Seniors may be eligible if they:

• Are 65 years or older
• Are a resident of Ontario
• Have an annual net income of $25,000 or less for a single person, or a combined annual net income of $41,500 or less for a couple
• Have no access to any other form of dental benefits including private insurance or through government programs such as Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), Ontario Works (OW), or the Non-Insured Health Benefit (NIHB)

• Check-ups including scaling, fluoride and polishing
• Repairing broken teeth and cavities
• X-rays
• Removing teeth or abnormal tissue (oral surgery)
• Anaesthesia
• Treating infection and pain (endodontic services)
• Treating gum conditions and diseases (periodontal services)
• Dental prosthetics (prosthodontic services) including dentures, will be partially covered

If a senior does not meet the OSDCP eligibility criteria, they may be eligible for the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP). Visit the Government of Canada website for information on application and eligibility criteria. 

If a senior is not eligible for OSDCP or CDCP, and are experiencing a dental emergency, they may be eligible for temporary dental coverage through discretionary benefits; to determine eligibility, please call Community Services at 519-883-2100 (option 1) for more information. 

A senior may also call dental offices in their area to see if they offer payment plans or reduced fees for those without insurance. If a senior is in pain, they should go to their family physician, walk-in clinic or nearest emergency room.

Seniors can apply to the OSDCP online or through mail:

Online:

1. Visit ontario.ca/SeniorsDental
2. Complete the online application form
3. Print and sign the consent form
4. Mail the signed consent form within 30 days to:

Ministry of Health
Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program
Station P. P.O. Box 159
Toronto, ON M5S 2S7

Mail:

1. Get an application form. Visit ontario.ca/SeniorsDental to download the form and print it. Or, pick up an application form at the nearest Community Health Centre or Public Health Dental Clinic listed below
2. Complete and sign the application
3. Mail the application to:

Ministry of Health
Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program
Station P. P.O. Box 159
Toronto, ON M5S 2S7

Applications will be assessed by the OSDCP Program Administrator (Accerta).

Seniors may call the OSDCP’s bilingual (English/French) contact centre if they need help completing the application.

Call: 416-916-0204

Toll-Free: 1-833-207-4435

TTY: 1-800-855-0511

Seniors may also get assistance completing the application form by making an appointment at their nearest Community Health Centre or Public Health Dental Clinic listed below. Seniors will need to bring:

• A piece of ID
• Their Social Insurance Number (SIN) or Temporary Taxation number
• If senior has a spouse (married or common-law), their spouse must also include their information on the form, including SIN or Temporary Taxation number, and provide their signature for consent, regardless of their age

If a senior or his/her spouse does not have a SIN and/or did not file their tax return(s), they will need a Guarantor to confirm they meet the eligibility requirements of the OSDCP. The Guarantor Form (5126-20E) is available at ontario.ca/SeniorsDental. This form must be printed, filled out and mailed to the OSDCP, or a hard copy form may be picked up at the nearest Community Health Centre or Public Health Dental Clinic listed above.

A Guarantor must be a person that:

• Is a Canadian Citizen and 18 years of age or older
• Can confirm the identity of the applicant and if applicable, their spouse/common law partner and the identity, age and Ontario residency of the client(s)
• Is a member of a regulated profession (e.g. dentist, teacher, nurse, doctor, lawyer) or other specified profession (e.g. mayor, professor). Please visit ontario.ca/SeniorsDental for a list of acceptable guarantors

Completed Guarantor Forms can be mailed to:

Ministry of Health
Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program
Station P. P.O. Box 159
Toronto, ON M5S 2S7

Seniors need to apply for the program on an individual basis. If they have a spouse (married or common law partner) who would also like to apply for the OSDCP, they must complete their own application form.

Eligibility for the OSDCP will be based on a senior’s net income (line 236 from your income tax form). Net income measures the sum of all income potentially subject to tax, including but not limited to employment income, investment income, pension income (including CPP), and government social support payments (e.g. OAS, Guaranteed Income Supplement, Social Assistance) less non-discretionary expenses associated with earning income (e.g. union dues, professional fees) and pension contributions (e.g. RRSP contributions or contributions to a Registered Pension Plan).

The OSDCP Program Administrator (Accerta) is responsible for reviewing applications and determining eligibility. Questions regarding application turnaround time should be directed to the OSDCP’s bilingual (English/French) contact centre.

Call: 416-916-0204

Toll-Free: 1-833-207-4435

TTY: 1-800-855-0511

Once the application has been approved, a welcome package and dental card will be mailed to the applicant.

To receive OSDCP services at one of the community health centres, the eligible senior must call the Region’s central intake phone number 226-807-0750. General inquires may be sent to osdcp@langs.org

The dental card must be presented at the time of appointment. 

The OSDCP benefit year runs from August 1 to July 31. OSDCP clients must reapply if they:

• Applied through the guarantor process, or
• Did not file taxes for the most recent tax year that eligibility is being determined

Before the end of each benefit year, all other clients will be automatically re-assessed for eligibility by the OSDCP Program Administrator.

Clients will be notified by mail:

• If they are eligible to keep participating in the program; they will receive a new dental card
• If they need to re-apply and how to re-apply to the program, if required

For more information about the OSDCP visit ontario.ca/SeniorsDental or call the OSDCP's contact centre.

Call: 416-916-0204

Toll Free: 1-833-207-4435

TTY: 1-800-855-0511