What to bring to a first CDCP visit

Reviewed by Dr. Samar Fadavi, DDS

Short answer: For a first Canadian Dental Care Plan visit, bring your CDCP member ID, your benefit coverage start date and your co-payment level (all on your enrolment letter), a piece of identification, your member card if it has arrived, a list of your medications and health conditions, and any past dental records. Book only on or after your start date, and ask about any costs the plan does not cover before treatment.

Why this guide

Since the Canadian Dental Care Plan opened to more age groups, many people in Scarborough and East Toronto have booked a dental visit for the first time in years. Some have not seen a dentist since childhood. Others are newcomers, retirees who lost workplace coverage, or parents booking for their children. A common question at our front desk is simple: what do I need to bring?

This guide answers that question in plain language. It explains which papers matter, why the clinic needs them, what happens at the first visit and which questions to ask before any treatment starts. It is general information, and plan rules can change, so always check the official CDCP pages for your own situation. For how the plan works at our clinic, visit our Canadian Dental Care Plan page.

Before you book: check your start date

When your application is approved, the Government of Canada sends a letter by mail or email, depending on how you chose to hear from them. That letter confirms that you are enrolled and lists four key pieces of information:

• your CDCP plan number
• your CDCP member ID
• your benefit coverage start date
• your co-payment level

The start date is the most important detail when booking. Only care received on or after that date is covered. If you book an appointment before your start date, that visit will not be covered by the plan, even if your coverage begins a few days later. When you call to book, tell the clinic that you are a CDCP member and have your letter in front of you.

You can also view your CDCP letters in your My Service Canada Account if you have one. This is handy if the paper letter has gone missing.

Your checklist for the first visit

Here is what to bring, with a short note on why each item helps.

1. Your CDCP enrolment letter

Bring the letter from the Government of Canada, either on paper or on your phone. It holds your member ID, start date and co-payment level. The clinic uses it to create or update your patient file and to check your coverage with the plan.

2. Your member card, if it has arrived

Once you are found eligible, your information is shared with Sun Life, which administers claims for the plan. Sun Life mails a welcome package with a physical member card and information about the plan. Bring the card if you have it. You can also download a printable member card through your Sun Life online account.

You do not need to wait for the card to get care. If it has not arrived yet, you can still be seen as long as you provide your member ID, a piece of identification, your coverage start date and your co-payment level.

3. A piece of identification

Bring identification with your name on it, such as a driver’s licence or Ontario photo card. For a child, the parent or guardian should bring their own identification and the child’s CDCP information.

4. Your co-payment level

The plan pays a portion of the cost of covered care. Depending on your adjusted family net income, you may have a co-payment, which is the part of the plan’s fee that you pay directly to the clinic. Your level is printed on your letter. Knowing it helps the front desk explain your share before treatment.

5. A list of medications and health conditions

Write down every medication you take, including vitamins, inhalers and over-the-counter products, with the dose if you know it. Note any health conditions, recent surgeries, allergies and whether you are pregnant. Some conditions and medications affect dental care. For example, blood thinners, certain heart conditions and some bone medications can change how a dentist plans treatment. Our guide on heart conditions, medications and dental care explains why this matters.

6. Your doctor’s name and contact details

If the dentist needs to ask your doctor a question before treatment, having the name and phone number ready saves time.

7. Past dental records, if you have them

Recent x-rays and notes from a previous dentist help the new dentist understand past work and can sometimes reduce the need to repeat x-rays. If you were treated in another country, records in another language are still useful. You can ask your previous clinic to send them, or bring copies.

8. Your dentures, retainers or night guards

If you wear any appliance in your mouth, bring it, even if it no longer fits. The dentist will want to see it.

9. Reading glasses and a list of questions

You may be asked to read and sign forms. Bring your glasses and a short list of questions you want answered. It is easy to forget a question once you are in the chair.

10. Someone to help, if you need support

If you prefer to have a family member, friend or caregiver with you, they are welcome. If you would like care in another language, let us know when you book. Our team speaks English, French and Farsi, and we serve patients who use ASL.

Questions to ask when you book

A short phone call before the visit can prevent surprises. It helps to confirm a few things when booking or discussing services. These are good questions to ask any clinic:

• Do you accept CDCP patients, and will you bill the plan directly for covered services?
• Can you confirm that my coverage is active before my appointment?
• Are there any costs I may need to pay in addition to my co-payment?
• How long will the first visit take, and what does it include?
• Is there parking or step-free access?

At Dental Care For You, we see CDCP patients and bill the plan directly for covered services. Our clinic at 3520 Danforth Ave is wheelchair accessible, and parking is available behind the building.

What happens at a first CDCP visit

A first visit under the plan looks much like any new patient visit. Our new patients page explains our steps, but in general you can expect the following.

Paperwork and coverage check

The front desk confirms your details, enters your CDCP information and checks that your coverage is active. You fill in a health history form. This is where your medication list comes in handy.

Exam and x-rays

The dentist examines your teeth, gums, bite and the soft tissue of your mouth, including a check for signs of oral cancer. X-rays are taken if they are needed to see between teeth, below fillings or around the roots. Our guide to dental x-rays explains the types and why they are used.

