Dental care programs for low-income adults in Ontario are limited. Yet, there’s a growing number of individuals in need of dental care, particularly Ontarians within the lowest income brackets.
Did you know that approximately 8.5% of low-income Ontarians have avoided social interactions like smiling or laughing due to oral health problems?
While Canada has a universal healthcare system, it does not cover dental care. You may argue that dental insurance exists, but many residents in Ontario are unable to afford it.
Thankfully, the Government of Canada has been slowly addressing this issue and now has implemented a dental program for Canadians, including dental care for low-income families in Ontario.
Government Dental Programs For Low-Income Adults in Ontario
Your access to affordable dental care can depend on where you live. For instance, if you’re a low-income adult in Ontario, you can get dental care for yourself or your children through these programs:
Canada Dental Benefit
The Canada Dental Benefit is a new interim financial support measure implemented by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). They began receiving applications and processing payments starting December 1st, 2022.
It offers two payments over 2 years for children who are under 12 years old and receiving dental care which their parent or guardian is paying for out-of-pocket (meaning they don’t have private dental insurance).
How Much Can You Get Under The Canada Dental Benefit?
If eligible, you can use the Canada Dental Benefit to pay for any oral health services given by an oral health professional, including dental hygienists who are licensed to work in your province/territory.
If your household has no private dental insurance but an adjusted net income is less than $90,000, you may qualify for direct tax-free payments of:
| Benefit Amount Per Child | Household Net Income Requirement |
| $650 | Under $70,000 |
| $390 | $70,000 to $79,999 |
| $260 | $80,000 to $89,999 |
Can Low-Income Adults In Ontario Get Dental Care Through The Canada Dental Benefit?
As a parent or guardian, you can only qualify for this benefit if you’ve filed your previous year’s tax return and you’re receiving the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) for each eligible child in your care.
Children who are already covered by a government dental program can also qualify for this benefit, as long as their dental care costs haven’t been paid by that program.
When you claim this benefit, you also need to provide details about your dental professional and employer to help the CRA verify your eligibility in its existing systems.
Healthy Smiles Ontario
Healthy Smiles is a provincial program that’s administered by the Ontario Government. It provides free routine, emergency, and preventive dental services for children and youth who are 17 years old or younger and come from low-income households.
What’s Covered By Healthy Smiles Ontario?
Cosmetic dentistry, such as teeth whitening or braces, can’t qualify for Healthy Smiles Ontario. However, the program includes regular visits to a certified dental professional and can be used to cover the price of select dental treatments for your child, including:
- Check-ups
- Cleaning
- X-rays
- Filings (for cavities)
- Scaling
- Tooth extraction
- Urgent or emergency care (including tooth pain)
Who’s Eligible?
Your child will be automatically enrolled in Healthy Smiles Ontario if they’re receiving assistance under Temporary Care Assistance or Assistance For Children With Severe Disabilities. The same rule applies to children and families who receive Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support.
Otherwise, you can apply for the program if your children:
- Are 17 years of age or under
- Live in Ontario
- Are from a household with an income equal to or less than the ones set by the program.
Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program (OSDCP)
This new government-funded dental care program is designed to provide free routine dental services to seniors who are at least 65 years of age and earning a low income.
What’s Covered Under The Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program?
Although certain dental procedures included in the OSDCP have limits based on clinical and scientific requirements, the program generally offers the recipient full coverage for:
- Repairs for broken teeth or cavities
- Check-ups (including fluoride, scaling, and polishing)
- Anesthesia
- X-rays
- Oral surgery (teeth or abnormal tissue removal)
- Endodontic services (infection and pain treatment)
- Periodontal services (gum condition and disease treatment)
With the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program, keep in mind that prosthodontic services, including dentures and other dental prosthetics, are only partially covered.
Who Is Eligible For The Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program?
To qualify for the OSDCP, you must:
- Be 65 years of age or older
- Be a resident of Ontario
- Have no other type of dental benefits, including private insurance or dental coverage under another government-funded program, such as:
- Ontario Works
- Ontario Disability Support Program
- Non-Insured Health Benefits
- Meet one of the following income requirements:
- An annual net income of $22,200 or less for single seniors
- A combined annual net income of 37,100 or less for senior couples
Do you know if you qualify for the Ontario Child Benefit?
Ways To Pay For Dental Care For Low-Income Adults in Ontario
Unfortunately, not everyone can afford or qualify for dental insurance, whether it’s through a private provider or a government-funded program. If that’s the case, there are alternatives to cover your dental care costs, including:
Using A Personal Loan To Cover Dental Care For Low-Income Adults in Ontario
A personal loan allows you to borrow a lump sum of cash and repay it over an average term of 3 months to 5 years. This way, you can cover all your dental care costs at once and spread them across multiple payments, which could be more affordable than an insurance premium.
Before you apply, make sure you have a reliable source of income and reasonable debt levels. Then, check your credit score, you can do this for free through sites like CompareHub. Having good credit can help you qualify for more money, lower interest rates, smaller payments, and better personal loan terms.
Using A Credit Card To Cover Dental Care For Low-Income Adults in Ontario
If you’re a low-income adult in Ontario, a credit card can also be a good option to cover your dental care costs, since you can make minimum and partial payments. Plus, you can earn cashback, welcome bonuses, and other benefits with rewards credit cards. However, credit cards aren’t always the best way to pay for dental costs.
