Guide to the CDCP Emergency Dental Care for Kids in Canada

CDCP emergency dental care for kids helps Canadian parents access affordable emergency dental treatments for their children. Learn how this federal plan works, what services are covered, and who qualifies for financial support.

I know how stressful it can be as a parent to witness your child painfully struggling with dental problems that need an emergency dentist. That’s where the CDCP emergency dental care for kids can be a real lifesaver and pay a portion of the price when receiving different dental services. In this article, we will check if your kid is eligible for the plan and explore different services covered by CDCP.

Factors That Determine If Your Kid Is Eligible for the CDCP 

Determining If Your Kid Is Eligible for the CDCP 

As a parent, it’s important to know if your kid’s dental care services can be covered by CDCP in Canada. Factors such as age, residency, and insurance status determine your child’s eligibility for CDCP emergency dental care for kids. 

  • Age and residency: When you apply for CDCP, your child must be under 18 years old and a Canadian resident for tax purposes.
  • Family income: Your adjusted family net income must be under 90,000 CAD. If it’s less than 70,000 CAD, you will receive full coverage, but if it’s between 70,000 and 89,999 CAD, the coverage is reduced.
  • Dental insurance status: Your child must not already have access to private dental insurance through parents, employers, or private purchases. But if the insurance is provincial or territorial, it does not disqualify your kid from the CDCP. 
  • Tax return requirement: As the parent or guardian of the child, you must have filed their most recent tax return, and the child must be listed as your dependent.
  • Application and renewal: Don’t forget to renew the eligibility once a year (usually by June 1), to maintain coverage.

Want to check the current status of your DCDP application? Check out the CDCP Status Checker to keep track of your application status.

What is Covered by the CDCP Emergency Dental Care for Kids in Canada?

It’s essential to know what services are covered for your dear child by CDCP emergency dental care for kids. Here’s a list of covered services, so you know when CDCP comes to the rescue.

1- Diagnostic and Preventive Services 

a kid who is being visited by a dentist

These services are crucial to identify and prevent oral health problems early and reduce dental emergencies for your children. They include emergency dental exams to assess pain or infection, X-rays that detect hidden fractures or infections, fluoride treatments and dental sealants that strengthen enamel and prevent cavities, and cleanings that maintain gum health. 

2- Restorative Services

Restorative dental service by a dentist

The CDCP emergency dental care for kids covers permanent and temporary fillings to stop and prevent infection, dental crowns or crown repairs to restore severely damaged teeth, pain control treatments if your kid has infected or decaying teeth, and core and post restorations to make a tooth stronger after damage. 

3- Endodontic Services

If your child is struggling with cavities or severe infections in primary or permanent teeth, don’t worry! CDCP covers endodontic services such as root canal treatment or pulpectomy to save infected teeth and reduce pain, infection control measures like drainage and medication inside the tooth, and re-treatment of failed root canals, which requires preapproval.

4- Periodontal Services

Is your child dealing with gum problems? Detecting and stabilizing gum problems early will stop infection from spreading. Your kid can receive deep cleaning under the gums to remove infection, abscess treatment to control swelling or bleeding, bonding of loose teeth, and post-surgical evaluations (may require preauthorization).

5- Oral Surgery Services 

an oral surgery by a dentist

I understand! Accidents happen from time to time, can be stressful and painful for your children, and may need surgical procedures. CDCP covers services such as tooth and root extractions when saving the tooth is not possible, surgical removal of cysts or abscesses, repair of facial or jaw fractures from accidents, and soft tissue repair in the mouth.

6- Sedation and Anesthesia 

Sedation and Anesthesia tools

Well, we don’t want our kids to go through something painful and traumatizing. You can do minimal sedation for children with dental anxiety, moderate to deep sedation (requires preapproval for complex procedures), and general anesthesia for young or special-needs children who need extensive emergency care.

7- Orthodontic Emergencies

Orthodontic emergency for a kid

The CDCP usually does not cover orthodontic care, but if it’s related to an injury like broken braces or dental trauma, it’s actually covered by the plan. Routine orthodontic treatments for cosmetic alignment are not covered by CDCP, but in cases of malocclusions that affect normal function, CDCP covers them.

Don’t know what kind of orthodontic treatment to choose? Visit Choosing Right Orthodontic Treatment to know your options and how they fit your specific needs.

How Much Does the CDCP Cover for Children in Canada? 

Now, let’s talk about money! The table below shows you how much CDCP emergency dental care for kids covers, and how you will have to pay. 

Family Net Income (CAD) Co-Payment Rate (What You Pay)CDCP Coverage (What CDCP Pays)
Less than $70,0000%100%
$70,000 – $79,99940%60%
$80,000 – $89,99960%40%
$90,000 and aboveNot eligible0%

Read more:What Dental Services are Covered by the CDCP?

Take Care of Your Children With CDCP Emergency Dental Care for Kids 

No need to worry again if you’re not able to pay for your dear child’s emergency dental treatment. CDCP is here to pay a percentage of the costs based on your adjusted family net income to ensure your kid’s oral health needs are met. If your beloved child is dealing with dental issues, My Dentist Langley creates a positive and comfortable dental experience for them with its experienced pediatric dentists. Book an appointment at Pediatric Dentistry Langley.

FAQ

What services are covered by CDCP emergency dental care for kids? 

Diagnostic and preventive services (dental exams, x-rays), restorative services (fillings, crowns), endodontic services (root canal, drainage), periodontal services (abscess treatment, bonding of loose teeth), oral surgery services (tooth extractions), sedation and anesthesia (minimal, moderate), and orthodontic emergencies are covered by CDCP. 

What if I have access to private insurance? 

If your child has access to private insurance through parents, employers, or private purchase, they will be excluded from the CDCP plan. But if they have provincial or territorial public dental benefits, they are not disqualified from the CDCP. 

How much does the CDCP cover?

If your adjusted family net income is less than $70,000, CDCP pays 100% of the price. If it’s $70,000 – $79,999, you need to pay 40% of the price yourself. For net incomes between $80,000 and $89,999, CDCP will only cover 40%. For those whose adjusted family net income is beyond $90,000, CDCP will not pay anything, and they’re not eligible.

Are Orthodontic services fully covered by the CDCP?  

Orthodontic services are not generally covered by the CDCP. If your kid has an injury like broken braces or dental trauma, you can use the CDCP to cover it. Remember that orthodontic services for cosmetic purposes are not supported, but in cases of severe malocclusions that affect normal function, the CDCP will help reduce the costs.

Picture of DR. EMAN MORADI
DR. EMAN MORADI

Dr. Eman Moradi is a certified dental specialist in Endodontics and is a fellow of The Royal College of Dentists of Canada.

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