which applies to you.
The plan pays established rates. Where a dental office's fee is higher than the amount the plan pays, the difference may be charged to you. We will tell you what that difference is before treatment, in writing, so there are no surprises at the desk.
Some treatments need approval first. Routine examinations, cleanings and fillings are generally covered without prior approval. Larger work such as crowns, oral surgery and orthodontics usually requires a preauthorisation submitted by the dentist before treatment begins, which takes time. We handle that submission for you.
Cosmetic treatment is not covered. Whitening, veneers and similar treatments are excluded from the plan.
What Is Typically Covered
The plan covers a genuinely broad range of general dental care, including examinations and diagnosis, cleanings and preventive services, fillings, extractions, root canal treatment, and dentures, with approval requirements varying by procedure. The current list of covered services is maintained by the federal government and can change between benefit years.
If you want to know whether a specific treatment is covered for you, bring your determination letter to your appointment. It is faster than guessing, and our team checks it as a matter of routine.
What Happens at Your Appointment
Bring your CDCP member card or determination letter and a piece of identification. Our front desk confirms your coverage and co-payment tier before treatment.
Your first visit is a comprehensive examination: a look at your teeth, gums, bite and existing dental work, imaging where it genuinely informs your care, and an oral cancer screening. You will then receive a written treatment plan showing what the plan is expected to cover and what, if anything, you would pay. New Patients
If it has been many years since your last visit, that is extremely common among new CDCP patients and it is not a problem. Nobody here will lecture you about it.
A Note on Timing
Because the plan renews annually and preauthorisation takes time, it is worth booking earlier in your benefit year rather than later, particularly if you expect to need major treatment. Leaving a crown until June may mean the approval does not come through before your coverage period ends.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are you a participating CDCP provider?
Yes. Blue Bird Dental is a participating provider for the Canadian Dental Care Plan, enrolled with Sun Life, and we bill the plan directly for covered services.
Am I eligible?
Eligibility is determined by the federal government, not by our office. In broad terms you need no access to private dental insurance, adjusted family net income under $90,000, a filed tax return, and Canadian tax residency. Apply at canada.ca/dental.
Will I have to pay anything?
It depends on your income tier and on the treatment. Some patients pay nothing. Others pay a co-payment, and where our fee exceeds the plan's rate the difference may be charged. You will always be told the amount in writing before treatment.
Do I need to renew?
Yes, every year. Coverage runs to 30 June and lapses if it is not renewed in the renewal window.
Is orthodontic treatment covered?
Some orthodontic treatment may be covered with preauthorisation, subject to the plan's criteria. Ask at your assessment and we will submit on your behalf where appropriate.
What if I lose eligibility partway through?
If you gain access to private dental insurance you must notify the plan, and your CDCP coverage ends. Tell us as well, so your file is billed correctly.
Can I use CDCP for whitening or veneers?
No. Cosmetic treatments are excluded from the plan.
Looking for a participating CDCP dentist in Kamloops? Call (250) 372-2326 Contact Us
*Plan details described on this page reflect the 2026–2027 benefit year and are provided as general information. Eligibility, coverage and co-payment amounts are determined by the federal government and may change. For current official information, visit canada.ca/dental.*
Questions, or ready to book? Call (250) 372-2326 or request an appointment online.