From December 2023 until end of April 2024, seniors who receive invitation letters may call Service Canada to apply via an automated Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system. When applying, they will be asked for two pieces of identification and whether they currently have access to any type of dental benefits. The applicant will immediately be notified whether they have been successful in applying and are eligible. They will also receive a letter confirming this information.

Seniors aged 65 to 69 years and seniors who received a letter but were not able to apply by phone will be able to apply online starting in May 2024, followed by persons with a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate and children under the age of 18 years in June 2024.

Once an individual is determined to be eligible, Service Canada will share the applicant’s information with Sun Life, the contracted service provider, for the purpose of enrolment into the CDCP. Sun Life will enrol eligible applicants in the CDCP and will send them a welcome package, including information on the CDCP, coverage details, their member card, and the start date of their coverage.

Canadians who are enrolled in the CDCP will be able to start seeing an oral health provider as early as May 2024, starting with seniors. The start date to access oral health care will vary based on when each group can apply, when the application is received and when enrolment is completed.

Appointments with an oral health provider should be scheduled as of their coverage start date, and no sooner, for the oral health care services to be covered under the plan. The CDCP will not reimburse oral health care services received before the start date provided in the welcome package from Sun Life.

When applications open?

Applications will first open for seniors aged 87 and above in December 2023, expanding in phases to those aged 77 to 86 in January 2024, followed by those aged 72 to 76 in February 2024, then those aged 70 to 71 years in March 2024.

Individuals in these age groups who may be eligible will receive letters inviting them to apply, with instructions on how to validate their eligibility and apply by telephone.

In May 2024, an online application portal will open for seniors 65 and older. Persons with a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate and children under the age of 18 will be able to apply online as of June 2024. All remaining eligible Canadian residents will be able to apply online in 2025.

Canada Dental Benefit

What is the Canada Dental Benefit?

The Canada Dental Benefit would provide payments up to $650 per child per year for two years for families with adjusted net income under $90,000 per year and without dental coverage.

• $650 would be provided for each eligible child if the family’s adjusted net income is under $70,000
• $390 would be provided for each eligible child if the family’s adjusted net income is between $70,000 and $79,999
• $260 would be provided for each eligible child if the family’s adjusted net income is between $80,000 and $89,999

The benefit can be used for any dental treatment provided by Buswell Dental Centre.

Who can apply?

Parents or guardians:

• Have a child under 12 years of age, who does not have access to private dental care coverage
• Have an adjusted family net income under $90,000 per year
• Have filed last year tax return
• Receive the Canada Child Benefit for each eligible child
• Have or will have dental care expenses for each eligible child that have not been fully reimbursed under another federal, provincial or territorial government program

How can you apply?

Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) My Account will be the quickest, easiest and most secure way to apply for the Canada Dental Benefit. You will need to provide information on the dental care visit, including the name of your child's dental care provider(s) and your employer information.

If you're unable to apply for the Canada Dental Benefit online, call 1-800-715-8836 to get your application started. Make sure you have your Social Insurance Number, address, date of birth and a copy of your income tax return from last year.

When can you apply?

Parents can apply starting December 1,2022 for dental care received by their eligible child back to October 1,2022, so long as their child will still be under 12 on December 1. For the second payment, parents can apply starting July 1,2023.

Covid-19

COVID-19 Information for Dental Patients

Buswell Dental Centre and our dental team have been experts at infection control for a long time. As we enter Phase 2 of the COVID-19 pandemic in BC, dental patients have an important role to play in keeping everyone safe.

• Contact our dental office in advance of any visit and advise them if you are at all unwell or have any flu-like symptoms, or have traveled outside BC
• Complete the patient screening form and Patient Acknowledgement Form in advance of your visit (see the below links)
• Clean your hands
• Limit your wait time in our office and/or wait outside our office if you are accompanying another person to the appointment
• Observe physical distancing requirements in our dental office, before and after, treatment
• Observe any other policies or procedures noted by our dental office

We thank our patients for your understanding and patience as our dental office adapts to new office changes to meet evolving public health policies.

We're all in this together!

Patient Screening Online Form:

Patient Screening Online Form

Patient Forms:

Patient Screening Form
Patient Acknowledgement Form