How can a clinic get more patients through the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)?
The CDCP has brought many people back to the dentist. Clinics that explain it clearly and handle the admin well get those patients.
- Should we accept CDCP patients?
- How do we tell people we accept the CDCP?
- How do we handle the extra admin?
If you participate, say so clearly on your website, Google Business Profile and phone greeting, and explain the basics: the plan is for Canadian residents without access to dental insurance and with adjusted family net income under $90,000, who apply and renew each year. Automate intake questions about CDCP coverage and co-payments so the front desk isn't explaining it on every call.
Make participation visible
- A CDCP page on your website explaining what to bring and what co-payments may apply.
- "We accept the Canadian Dental Care Plan" on your Google Business Profile.
- An intake form question about CDCP coverage and member ID.
- A short FAQ the phone assistant can use.
Manage the workload
CDCP patients often have questions about coverage and co-payments. Templates and an FAQ reduce repeated explanations. See how to cut insurance question time.
Keep it accurate
Eligibility and coverage details change. Link to the government's pages rather than restating every rule, and review your page each benefit year.
How we look at it at ShoutEx
We set up the page, listing updates, intake questions and FAQ. Our CDCP patients guide covers marketing in more depth.
- Participation not mentioned online.
- Outdated eligibility details.
- Co-payments explained only at checkout.
- Front desk repeating the same answers.
- A clear CDCP page.
- Intake questions on coverage.
- Co-payments explained early.
- Yearly review of details.
What dentists and regulators say
Here is what the government and dentists say.
To qualify, people must have adjusted family net income under $90,000, no access to dental insurance, have filed taxes and be Canadian residents.
Read the eligibility page →Canadian dentists discuss CDCP participation, admin load and co-payments.
Browse the threads →Patients ask how the CDCP works and how to find a participating dentist, which shows what your page should answer.
Browse the threads →Community summaries describe recurring themes in public threads, not individual posts. Vendor pages describe vendor claims, so test them on your own calls.
Read next
Go deeper in the ShoutEx guides, or check the sources behind this answer.
We'll set up your CDCP page, listing and intake questions.
Book a call →Follow-up questions
Do CDCP patients need to re-apply?
Eligibility is confirmed each year. Remind patients in recall messages.
Should we target CDCP patients with ads?
Clear messaging on your listing and website usually matters more than ads.
Can AI answer CDCP questions?
Basic ones, from approved text with links to official pages.