The Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program provides free routine dental services for residents that meet the income criteria and are age 65 or older. Halton Region partners with local dental providers (such as dentists and oral surgeons) in all Halton municipalities to provide these services.
Halton residents can only access the program’s services through Halton Region Public Health. To begin receiving care through this program in Halton, please call 311.
To be eligible for the program, you must:
To learn more about the program requirements and services covered, please visit ontario.ca/seniorsdental (external link).
If you need help with the application, please call:
If you are approved for the program, you will be mailed a welcome package and an Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program card.
To begin, please call 311.
Program coverage renews on August 1 each year. Cardholders will get a notice in the mail about renewal. For more information visit ontario.ca/seniors/dental (external link) under the ‘Renew your yearly coverage’ section.
A dental professional will provide an exam and treatment plan based on your need. The most urgent conditions will be treated first.
There is an annual per-client maximum value for dental services, and coverage is limited to program offerings.
For more information about the services covered by the program, please visit ontario.ca/SeniorsDental (external link)
If you are eligible for both programs, you can use benefits from both the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program (OSDCP) (external link) and CDCP (external link).
The examples below highlight benefits of participating in these programs for seniors accessing routine dental care:
If you struggle to pay your family's dental bills you may be eligible for financial assistance. Assessment by a registered dental hygienist may be required before enrolment into the program. This service is free of charge. This government-funded program provides free preventative, routine and emergency dental services for eligible children up to age 17.
Children up to age 17 are eligible if they live in Ontario and their family meets the income eligibility requirements (external link), or their child has an urgent dental need. Even if you have dental insurance, your child may still qualify for HSO.
Your child or youth is automatically enrolled in the HSO program when they or their family receives:
Call Halton Region at 311 or email accesshalton@halton.ca, go to Healthy Smiles Ontario (external link), or visit in person at any Service Ontario (external link) location. Once enrolled in the HSO program, your child's coverage may last for up to one “benefit year” (August 1 – July 31) or until your child turns 18. Emergency care is covered for up to 3 times per lifetime, for a period of 6 months each time.
Have the following information ready when you call:
The Ontario Works Adult program provides financial assistance for eligible adults 18-64 years of age to access dental care. It is intended for urgent dental needs and is not an on-going regular dental care program or an insurance plan. Coverage may include:
Eligible adults must contact Halton Region by calling 311 before they visit the dentist, to confirm their Ontario Works coverage.
Adults in need of dental treatment who are not covered by the program may qualify for dental coverage through Halton’s Low-Income Financial Supports. For more information and instructions on how to apply, visit Halton’s Low Income Financial Supports page or call 311 or email accesshalton@halton.ca.