- Interest rates can be higher than other credit products (over 19.99%)
- Some dentists charge less for cash payments (no card processing fees, etc.)
- Some dentists offer cheaper in-house payment plans
- Many lenders offer loans with lower costs (if you have good credit and finances)
Using A Personal Line Of Credit To Cover Dental Care For Low-Income Adults in Ontario
A personal line of credit features similar benefits as a personal loan, in that it offers you a specific sum of money that you can use to cover your dental care costs. That said, it functions more like a credit card. You’ll receive a revolving credit limit, which you can withdraw from whenever you need, with the option of minimum or partial payments.
Although this can make dental care more affordable upfront, personal lines of credit can also have higher rates than personal loans. So, while they’re convenient and flexible, they may cost you more money.
Private Dental Insurance For Low-Income Adults In Ontario
Adults in Ontario can also purchase private dental insurance from providers like:
Ontario Blue Cross
Blue Cross is a health insurance issuer that offers a range of flexible benefits, including several levels of dental coverage. Premiums vary depending on the client and policy terms. And eligible individuals can normally receive dental coverage, plus other types of health coverage, all in one comprehensive and affordable payment plan. For example, here’s what a 30 year old individual will pay for Ontario Blue Cross dental coverage:
- Entry Plan – $31.79/month (provides 60% coverage for dental exams, cleanings, and fillings up to $500 per year)
- Essential Plan – $47.69/month (provides 70% coverage for dental exams, cleanings, extractions, and root canals)
- Enhanced Plan – $66.76/month (provides 80% coverage for dental costs, with orthodontics and major dental coverage at 60% up to maximums)
Manulife
As a client of Manulife, you can choose from four different Health & Dental Insurance Plans. Each with its own level of extended protection and benefits. Their programs offer coverage for common expenses, like prescriptions, dental care, vision, and much more. To give you a better idea of what Manulife Health & Dental plans can cost and cover, here’s what a 30 year old female could get in exchange for these monthly premiums:
- Base Plan – $96.20/month (includes 70% dental coverage up to a $400 yearly maximum, no medical questionnaire required when applying, and more)
- Bronze Plan – $129.50/month (includes 70% dental coverage up to a $500 yearly maximum, $100 every 2 years for vision expenses, and more)
- Silver Plan – $165.80/month (includes 80% dental coverage up to $600 for the first year, up to $900 for the second and subsequent years, and more)
- Gold Plan – $225.10/month (includes 80% dental coverage up to these levels):
- $750 for Year 1
- $1,000 for Year 2
- $1,200 for Years 3 & 4
- $1,500 for Year 5 and beyond
Sun Life
At Sun Life, all personal health insurance plans come with partial or full coverage for a selection of routine and emergency dental procedures, such as cleanings, dental x-rays, orthodontics, and oral surgeries. Although premiums and policy terms can also vary from client to client, Sun Life offers three categories of health and dental coverage:
- Basic Plan – Includes 60% coverage for preventive dental care costs, up to a maximum of $500 per year.
- Standard Plan – Includes optional coverage of 70% for preventative dental care costs, up to a maximum of $750 per year.
- Enhanced Plan – Includes several layers of dental coverage:
- Optional coverage of 80% for preventive care to $750 yearly maximum
- Plus 50% coverage for major restorative care to a $500 yearly maximum
- Plus 60% coverage for orthodontic services to a $1,500 lifetime maximum
Dental Care Trends For Adults In Ontario
As mentioned, not everyone in Ontario has access to affordable dental care. There are serious inequalities between older adults, low-income earners, and residents with less education. Recent studies by Public Health Ontario have found that among:
Older Adults
- The majority were uninsured (roughly 60%)
- About 23% were edentate (having few or no teeth)
- Only 6 out of 10 (60%) visited a dentist within the last year
- Around 40% visited a dentist solely in emergencies
Low-Income Earners
- The majority were uninsured (roughly 60%)
- Over 40% visited a dentist solely in emergencies
- Over 50% did not visit a dentist within the last year
- More lower-income residents reported losing teeth or having social limitations due to oral health programs in the last year, compared to high-income earners
The Uninsured
- Around 40% visited a dentist solely in emergencies
- A higher probability of being edentate or losing teeth due to oral health issues
- 50% visited a dentist in the past year and roughly 30% did not visit a dentist in the past 3 years due to anticipated financial constraints
Final Thoughts On Dental Care For Low-Income Adults In Ontario
As mentioned, cost is a significant barrier to dental care for low-income adults in Ontario. Thankfully, there are programs you can rely on to cover the cost of your child’s dental care. Though dental care for adults in Ontario is limited, you can rely on personal loans to help spread the cost. Similarly, health and dental insurance plans can be a good way to save money on medical and dental costs if you end up using them often.
Dental Care For Low-Income Adults In Ontario FAQs
Does the Ontario Health Insurance Plan cover dental treatments?
- Tumour removal
- Fracture repair
- Reconstructive surgeries
- Medically required tooth removal
- Cleft-lip correction
Does Toronto offer free dental insurance?
- Bathurst-Finch Hub – 540 Finch Ave. W., Toronto
- Kensington Clinic – 340 College St., Toronto
- L.A.M.P – 185 Fifth St., Toronto
- Rexdale C.H.C. – 8 Taber Rd., Toronto
- Unison Health & Community Services – 1541 Jane St., Toronto, ON M9N 2R3
