Health Unit – April is Oral Health Month

Press Release – South East Health Unit

April is oral health month. To celebrate, the South East Health Unit (formerly Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit) is increasing awareness about government-funded programs available to help families and individuals of low-to-moderate incomes access essential dental care. Good oral health is vital for overall health across the lifespan.

This month, we urge residents to learn more about the following programs, and to take advantage of them if they meet the criteria. If you need help determining which program you may qualify for, we recommend speaking to a member of our oral health team at 1-800-660-5853.

Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program (OSDCP):

• The OSDCP is a provincially-funded dental care program that provides free, routine dental services for low-income seniors who are 65 years of age or older, are a resident of Ontario, meet the income requirements, and have no other form of dental benefits apart from the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) (e.g. private insurance, Ontario Works dental benefits, OSDCP dental benefits, or non-insured health benefits).
• The current income eligibility is an annual net income of $25,000 or less for a single senior, or a combined annual net income of $41,500 or less for a couple.
• If seniors have successfully enrolled in both the OSDCP and CDCP, they can only use one program at a time. Benefits cannot be coordinated. We recommend speaking to a member of our Oral Health Team to discuss details of both programs to help them choose which program is best for them based on their individual needs.
• OSDCP clients may access treatment in locations across Leeds, Grenville and Lanark counties. Access to these services will be provided by Rideau Community Health Services (RCHS). To book appointments, residents may call 1-844-973-1400.

Healthy Smiles Ontario (HSO):

• The HSO program is a provincially-funded dental care program that provides free preventive, routine, and emergency dental services for children and youth 17 and under from eligible low-income households.
• HSO core program income eligibility starts at a family net income of $27, 746 or lower for one dependent child in the household. As the number of dependent children in the household increases, so does the family net income to qualify. The income eligibility chart can be accessed at https://www.ontario.ca/page/get-dental-care If enrolled in the core program, coverage is for a one-year period.
• The oral health team at South East Health Unit can assist families to access and enroll their children in the Emergency and Essential Stream of the program (HSO-EESS) if their child has urgent needs and it is a financial hardship to cover the cost of treatment. If enrolled in the emergency stream, coverage is for a six month period, to a maximum of three enrollments per lifetime.
• HSO clients may access dental treatment at any local dental office that accepts the HSO program.
• For more information on how to apply, residents may contact the oral health program at 1-800-660-5853 ext. 2456 or visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/get-dental-care.

Canadian Dental Care Program (CDCP):

• CDCP is a federally funded dental care program that helps cover the cost of preventive, routine and emergency dental services for eligible seniors aged 65 and older, children under the age of 18, and adults 18 + with a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate.
• Recently, the federal government announced that all remaining eligible Canadians aged 18 to 64 years-old will be able to apply for the CDCP in May 2025; with coverage possibly starting as early as June 1, 2025.
• To qualify, be a Canadian resident for tax purposes, filed their tax return for the previous year, have no access to dental insurance, and have an adjusted family net income of less than $90,000. From March 2025 onward, current CDCP members must take action to renew their coverage. CDCP members must have filed their 2024 tax return and received their 2024 Notice of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency before applying for renewal at canada.ca/dental, in My Service Canada Account (MSCA) or by telephone.
• CDCP clients may access dental treatment at any local dental office that accepts the CDCP. A list of participating dental offices can be found at https://www.sunlife.ca/sl/cdcp/en/member/provider-search/.
• CDCP clients may be responsible for a co-payment based on their adjusted family net income. It is important to note that that CDCP fees do not fully reimburse what a dental office typically charges. Regardless of income level, dentists will have the choice to charge their patients additional fees to cover the dentist’s standard fees not covered by CDCP.
• For more information on how to apply, residents may contact Canada.ca directly at 1-833-537-4342, visit https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/dental/dental-care-plan.html, or visit any Service Canada Centre.

For more information on oral health for your family and for additional oral health resources, visit: Oral Health - Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit or contact 1-800-660-5853 or 613-345-5685 ext. 2456.