Dental Care for New Immigrants in Markham: Understanding Your Coverage Options

rahimmiah169

4 days ago

7 min read

If you have recently arrived in Canada and settled in Markham, navigating the dental care system can feel overwhelming. The rules are not obvious, the terminology is confusing, and the answers you find online often mix up OHIP, the CDCP, Healthy Smiles, and provincial programs in ways that make it hard to know what actually applies to you.

This guide is written specifically for newcomers in the Markham and York Region area. It covers exactly what OHIP does and does not cover for dental care, which federal and provincial programs you may be eligible for, how to access community resources, and how to transfer your dental records from your home country.

Does OHIP Cover Dental for New Immigrants?

The short answer is: almost nothing.

OHIP the Ontario Health Insurance Plan covers most doctor and hospital services. But it does not cover routine dental care: no cleanings, no fillings, no X-rays, no crowns, no root canals, and no extractions for adults in standard situations.

The only dental services OHIP covers are those related to accidents, certain oral surgeries performed in a hospital setting, or procedures that are inseparable from a covered medical treatment. Everyday dental visits the kind you need once or twice a year to keep your teeth healthy are not part of OHIP.

This is true for all Ontario residents, not just newcomers. Even Canadian citizens with an Ontario health card pay out of pocket for dental care unless they have private insurance or qualify for a government dental program.

📋 Good news on the waiting period: OHIP no longer has a 3-month waiting period for eligible newcomers. If you hold PR status and have been accepted by IRCC, you can apply for OHIP coverage immediately. But this change does not add dental coverage OHIP still does not cover routine dental even after you are enrolled.

The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP): What Newcomers Need to Know

The Canadian Dental Care Plan is a federal program that provides dental coverage for Canadians who do not have private insurance and whose family net income falls below $90,000 per year. It is currently the most important dental coverage option for eligible newcomers.

Who Qualifies?

To be eligible for the CDCP, you must:

Be a resident of Canada for tax purposes
Hold Canadian citizenship, permanent residence, or a valid work or study permit
Have filed a Canadian income tax return for the previous year
Have no access to private dental insurance through an employer, pension, or partner's plan
Have an adjusted family net income below $90,000 per year

For newcomers, the key requirement is the tax filing. If you arrived in Canada mid-year and have not yet filed a Canadian tax return, you may need to wait until you can file before becoming eligible. If you arrived as a temporary resident on a work or study permit, you are also eligible not just permanent residents.

How Much Does It Cover?

Coverage under the CDCP depends on your income:

Family net income under $70,000: no co-payment the plan covers 100% of eligible services
$70,000 to $79,999: you pay 40% of eligible services
$80,000 to $89,999: you pay 60% of eligible services
$90,000 and above: not eligible

What Does the CDCP Cover?

Preventive care: check-ups, cleanings, fluoride, sealants, diagnostic X-rays
Restorative care: fillings, crowns, root canals, dentures and denture repair
Surgical: simple and surgical extractions, periodontal (gum) treatment
Emergency: pain relief visits

What it does not cover: cosmetic dentistry (whitening, veneers), adult orthodontics (braces, aligners), and dental implants.

📍 At Hwy7 Family Dentistry: We are registered CDCP providers. If you are eligible for the Canadian Dental Care Plan, you can use it at our Markham clinic. We handle the billing directly you do not need to sort out paperwork on your own. Confirm your eligibility at canada.ca/dental before booking, and let us know when you call.

Healthy Smiles Ontario: Dental Coverage for Children

If you have children under 18, Healthy Smiles Ontario (HSO) is a provincial program that provides free dental care for eligible families. It covers children and youth up to age 17.

Eligibility for Healthy Smiles Ontario

Child must be 17 years old or younger
Must live in Ontario
Household net income must be at or below the income threshold (approximately $29,065 for a family with one child; the limit increases with each additional child)
Some families are enrolled automatically if they receive Ontario Works, Ontario Disability Support, or Temporary Care Assistance

For newly arrived families, the standard online application asks for a Social Insurance Number and a filed tax return. If you do not yet have these, there is an alternative path: you can contact the ServiceOntario INFOline at 1-844-296-6306 for guidance on applying with a Temporary Tax Number or through a guarantor option.

What Healthy Smiles Ontario Covers

Check-ups, cleaning, and scaling
Fillings, X-rays, and extractions
Urgent and emergency care, including toothache treatment

Cosmetic procedures (whitening, braces) are not covered under HSO.

York Region Dental Programs: Community Resources

York Region Public Health runs a dental services program for residents with low income who do not have dental insurance. These services are provided free of charge.

To find out whether you are eligible and what services are available in your area of Markham or York Region:

Phone: 1-800-361-5653 (York Region Health Connection) or 1-877-464-9675
TTY: 1-866-512-6228
Email: AccessYork@york.ca
Website: york.ca/dental
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Translation services are available. These programs operate separately from CDCP and HSO and can fill gaps for families who do not yet qualify for federal or provincial programs.

