Yes. CDCP renewal happens every year, and your coverage does not roll over on its own. The good news is that renewing is shorter than the first application. It's a check that you still qualify, not starting from scratch.
We get this question at the front desk a lot, usually from someone who signed up in the first wave and assumed they were set for good. Here's how renewal works, what the government needs from you, and what to do if the June deadline came and went.
Why CDCP renewal is every year
The Canadian Dental Care Plan runs on a benefit period that ends on June 30 each year. To stay covered past that date, every member has to renew and confirm they still meet the rules. The plan is income-tested, so the government needs your latest tax information each year to check where you land.
Renewal also matters for your share of the bill. Canada.ca notes that your co-payment can change when you renew, because it's based on your most recent family income. If your income went up or down, what you pay at the dentist may change too.
The 2026 renewal window has closed
For the current benefit year, the renewal window ran from April 15 to June 1, 2026. If you renewed in that window, your coverage carried on into the period that runs from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027. You don't need to do anything else until next spring.
The next renewal window, for the 2027 to 2028 benefit period, opens in spring 2027. The government hasn't posted the exact dates yet, so watch your mail or your My Service Canada Account around April.
Who has to renew
Everyone who is a member. That includes each adult and each child on the plan. One detail trips people up: if you have a spouse or common-law partner, they have to submit their own renewal to stay covered. Listing their information on your renewal only confirms your marital status and works out your family income. It doesn't renew them.
What you need before you can renew
The biggest thing is your taxes. You can only renew once you've filed your income tax return for the previous year and received your Notice of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency. If you have a spouse or common-law partner, they need to have filed too. This is why the government pushes people to file early every spring.
You still have to meet all four eligibility rules:
- No access to private dental insurance, including through work, a pension, or a family member's plan
- You (and your spouse or partner, if you have one) filed a tax return in Canada
- Adjusted family net income under $90,000
- You're a Canadian resident for tax purposes
When you renew, you confirm or update a few details for each person: Social Insurance Number (if a child has one), date of birth, full name, home and mailing address, and any dental coverage you get through a government social program.
Be honest about private coverage. If your answers don't match your T4 or T4A slips, you can be picked for an eligibility review. If you turn out not to qualify, you can be removed from the plan and asked to pay back what the plan covered.
How to renew or apply
Renewal and new applications both go through Service Canada. There's no fee for either.
- Online: sign in to your My Service Canada Account and go to the Canadian Dental Care Plan section, or start from the government application page.
- By phone: call Service Canada at 1-833-537-4342 (TTY 1-833-677-6262).
If you'd rather not do it alone, a trusted person can help you, or a legal delegate with proof of authority, like a power of attorney. A lot of the seniors we see bring a son, daughter or neighbour along for this part, and that's completely fine.
One warning the government repeats, and so will we: nobody legitimate will call or text you asking for banking or credit card details to renew your CDCP. If someone does, hang up.
Missed the June 1 deadline? Here's what happens
You can't renew late for 2026 to 2027. Canada.ca is clear that once the window closes, the only route back is a new application. If you're applying for the first time rather than renewing, our full guide to the CDCP walks through who qualifies and what's covered. Applications for the 2026 to 2027 benefit period are open now.
The catch is the gap. From the day your old coverage ended until your new application is approved, you're not covered. Any dental work you have during that gap won't be paid for, and it won't be paid back later once you're approved.
So if you think your coverage lapsed, apply now rather than waiting until something hurts. If you already have pain or a broken tooth, call us anyway. We answer the phone 24/7 and can talk through your options, including payment plans through Medicard, while your application goes through.
One thing worth doing before your next visit: bring your newest CDCP card or approval letter with you. We bill Sun Life directly, so we need your current member details.
How we help CDCP patients at Aviation Dental
We see a lot of people who stepped away from the dentist for years, sometimes because of cost, sometimes because they felt embarrassed about the state of their teeth. Our job is to make coming back simple.
- We welcome CDCP patients and bill Sun Life directly, so you're not paying up front and waiting on a cheque.
- We help people apply. If your coverage lapsed or you never signed up, our front desk can walk you through it.
- We offer free consults before treatment, so you know what's needed and what's covered before anything starts.
- Our phone is answered 24/7, and we have emergency appointments when something can't wait.
- We speak English and Spanish in the clinic.
We're at 465 Aviation Rd NE, just east of Deerfoot and McKnight. If you're not sure whether you're covered right now, that's a normal place to start. Bring your member ID if you have it and we'll figure out the rest with you.