Cleaning

Depending on what the dentist finds and how much time is booked, a cleaning may happen at the first visit or at a second appointment. If you have not had a cleaning in a long time, it may be spread over more than one visit. Our guide on what CDCP covers for cleanings explains how preventive care works under the plan.

A treatment plan and estimate

If you need treatment, the dentist explains what was found, the options and the order in which care is suggested. Before any treatment, ask for a written estimate. The clinic can submit an estimate to Sun Life to confirm what the plan covers. Some services, including many crowns and some denture work, need preauthorization, which means the plan must approve them before treatment begins. Our guide to CDCP and crowns, bridges and dentures explains which of these services the plan includes.

Understanding what you may pay

The plan helps make dental care more affordable, but it may not cover every cost. You may have to pay part of the cost directly to the clinic in three situations:

• your co-payment level means you pay a share of the plan’s fee
• the clinic’s fee for a service is more than the amount the plan reimburses
• you and the dentist agree to a service the plan does not cover

Even if you have no co-payment, you may still have a share to pay if the clinic’s fee is above what the plan covers. That is why it is so important to ask before treatment. A good clinic explains your share clearly and in writing, and you decide which services you accept.

The amount covered is based on the plan rules and fees in effect on the day you receive the service. It can differ from an earlier estimate, so ask the clinic to recheck if there is a long gap between the estimate and the treatment.

One more point that surprises many people: under the CDCP, only the clinic is reimbursed by the plan. If you pay the full amount yourself, Sun Life will not reimburse you. Let the clinic bill the plan directly.

For more on how billing works at our clinic, see our dental insurance and payment page.

Bringing a child to a first CDCP visit

Children can be covered under the plan as dependants. For a child’s first visit, the parent or guardian should bring the child’s CDCP details from the enrolment letter, their own identification and the child’s health information, including any medications and allergies. Bring the names of any previous dentists and any records from them.

Children usually manage a visit more easily at a time of day when they are rested. Talk about the visit in simple, positive words beforehand. Our guide to your child’s first dental visit has tips to help it go smoothly.

For seniors and caregivers

Many older adults joined the plan in its first years, and some have not seen a dentist in a long time. If you are helping a parent book, consider these points:

• Bring the complete medication list, including eye drops, inhalers and supplements.
• Bring any dentures, even old ones, and mention any sore spots or loose fit.
• If the person uses a walker or wheelchair, mention it when booking so the team can plan.
• If the person has memory changes, a family member can help with forms and questions, with the person’s consent.

Our geriatric dental care page explains how we look after older patients.

Keeping your coverage active

The plan covers a set benefit period, and members must renew every year to confirm they still meet the rules. Care received during a gap in coverage is not covered. If you receive a renewal notice, complete it within the renewal period. If you are unsure of your status, check it through the official CDCP status checker or by phone before your next appointment.

Keep your contact details up to date in your My Service Canada Account so that you receive letters and renewal reminders. Tell the clinic if your member ID or co-payment level changes.

Watch out for scams

The CDCP has attracted scam calls, texts and emails. Be careful with anyone who contacts you about the plan and asks for banking or credit card information. If you are unsure whether a message is real, contact the plan directly using the details on the official Government of Canada website. You can read more on the official CDCP after you apply page.

What to avoid

• Booking before your benefit coverage start date.
• Assuming every service is covered without asking.
• Agreeing to treatment before you understand your share of the cost.
• Paying the full amount yourself and expecting the plan to reimburse you.
• Forgetting to renew your coverage each year.
• Leaving out medications or health conditions on the health form.
• Sharing banking details with unknown callers who mention the plan.

When to see a dentist

Book your first CDCP visit as soon as your coverage start date arrives, even if nothing hurts, so the dentist can set a baseline and find problems early. Call the same day for pain, swelling, a broken tooth or a lost filling. Learn how the plan works at our clinic on our Canadian Dental Care Plan page.

Frequently asked questions

Can I go to the dentist before my CDCP card arrives?

Yes, as long as your coverage start date has passed and you bring your member ID, a piece of identification, your start date and your co-payment level.

Where do I find my member ID?

It is on the enrolment letter from the Government of Canada and on the front of your member card. You can also view your letters in your My Service Canada Account.

Will the clinic bill the plan directly?

Clinics that accept CDCP patients bill the plan directly for covered services. At Dental Care For You, we do this for you. Ask any clinic to confirm before booking.

Do I have to pay anything at the visit?

It depends on your co-payment level, the services you receive and whether the clinic’s fee is above the plan amount. Ask the clinic to explain your share before treatment.

Does the plan cover everything the dentist recommends?

No. Some services are not covered, and some need approval from the plan first. The clinic can explain which parts of your treatment plan are covered.

Can my whole family use their CDCP coverage on the same day?

Often, yes. Each person has their own member ID. Bring the details for everyone and ask when booking.

What if my coverage lapses?

Care received during a gap is not covered. Renew within the renewal period each year, and check your status if you are unsure.