If you are new to Canada, one of the first surprises is that dental care is not part of OHIP. The good news is that there are several ways to get covered, and you do not need to be a citizen to qualify for most of them. This guide explains your options in plain language, and how to get care in Hamilton, in your language.
Dental care is not covered by OHIP
In Ontario, OHIP covers visits to doctors and hospitals, but it does not cover routine dental care for adults. That catches many newcomers off guard. It means you arrange and pay for dental care separately, either through a government program you qualify for, a workplace or private insurance plan, or by paying the clinic directly. The rest of this guide walks through each of those paths so you can find the one that fits you.
Which coverage fits your situation?
Start with the one that matches you. Many newcomers qualify for more than one, and some can be combined.
Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)
A federal plan for residents with no private dental insurance and family income under $90,000.
Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP)
Covers urgent and essential dental care for protected persons, resettled refugees and claimants.
Healthy Smiles Ontario
Free dental care for eligible children and youth from lower-income households.
Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program
Free routine dental care for eligible lower-income seniors.
ODSP or Ontario Works
Dental benefits for people receiving disability or income assistance, and their families.
Insurance or low-cost options
Workplace or private insurance, or community clinics and pay-as-you-go care.
Dental coverage programs at a glance
| Program | Who it is for | What it covers | What it costs you | How to apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) | Residents with no private insurance, family income under $90,000, all ages | Exams, cleanings, fillings, extractions, dentures and more | Free under $70,000 income; you pay a share from $70,000 to $90,000 | File your taxes, then apply through Service Canada (1-833-537-4342) |
| Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) | Refugees, protected persons and refugee claimants | Urgent and essential dental care | Covered, with a possible co-payment; some services need approval | Usually part of your refugee claim or resettlement; use a registered provider |
| Healthy Smiles Ontario | Children and youth 17 and under, lower-income families | Preventive, routine and emergency dental | Free | Apply through Ontario or your local public health unit; ODSP and Ontario Works families are enrolled automatically |
| Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program | Lower-income seniors 65 and older with no other coverage | Routine dental care | Free, with a small co-payment on dentures | Apply through your local public health unit |
| ODSP or Ontario Works | People receiving disability or income assistance, and their family | Basic dental (ODSP); emergency-focused for Ontario Works adults | Free | Comes with your assistance; ask your caseworker |
| Workplace or private insurance | People with a job that includes benefits, or who buy a plan | Varies by plan | Depends on the plan | Through your employer or an insurer |
The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)
The CDCP is the main way most newcomers get affordable dental care. You do not need to be a citizen. What matters is that you:
- Are a resident of Canada for tax purposes and have filed your most recent tax return
- Do not have access to private dental insurance
- Have an adjusted family net income under $90,000
It is open to all ages. If your family income is under $70,000 the plan covers eligible services in full, and between $70,000 and $90,000 you pay a share of the cost. It covers everyday care such as exams, cleanings, fillings, extractions and dentures. Because eligibility is tied to your tax return, filing your taxes, even with little or no income, is the key step. You apply through Service Canada, online or by calling 1-833-537-4342, and you renew each year. We accept the CDCP and can help you understand your coverage and apply. Learn more on our CDCP page, or on the Government of Canada's Canadian Dental Care Plan page.
When can I apply after I arrive?
Because the plan checks your income through your tax return, you generally need to have filed a Canadian return first. If you have just arrived and have not filed yet, you may need to wait until you can, and even a return showing little or no income lets you qualify. If you are unsure whether you count as a resident for tax purposes, a free tax clinic or an accountant can help.
Refugees and claimants: the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP)
If you are a protected person, a resettled refugee, or a refugee claimant, the Interim Federal Health Program provides health coverage that includes urgent and essential dental care. It is run by the Government of Canada and administered through Medavie Blue Cross.
A few things to know. You use it at a dentist who is registered with the program, so it is worth asking a clinic whether they take IFHP before you book. Coverage focuses on urgent and essential treatment, some services need approval first, and there can be a co-payment on certain services. If you also qualify for the CDCP, the two can be coordinated. Bring your IFHP document and your client identifier (UCI) number to your visit. You can read what the program covers on the Government of Canada's Interim Federal Health Program coverage page.
