Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program: Things To Know In 2025
As an adult above age 65, you may want to reduce your dental costs using government benefits. That’s where the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program (OSDCP) can help if you’re an Ontario resident.
The plan was announced in 2019 for seniors living in Ontario. It was officially launched the following year and has been allowing older adults to receive timely dental care.
If you want to obtain the OSDCP in 2025, we’ll help you learn its eligibility criteria, application method, and more below.
What Is Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program?
Routine dental care for Ontario residents is available in the form of the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program. It has been designed to target the older adult population in this Canadian province.
You can receive dental care under the OSDCP if you’re a senior belonging to a low-income household in Ontario. The best thing about the program is that it allows you to get specific procedures and examinations for free.
Knowing who is eligible for Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program can help you determine whether you can apply for it.
Who Is Eligible For Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program 2025?
The government-funded program is available to all seniors who meet the following eligibility criteria:
You’re a senior aged 65 or above
You’re an Ontario resident
You meet the income requirements of single or married seniors
You don’t have other provincial dental benefits besides the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)
Meeting these four points can make applying for the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program a breeze. You must ensure you don’t have prior Ontario dental benefits, such as coverage under Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program.
A senior citizen can only have CDCP coverage with the OSDCP because the former is a federal insurance plan, not a provincial one. Older adults in Ontario can enjoy the benefits of OSDCP alone, CDCP alone, or OSDCP and CDCP together.
What Is Covered By Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program?
The Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program has been developed to offer free routine dental care to provincial residents. Its coverage includes:
Dental check-ups
Teeth scaling and fluoride polishing
Dental x-rays
Extraction of one or more teeth
Removal of abnormal oral tissue
Dental sedation
Treatment for tooth infections and pain
Treatment for gum diseases such as periodontitis
All these benefits will be fully covered by the OSDCP to reduce your financial burden. There is also another service you can receive under the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program.
The plan offers partial coverage of dental prosthetic services, such as getting dentures. Some of your costs for this category will be covered by the government, while you must pay the remaining amount.
Keep in mind that you cannot adjust your remaining fees to your CDCP coverage. That’s because there is no coordination of benefits between the CDCP and OSDCP.
How To Apply For Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program?
Before you learn how to apply for Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program, check your eligibility. Learning the process will be futile if you don’t know who is eligible for the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program.
If you fulfill the eligibility criteria, you must gather specific information, including your:
Registered date of birth
Current and valid Ontario address
Social insurance number (SIN)
Temporary taxation number (TTN)
Besides these details, you also have to ensure you’ve filed your tax returns for the previous year. Once you have all the information, you must follow one of the two methods of how to apply for the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program:
Method 1: Complete Online Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program Application
The easiest and most convenient method for applying to the OSDCP is completing the online application. You can visit the Ontario government website to access the form.
Complete the relevant fields such as your birth date, SIN, spouse information, and more. Then add your eSignature to agree to the terms and conditions. Finally, submit the form for review.
If you don’t have an eSignature, you can also opt for a second approach that follows the steps below:
Complete and submit the online application
Print and fill out the additional consent form
Mail the consent form to Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program, Station P, P.O. Box 159, within 30 days
It is up to you whether you want to complete the online form and attach an eSignature or complete the online application and mail the consent form. For both approaches, you’ll have two hours to submit the form.
The Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program application session ends within two hours. Applicants who are not able to submit the form within this limit must restart the whole process.
Method 2: Send Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program Application By Mail
People who are worried about not meeting the two-hour deadline for the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program application often opt for the mailing method.
It is also a great option for seniors who don’t know how to use online portals well. You can use the following steps to submit your application with this method:
Visit the Ontario government website
Search for OSDCP forms
Download the English or French version of the form
Print out the form with empty fields
Fill out all the relevant information
Mail the completed form to Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program, Station P, P.O. Box 159
The relevant officers will review your filled application form and decide whether to approve it. If you don’t know how to access online sites for downloading and printing the empty form, no need to worry.
Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program forms can also be obtained from any local public health unit in the province.
What Happens After You Submit Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program Application?
Your application will be thoroughly reviewed by government officers supervising the OSDCP application process. If any mistakes are found in the form, they will contact you.
All incomplete applications or forms with errors have to be revised with updated information. The government officer will guide you on whether you should submit the form again or provide them with the correct details on the spot.
Once your application is reviewed and approved, you’ll receive a welcome package through the mail. This will also contain the dental card you can use at clinics such as KWC Dental to receive routine dental procedures.
Always keep the card safe with you because you’ll have to present it at every dental visit. This is regardless of whether you’re visiting a dentist in Bridgeport on multiple days for one specific treatment.
FAQs
How Long Do You Have To Wait For Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program Coverage?
The Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program applications take a few weeks for approval. Most forms are approved within four months of submission.
Does Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program Expire?
Yes, the OSDCP expire on 31st July every year. You can enjoy free dental care for one year. Once your coverage ends, you can renew it for another year to continue receiving benefits.
How To Renew Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program Coverage?
Every year, governments automatically verify the eligibility of current OSDCP members for renewal the following year. You will be sent a mail containing details on whether you’re still eligible for the plan or you must reapply. If it’s the former option, you can continue to receive care without submitting a new application.
When Do You Have To Reapply For Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program Renewal?
The OSDCP authorities may ask you to reapply to the plan for renewing benefits if you applied through a guarantor or didn’t file your latest tax returns.
How To Apply For Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program Without A SIN Or Filing Tax Return?
If you don’t have a SIN or didn’t file tax returns, you can apply through a guarantor by mail. This person may be your lawyer, dentist in Bridgeport, public notary, or social worker.
What Other Dental Benefits Can Seniors Obtain In Ontario?
You can apply for the Canadian Dental Care Plan to receive dental benefits if you’re aged 65 or above in Ontario.
Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program Vs Canadian Dental Care Plan: What Should I Get?
The OSDCP offers free routine dental care to senior citizens, while the CDCP only covers a specific percentage of dental fees. If you’re an Ontario resident, the OSDCP may be suitable for you.
For senior citizens outside the province, CDCP is a better option. You can also enroll in both plans to receive cost reductions for procedures that the OSDCP doesn’t cover.
Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program Participating Dentists: Receive Care At KWC Dental Today
Enjoy free dental care in Ontario under the OSDCP by the provincial government. If you’re a member of this program, you can enjoy teeth scaling, dental polishing, and routine examinations for free.
Contact KWC Dental today to learn about the treatments you can receive at our clinic. We participate in various programs, including the CDCP, to ensure people don’t worry about essential dental procedures due to cost reasons.