Transferring Your Dental Records from Your Home Country

If you had regular dental care in your home country, bringing those records to Canada can be valuable particularly for X-rays, treatment history, and any ongoing work like orthodontics or root canals.

How to Request Your Records

Contact your previous dentist by email or letter and ask for a copy of your dental records, including X-rays (in digital format if possible DICOM or JPEG files)
Ask for a clinical summary of any recent treatment and any work in progress
Most countries require your written consent before releasing dental records; a signed request letter is usually sufficient

What to Tell Your New Dentist in Markham

When you had your last cleaning or check-up
Any existing dental work: crowns, implants, root canals, bridges, or dentures
Any current dental concerns sensitivity, pain, a loose restoration
Any allergies to dental materials or anaesthetics

Even without records, a new dentist will take a full set of X-rays and do a clinical assessment on your first visit so you can start fresh with a complete picture.

Hwy7 Family Dentistry: Welcoming Markham's Newcomer Community

Markham is one of the most diverse communities in Canada, and our team at Hwy7 Family Dentistry reflects that. We regularly see patients from a wide range of backgrounds patients who are new to Canada, unfamiliar with the dental coverage system here, or coming to us for the first time after years without access to dental care.

What we offer newcomers specifically:

CDCP registration we bill directly for eligible patients
A welcoming first appointment that starts with a full assessment no judgment about gaps in care
Plain explanations of what we find, what it means, and what the options are
Help understanding which programs cover which services

If you are nervous about the dentist or haven't been in a long time, our post on dental anxiety and how we support nervous patients in Markham may help before you book.

Summary: Which Program Is Right for You?

Program	Who It Covers	What It Covers	How to Access
OHIP	All Ontario residents BUT dental is NOT covered	Medical services only no routine dental	N/A for dental purposes
CDCP (federal)	Citizens, PRs, and work/study permit holders; income under $90K; no private insurance; filed tax return	Cleanings, fillings, X-rays, extractions, crowns, root canals, dentures	Apply at canada.ca/dental; use at Hwy7 Family Dentistry
Healthy Smiles Ontario (provincial)	Children under 18 living in Ontario; household income below threshold (~$29,065 for 1 child)	Check-ups, cleanings, fillings, X-rays, extractions, emergency care	ontario.ca/healthysmiles or call 1-844-296-6306
York Region Dental Programs	Low-income York Region residents without dental insurance	Free dental services contact York Region for current scope	york.ca/dental or 1-800-361-5653

Ready to Book Your First Appointment?

If you have arrived in Markham and are ready to take care of your dental health, book at Hwy7 Family Dentistry. Tell us you are a newcomer when you call or book online we will confirm your CDCP status, walk you through what is covered, and schedule an initial assessment that starts fresh with where things are now.

FAQ QUESTIONS

Q1. Does OHIP cover dental for new immigrants?

No. OHIP covers most medical services in Ontario but does not cover routine dental care for anyone immigrants, permanent residents, or Canadian citizens. No cleanings, fillings, X-rays or extractions are covered under OHIP. To get dental coverage as a newcomer, you need to apply for the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) if you are eligible, check your children's eligibility for Healthy Smiles Ontario, or look into York Region dental programs for low-income residents.

Q2. What dental coverage do newcomers get in Canada?

Newcomers who are permanent residents or hold valid work or study permits, have filed a Canadian tax return, and have no private insurance may be eligible for the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP). The CDCP covers cleanings, fillings, X-rays, crowns, root canals, extractions, and dentures for eligible individuals with family net income under $90,000 per year. Children under 18 may also be eligible for Healthy Smiles Ontario, Ontario's provincial dental program for low-income families.

Q3. Can permanent residents apply for the Canadian Dental Care Plan?

Yes. Permanent residents are eligible for the CDCP provided they have filed a Canadian income tax return for the previous year, do not have access to private dental insurance, and have an adjusted family net income under $90,000. Work and study permit holders are also eligible under the same conditions. You can apply at canada.ca/dental. Once enrolled, you can use your CDCP benefits at any registered provider including Hwy7 Family Dentistry in Markham.

Q4. What is Healthy Smiles Ontario and can newcomer children use it?

Healthy Smiles Ontario is a provincial program that provides free dental care for children and youth under 18 who live in Ontario and meet the household income threshold (approximately $29,065 for a family with one child). The standard application requires a Social Insurance Number and a filed Canadian tax return, but families who do not yet have these can call the ServiceOntario INFOline at 1-844-296-6306 for guidance on alternative application options. The program covers check-ups, cleanings, fillings, X-rays, extractions, and emergency dental care.

Q5. How do I find a dentist in Markham who accepts the CDCP?

To use your CDCP benefits, you need to visit a CDCP-registered dental provider. Hwy7 Family Dentistry on Highway 7 in Markham is a registered CDCP provider. When you book, let the team know you are using the CDCP and confirm your eligibility at canada.ca/dental beforehand. Hwy7 accepts CDCP for eligible patients and handles the billing directly.