Yes — children under 18 are covered under the Canadian Dental Care Plan when your household meets the income eligibility criteria. The plan covers essential dental services for kids, including cleanings, exams, x-rays, fluoride treatments, sealants, fillings, and extractions. Coverage for orthodontics and cosmetic treatment is not included.
At Northland Smiles, we see a lot of NW Calgary families who aren’t sure whether their kids qualify — or whether they need to enroll their children separately. The quick answer: children are covered under the same household CDCP application as their parents or guardians, and their eligibility is based on your family’s adjusted net income, not the child’s. For a full picture of what the plan covers across all ages and services, see What Does the Canadian Dental Care Plan Cover?.
Do Children Qualify for the CDCP?
Children under the age of 18 are eligible for CDCP coverage when their household qualifies. Eligibility is determined by your adjusted family net income (AFNI) — the combined net income of all adults in the household — and by whether the child does not have access to private dental insurance.
The income thresholds that determine your coverage level are:
- Under $70,000 AFNI: 80% of eligible fees covered — your family pays 20%
- $70,000–$79,999: 60% covered — your family pays 40%
- $80,000–$89,999: 40% covered — your family pays 60%
- $90,000 or more: Not eligible for the CDCP
Children are covered on a per-household basis — you do not need to submit a separate application for each child. Once your household is enrolled, all eligible dependants under 18 are included.
| IMPORTANT | The CDCP requires that the child not have access to private dental insurance. If one parent has employer dental benefits that could cover the child, the child typically does not qualify for the CDCP, even if those benefits are not fully used. |
What Dental Services Are Covered for Kids?
The CDCP covers the same core services for children as for adults — preventive, diagnostic, and restorative care. At our family dentistry practice in NW Calgary, the services we most commonly provide for children under the plan include:
- Dental exams and x-rays: Routine check-ups and the x-rays needed to diagnose cavities, track development, and monitor your child’s bite and jaw.
- Teeth cleanings: Professional dental cleanings to remove plaque and tartar buildup that regular brushing misses. We recommend two per year for most children.
- Fluoride treatments: Applied topically after a cleaning, fluoride helps strengthen enamel and reduce cavity risk — it’s one of the most effective preventive tools we have for kids. Read Is Fluoride Safe? for more on how it works.
- Dental sealants: A thin protective coating applied to the chewing surfaces of back teeth, sealants are covered specifically for children under the CDCP and are one of the best cavity-prevention tools available for kids with deep grooves in their molars.
- Fillings: Cavities are common in children, and the CDCP covers composite (tooth-coloured) fillings on front teeth and amalgam or composite on back teeth. For more detail on filling coverage, see Does the CDCP Cover Dental Fillings?.
- Extractions: When a baby tooth needs to come out or a permanent tooth is too damaged to save, extractions are covered under the plan.
Preventing problems before they start is especially cost-effective for children. If your child hasn’t had a cleaning in a while, or if you’ve been putting it off because of cost, the CDCP makes it much easier to get them in. We also see a lot of kids at Northland Smiles who come in nervous about the dentist — this is something we take seriously, and our team is experienced at making kids feel genuinely at ease. Read more about how we handle that in our post on pediatric dentistry in Calgary.
What the CDCP Does Not Cover for Children
There are some important exclusions to be aware of when it comes to children’s dental coverage under the CDCP:
- Orthodontics (braces, Invisalign, expanders): The CDCP does not cover orthodontic treatment for children or adults. If your child needs braces or an orthodontic appliance, that is not part of the plan.
- Cosmetic treatments: Teeth whitening and other aesthetic-only procedures are excluded.
- Dental implants: Not covered for any age group under the CDCP.
- Treatment not deemed clinically necessary: The plan covers treatment that restores function and health. Elective upgrades — like choosing a premium material for cosmetic reasons — may involve a cost difference.
Cavities and tooth decay are common in children — we see this regularly in our NW Calgary practice, especially in kids who are getting a lot of sugary snacks or aren’t brushing before bed. If your child has had cavities before, or if you’re concerned about their teeth, read our post on pediatric tooth decay to understand what causes it and what treatment looks like.
Is There an Annual Limit on Children’s CDCP Coverage?
Yes. Each covered person — including each eligible child — has their own annual benefit maximum under the CDCP. If your child needs significant treatment in one year, it’s worth tracking how their annual maximum is being used. For a full breakdown of how the annual maximum works and what happens when you approach the limit, see our post on the CDCP annual maximum.
In practice, for most children receiving routine preventive care — a couple of cleanings, fluoride, the odd filling — the annual maximum is rarely a limiting factor. Where it becomes more relevant is when a child needs a series of fillings, extractions, or other restorative work in a single year.
How to Book a CDCP Appointment for Your Child at Northland Smiles
Booking is straightforward. Here’s what to do:
- Confirm your household eligibility: Your family needs to be enrolled in the CDCP through Service Canada. If you’re not sure whether you qualify, check your AFNI from your most recent tax return and review the criteria on the Government of Canada CDCP page.
- Call or book online: Once enrolled, request an appointment and let us know your child is a CDCP patient when you book. We’ll confirm their coverage before the appointment.
- Bring your child’s CDCP card or benefit number: We handle CDCP billing directly — you pay your co-payment at time of appointment and we submit the CDCP claim on your behalf.
If this is your child’s first visit to our office, our new patient appointments are relaxed and unhurried — we want kids to leave feeling good about the dentist, not dreading the next one. Learn more about what to expect at our NW Calgary CDCP hub page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my child need to apply for the CDCP separately?
No. Children are covered under the same household CDCP enrollment as their parents or guardians. You do not submit a separate application for each child. Once your household is enrolled through Service Canada, all eligible dependants under 18 are included automatically — as long as they don’t have access to private dental insurance.
Does the CDCP cover braces or orthodontics for my child?
No. Orthodontic treatment — including traditional braces, clear aligners, expanders, and retainers — is not covered under the Canadian Dental Care Plan for any age group. The CDCP covers restorative and preventive dental care, not orthodontic correction. If your child has been told they need braces, that cost will need to be handled through private dental insurance or out of pocket.
My child is turning 18 soon — will they lose CDCP coverage?
Coverage under the CDCP applies to dependants under 18. Once a child turns 18, they no longer qualify as a dependant under the plan — they would need to establish their own CDCP eligibility based on their own income (or their household income if still living at home and filing taxes). If your teenager has upcoming treatment that qualifies under the CDCP, it’s worth scheduling it before their 18th birthday. Call us at (403) 286-5030 or request an appointment and let us know the timing — we’ll work with you to prioritize accordingly.
Book Your Child’s CDCP Appointment at Northland Smiles
If your family qualifies for the CDCP, getting your child’s dental care covered is one of the best ways to make use of the benefit. We welcome children of all ages at our NW Calgary practice and take the time to make them feel comfortable — especially kids who are anxious or haven’t been to the dentist in a while. Call us at (403) 286-5030 or request an appointment online. Let us know your child is a CDCP patient and we’ll confirm their eligibility before you come in.
Learn more about CDCP coverage for the whole family at our NW Calgary CDCP hub page.
