Canadian Dental Benefit Program

At Forest Lane Dental Clinic, we know that tooth decay is the most common, but preventable, childhood chronic diseases both in Canada and around the world. Since oral disease most frequently begins in the preschool years, it is important to establish good oral hygiene behaviors early on. In Canada, one third of people do not have dental insurance and, as a result, many go without necessary dental care because it costs too much.

The Government of Canada has implemented the interim Canada Dental Benefit, which is designed to provide some financial support to Canadian families requiring dental care. With this benefit, which will run until 2024, families may begin addressing some of the basic dental care their young children need, while the Government continues its plans to develop a long-term Canadian dental care program.

• For Kids Under 12 years old
• For families with an adjusted net income under $90,000 per year
• For those who don’t have access to private dental care insurance

The interim Canada Dental Benefit provides payments up to $650 per eligible child under 12 years of age, per year for two years (totaling up to $1300), for families with an adjusted net income under $90,000 per year.

• $650 – If the family’s adjusted net income is under $70,000
• $390 – if the family’s adjusted net income is between $70,000 and $79,999
• $260 – If the family’s adjusted net income is between $80,000 and $89,999

To be eligible, families need to meet ALL of the following conditions for each child they apply for:

• Have a child under 12 years of age, who does not have access to private dental care insurance (employer-based or purchased through the applicant or other family member.)
• Have an adjusted family net income under $90,000 per year.
• Have filed last year’s income tax return and benefit return.
• Receive the Canada Child Benefit for each eligible child.
• Have or will have dental care expenses for each eligible child that have not been fully reimbursed under another federal, provincial, or territorial government program.
• Provide information on the recent or planned oral health care that the benefit would be used to pay for, along with information about the oral health care provider.

Parents can apply starting December 1, 2022, for dental care received by their eligible child back to October 1, 2022, so long as their child will still be under 12 on December 1. For the second payment, parents can apply starting July 1, 2023.

Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) My Account is the quickest, easiest, and most secure way to apply for the Canada Dental Benefit. If you do not yet have a CRA My Account, you can register at the link here.

If you are unable to apply for the Canada Dental Benefit online, call 1-800-715-8836 to get your application started.