More than 5 million Canadians are enrolled in the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) for 2026–27, and many of them are looking for a dental office for the first time in years. If your practice accepts CDCP, the patients who need you most may not know it. Here’s how to fix that.
Where the CDCP stands now
As of September 30, 2026, federal figures show:
| Measure | Count |
|---|---|
| Members enrolled, 2026–27 benefit period | 5,015,189 |
| Members enrolled since launch | 7,653,151 |
| Members with an approved claim, 2026–27 | 1,362,283 |
| Participating providers | 29,541 |
| … of which denturists | 2,230 |
| … of which independently practising hygienists | 1,703 |
Source: Canadian Dental Care Plan statistics, Government of Canada.
To qualify, a person needs an adjusted family net income under $90,000, no access to private dental insurance, and a filed tax return as a Canadian resident (eligibility).
The gap between enrolment and care is the opportunity. Millions of members haven’t used their coverage yet, and many of them have to find a provider first.
The questions CDCP patients bring
A Canadian Dental Association report released in October found that 59% of CDCP patients expected their care to be completely free, and 37% of those who got care still reported financial barriers (CP24 coverage). Patients arrive unsure of what’s covered and what they’ll owe. The practice that explains it clearly, before the first visit, wins the booking.
Six ways to get found by CDCP patients
- Say it at the top of your website. A one-line banner such as “We now accept the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)” works. Legacy Denture Center in Nova Scotia does exactly this.
- Give CDCP its own page. Explain who qualifies, what’s covered at your practice, how co-pays work, and what to bring. Name your town in the page title so it can rank for searches like “denturist that accepts CDCP in Woodstock”.
- Update your Google Business Profile. Add CDCP to your description and services, and mention it in profile posts. Keep phone numbers out of post text, since Google can remove posts that include them.
- List on directories patients use. Smile Directory has a CDCP badge and a CDCP Providers search, and a basic listing is free.
- Collect CDCP details before the visit. Add a CDCP question to your intake forms. With ClinicForms, patients fill them in on their phone before they arrive.
- Be clear in your ads. If you run Google Ads, mention CDCP in the ad text and send clicks to your CDCP page, not your homepage.
A note for denturists and hygienists
Denturists and independent hygienists are a small share of participating providers, which makes it easier to stand out. A patient searching for “dentures covered by CDCP” has far fewer local options to choose from than one searching for a dentist.
Want help with this?
We build websites and run marketing for more than 40 independent dental, denture and health practices. Ask us for a free visibility check and we’ll tell you how CDCP patients in your area are finding practices like yours.