If you receive ODSP or Ontario Works
If you receive the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) or Ontario Works, dental benefits are available to you and, in many cases, your family. ODSP covers a range of dental services for adult recipients and their spouses, while Ontario Works dental for adults is set by each municipality and is often focused on emergencies. Children in these families are usually enrolled automatically in Healthy Smiles Ontario. We accept ODSP, and you can read more on our ODSP page or the Government of Ontario's ODSP health and disability benefits page.
Coverage for children and for seniors
Children 17 and under
Healthy Smiles Ontario provides free preventive and routine dental care to eligible children and youth from lower-income households. Families already receiving ODSP or Ontario Works are usually enrolled automatically. See the Government of Ontario's Healthy Smiles Ontario page.
Seniors 65 and older
The Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program offers free routine dental care to eligible lower-income seniors who do not have other coverage. It is run through local public health units. See the Government of Ontario's seniors dental care page.
Note that children and seniors may also be covered by the CDCP, so it is worth checking which option works best for your family.
Workplace insurance, and options if you have no coverage
Many jobs in Canada include a dental benefit as part of employee insurance, so if you are working, check whether your employer offers one. Note that having private insurance usually means you are not eligible for the CDCP.
If you do not have any coverage yet, you can still get care. You can pay the clinic directly, and a good office will explain the cost before any treatment. Lower-cost care is also available through community health centres and public health dental clinics, and dental schools in some cities offer reduced-cost treatment provided by supervised students. In Hamilton, the City runs public dental services for residents with low income and no other coverage.
Mistakes newcomers often make
A few things trip people up. Here is how to avoid them:
- Do not assume OHIP covers dental. It does not cover routine dental for adults, so plan to use one of the options above.
- File your taxes, even with little or no income, because the CDCP is tied to your tax return.
- Do not assume you earn too much. The CDCP covers families with income up to $90,000, and it is open to non-citizens.
- Check whether a spouse's plan counts as private insurance, since having private coverage can make you ineligible for the CDCP.
- Do not wait for an emergency. Small problems are cheaper and easier to treat early.
Get help in your language
Sorting out coverage in a new country is a lot, especially in a second language. You do not have to do it alone or in English.
Meet Sam, our AI dental assistant
Tell Sam what you need in a short form that takes about two minutes, by voice or text, and our team follows up. It is free, any time of day, with no account needed.
Seeing a dentist as a newcomer: what to expect and bring
You do not need a referral to see a dentist in Canada. You simply call a clinic, say you are a new patient, and book. To make your first visit smooth, bring what you can:
- A piece of photo identification
- Your coverage details, whichever applies: your CDCP information, your IFHP document and UCI number, or your workplace insurance card
- A list of any medications you take
- Any dental records or x-rays you already have from another country, if available
At the visit, the dentist will examine your mouth, explain what they find, and go over your options and any costs before starting. If you are unsure what your coverage includes, ask, and we will help you work it out.
New to Hamilton? We would love to help
- We welcome newcomers and families of all ages, and we accept the CDCP and ODSP
- We are downtown, on the main level of Jackson Square Mall, close to transit and with mall parking
- Sam can help you get started in nine languages, day or night
- We explain all costs clearly before any treatment, so there are no surprises
Welcome to Canada, and to Hamilton.
Whatever your coverage, we can help you understand it and get the care you need. Call our downtown clinic and we will take it from there.
Dental care for newcomers, frequently asked questions
Visit our Hamilton clinic
Location
Martindale Dental
2 King St W, Unit #270
Hamilton, ON L8P 1A1
Main level of Jackson Square Mall
Hours
Mon to Thu: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
Contact
Phone: 905-393-8501
Enter off York Blvd. Bus routes 1, 5, 10 and 20.
Good to know
This guide is general information. Program rules, income limits and coverage change over time, so confirm the current details for your own situation with the official program before you rely on them. The information here draws on these official sources:
- Government of Canada – Canadian Dental Care Plan
- Government of Canada – Interim Federal Health Program: what is covered
- Government of Ontario – Healthy Smiles Ontario
- Government of Ontario – Dental care for low-income seniors (OSDCP)
- Government of Ontario – ODSP health and disability benefits
- City of Hamilton – Dental and denture services
