Understanding the Canada Dental Benefit 

The Canada Dental Benefit was set up to help families with dental costs for their children. Initially, it offered up to $650 per child under 12 who didn’t have private insurance. It’s now been broadened to include all Canadians, regardless of age, as long as their family income is below $70,000. While the full program for those over 12 will start in July 2024, there’s a temporary benefit available right now for children. 

Application Periods 

The government has set specific times when you can apply for this dental benefit. The first application phase, which is now closed, was for treatments between October 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023. The second phase is currently open. This time, it’s for kids born on or after July 2, 2011. The treatments must be received in Canada from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, and eligibility is determined by your 2022 tax return. You need to have a dental appointment booked before you apply, so you can give details about the dentist and the appointment. 

What Dental Services are Covered? 

The benefit covers a range of dental services provided by licensed professionals like dentists, dental hygienists, and denturists. This includes: 

• Preventative care 
• Diagnostics 
• Orthodontics 
• Root canals (Endodontics) 
• Gum care (Periodontics) 
• Fillings and crowns (Restorative services) 
• Dentures (Prosthodontics) 
• Oral surgery 

Benefit Amounts 

The amount you can receive varies based on your family income as shown in your 2022 tax return: 

• $650 per child if the family income is under $70,000. 
• $390 per child for incomes between $70,000 and $79,888. 
• $260 per child for incomes between $80,000 and $89,999. 

 If your child’s dental costs exceed $650 and you’re not applying for both periods, you might get an extra payment. 

Eligibility Criteria 

To qualify for the benefit, there are a few requirements: 

• The child must not have private dental insurance. 
• The dental costs must not be fully covered by another program. 
• The applicant must be receiving the Canada Child Benefit for the child as of July 1, 2023. 
• Both the parent/guardian and their spouse or common-law partner must have filed their 2022 tax returns. 
• Newcomers to Canada who arrived in 2023 must provide their 2022 world income statement, which they used for the Canada Child Benefit.  

How to Apply 

The easiest way to apply is through a CRA My Account, which is also useful for filing taxes and accessing tax documents. You can also call the CRA at 1-800-715-8836 to apply. You’ll need to provide the dental care provider’s details, the appointment date, and information from the parent/guardian’s 2022 Notice of Assessment or Reassessment. Receipts are not needed when applying, but you should keep them for six years in case the CRA asks to see them. 

It generally takes 5-10 days for the CRA to process your benefit claim. You can apply for multiple children at once or separately. Remember, you can’t claim these dental expenses as a medical expense later on.