Find a CDCP Dentist Near Me

Find a CDCP provider near you

Estimate your out-of-pocket cost before you go

Why you cannot rely on a list alone: participation is voluntary

CDCP participation is not mandatory for dental providers in Canada. A dentist listed in a directory today may have stopped accepting new CDCP patients since the list was last updated. Directories such as the Sun Life CDCP Provider Search and the Health Canada participating dentist tool are the best starting points, but always call the office directly to confirm current status.

What to search:

• Sun Life CDCP Provider Search: sunlife.ca/cdcp — select "Find a provider" under the Member section.
• Health Canada tool: go to canada.ca and search "CDCP find a dentist."
• Sun Life CDCP Contact Centre: 1-888-888-8110 — can help you find a provider by phone.

Assignment billing vs non-assignment billing: the key distinction

When you find a CDCP dentist, there are two billing models. Understanding which one a clinic uses determines what you pay at the appointment.

Assignment billing (direct billing): The dentist submits the claim directly to Sun Life. You pay only your co-payment portion at the time of service. This is the standard model for active CDCP participants and the one you should confirm before booking.

Non-assignment (indirect billing): The dentist does not submit to Sun Life directly. You pay the full cost at the appointment, then submit your own claim to Sun Life for reimbursement. This is slower, creates upfront cost, and CDCP does not guarantee reimbursement for non-participating providers. Avoid this model if possible.

When calling a dental office, say: "I am a CDCP member. Do you accept CDCP assignment — meaning you bill Sun Life directly so I only pay my co-payment?"

Balance billing: the hidden out-of-pocket risk

Even at participating, assignment-billing clinics, you can still owe money beyond your co-payment. This is called balance billing.

The CDCP pays providers based on the CDCP Dental Benefit Grid — a federal schedule of maximum fees for each procedure code. If a dentist charges more than the Grid fee, the difference is billed directly to you.

Example: A cleaning (preventive scaling) has a CDCP Grid fee of $X in your province. If the dentist charges $Y (above the Grid), you pay the difference regardless of your income tier. A member with 0% co-payment still owes the balance above the Grid.

Before your appointment, ask: "Do you charge above the CDCP fee grid for any services? If so, can you give me an estimate of what I would owe out-of-pocket?"

Dentists are not required to waive balance billing, but some clinics — particularly community health centres and nonprofit dental clinics — commit to charging only at or below the CDCP Grid fee.

Pre-appointment phone checklist: 5 questions to ask

Call the dental office before booking and ask these five questions:

1. "Do you accept the CDCP?"
2. "Do you bill Sun Life directly — assignment billing — so I only pay my co-payment at the appointment?"
3. "Do you charge above the CDCP Dental Benefit Grid fee (balance billing), and if so, can you estimate what I would owe?"
4. "Are you currently accepting new CDCP patients?"
5. "If I need a crown, bridge, or other preauthorized service, do you handle the Sun Life preauthorization request on my behalf?"

A clinic that answers yes to questions 1, 2, and 4, and is transparent about question 3, is the type of CDCP provider that minimizes unexpected costs.

Alternative CDCP provider types

CDCP coverage is not limited to dentists. The following provider types are also covered under the plan and may offer shorter wait times in some communities:

• Independent dental hygienists: Can perform preventive and maintenance services (cleanings, scaling, fluoride) under CDCP without a dentist referral in most provinces.
• Denturists: Covered for complete and partial dentures under CDCP, often faster than general dental clinics for prosthetic work.
• Dental specialists: Oral surgeons, periodontists, and endodontists participate in some regions. Use the Sun Life provider search filtered by specialty to locate them.

When searching the Sun Life Provider Directory, use the provider type filter to find hygienists, denturists, and specialists in addition to general dentists.

What to do at your appointment

Present your Sun Life CDCP member card when you arrive. If you do not have the physical card, provide your plan number and member ID (available in the Sun Life CDCP online portal at sunlife.ca/cdcp or in My Service Canada Account). The dentist submits the claim directly to Sun Life after the appointment.

For procedures requiring preauthorization — crowns, complex restorations, certain periodontal services — your dentist must request preauth from Sun Life before performing the work, not after. If you have questions about what requires preauth, ask your dentist or call Sun Life at 1-888-888-8110.

Maillage: related CDCP pages

• CDCP coverage: what is covered and at what percentage
• CDCP eligibility and income tiers
• How to apply for the CDCP
• CDCP renewal guide
• Find any dentist in Canada
• Dental costs in Canada

Frequently asked questions

This page summarizes publicly available Government of Canada and Sun Life CDCP program information for research and planning purposes. Real Dental Costs is an independent data publisher not affiliated with the Government of Canada or Sun Life Financial. Provider directories change frequently — always confirm participation directly with the dental office before booking. For official guidance, visit canada.ca/dental or call Service Canada at 1-833-537-4342.