CDCP Dentist in London, Ontario: What Coverage Actually Looks Like
- A CDCP dentist in London bills Sun Life directly, so you don’t pay upfront and file for reimbursement yourself.
- Your co-pay is based on adjusted family net income: 100% covered under $70,000, then tiered co-pays up to $89,999.
- Apple Tree Dental is a registered CDCP dentist in London Ontario, with locations at Beaverbrook (North) and Wonderland (South).
- CDCP pays second if you already have Healthy Smiles Ontario, ODSP, or Ontario Works dental — the plans coordinate, not stack for free.
- The 2026-2027 benefit year renewal window runs April 15 to June 1, 2026, with new applications reopening June 2, 2026.
Finding a CDCP dentist in London who actually bills the Canadian Dental Care Plan directly is trickier than it sounds. Some clinics accept CDCP patients but still ask you to pay upfront. Here’s what to expect, and how it works at our London clinics.
What Is the Canadian Dental Care Plan?
The CDCP is a federal dental benefit run by Health Canada and Employment and Social Development Canada, with Sun Life handling claims processing. It launched to help Canadians who have no private or workplace dental insurance and would otherwise skip care over cost.
Roughly a third of Canadians had no dental insurance before the plan started (Government of Canada, 2026), which is the gap the CDCP was built to close.
Do You Qualify for a CDCP Dentist in London Ontario?
You need to meet four conditions, and all four apply, not just one:
- You have no access to dental insurance through a workplace, pension, or private plan. Opting out of an available plan still counts as having access.
- Your adjusted family net income is under $90,000.
- You’re a Canadian resident for tax purposes and filed a tax return last year.
- You’re enrolled, meaning approved, not just applied.
Having a separate provincial program like Healthy Smiles Ontario, ODSP dental, or Ontario Works dental does not disqualify you. Those plans coordinate with CDCP instead.
Co-Payment Tiers by Income
| Adjusted Family Net Income | CDCP Pays | You Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Under $70,000 | 100% of eligible fee | $0 for covered services |
| $70,000–$79,999 | 60% of eligible fee | 40% co-pay |
| $80,000–$89,999 | 40% of eligible fee | 60% co-pay |
| $90,000 and above | Not eligible | Full fee, or private coverage |
Even at 100% coverage, remember CDCP pays its own fee schedule, not necessarily the clinic’s full posted price. Ask upfront if a balance could remain.
How to Apply, and When the Window Is Open
- Check eligibility using the criteria above, then apply through your My Service Canada Account or by phone.
- Wait for your Benefit Effective Date. This is on your Determination Letter in MSCA, or in your Sun Life welcome package. Coverage starts on that exact date, not on approval day.
- Book with a CDCP dentist. Bring your Sun Life member card or confirmation number to your first appointment.
For the 2026–2027 benefit year, renewal for existing members runs April 15 to June 1, 2026. New applicants can apply starting June 2, 2026. Mark these dates if you’re renewing, since a lapse can leave a coverage gap.
What CDCP Covers, and What It Doesn’t
Covered
- Exams, cleanings, and X-rays
- Fillings and basic restorative work
- Extractions, both simple and surgical
- Scaling for gum disease
- Full and partial dentures
- Select oral surgery, often with preauthorization
Not Covered
- Purely cosmetic work, like teeth whitening
- Most orthodontics, with narrow exceptions
- Anything before your Benefit Effective Date
- The gap between a clinic’s fee and CDCP’s set rate, if one exists
This is the part most CDCP guides skip entirely. Knowing what’s excluded before you book saves an awkward conversation at checkout.
CDCP Plus Other Coverage
If you already have Healthy Smiles Ontario, ODSP dental, or Ontario Works dental, that plan usually pays first and CDCP pays second on the same eligible service. The two coordinate so the same procedure isn’t paid twice. You cannot combine CDCP with an employer or private plan; having access to one makes you ineligible for CDCP entirely.
Finding a CDCP Dentist Near London, Ontario
Every dentist in Ontario is registered with the RCDSO, but not every clinic bills CDCP directly. Ask two questions before booking: does the clinic submit claims to Sun Life for you, and do they check your Benefit Effective Date before your first visit. Apple Tree Dental does both, at our Beaverbrook Avenue North and Wonderland Road South locations, making us one of the more established CDCP dentist London Ontario options for families in the area.
Frequently Asked Questions
A: Yes. Both our Beaverbrook and Wonderland locations accept CDCP patients and bill Sun Life directly.
A: You need no access to private or workplace dental insurance, an adjusted family net income under $90,000, Canadian tax residency, and confirmed enrollment through Sun Life.
A: Only if your adjusted family net income is under $70,000, and only at the CDCP fee schedule rate. Higher income bands require a co-payment.
A: Yes. Healthy Smiles usually pays first, then CDCP pays second on the same eligible service, so the work isn’t paid twice.
A: It’s the exact date your CDCP coverage starts, found on your Determination Letter in MSCA. Work done before this date isn’t covered.
A: Renewal for existing members runs April 15 to June 1, 2026. New applicants can apply starting June 2, 2026.
A: No. Purely cosmetic work like whitening isn’t covered, and most orthodontic treatment falls outside the plan too.
A: Not at a direct-billing CDCP dentist. Apple Tree Dental submits claims to Sun Life for you, so you only pay your share, if any.
Ready to Book With a CDCP Dentist in London, Ontario?
Apple Tree Dental bills Sun Life directly at both our North and South London locations. Bring your Sun Life confirmation and we’ll handle the rest.
Related reading: our guides on tooth extraction cost and CDCP coverage, emergency dental care, and general family dentistry cover related CDCP-eligible services in more depth.