Good oral health is important to children’s overall health. Yet, for some, regular dental care may not be affordable. Healthy Smiles Ontario is a program for children 17 and under who do not have access to any form of dental coverage. If eligible, your children will get regular dental services at no cost to you. The 36 local public health units across Ontario are leading the program in communities and are working with local partners such as Community Health Centres, primary care providers, dentists, dental hygienists, hospitals, schools and universities to deliver this program.
Who is eligible?
Children 17 and under may be eligible if :
- They are residents of Ontario;
- They are members of a household with an Adjusted Family Net Income of $20,000 per year or below; and,
- They do not have access to any form of dental coverage (including other government-funded programs, like Ontario Works).
You will need to show specific documents during the enrollment process.
- Required documents
What documentation do I have to bring to my Public Health Unit to demonstrate that my child meets the eligibility criteria for the program?
To qualify, you will need to show the following documents*: Applicant’s:
- Annual Goods and Services Tax Credit Entitlement Notice OR Annual Canada child Tax Benefit and Ontario Child Benefit Notice (most recent tax year)
- Government-issued identification (valid Ontario Health Card, Passport, Certificate of Canadian Citizenship, Permanent Resident Card, Canadian Immigration Identification Card, OR valid Ontario Driver’s License)
Child’s:
- Valid Ontario Health Card
How many visits is my child entitled to in a year and for how long?
On average, your child will be eligible for visits twice a year as part of basic dental care. Additional visits may be required for other purposes, depending on your child’s oral health status. In terms of program duration, if all of the necessary documentation is provided to confirm eligibility, then children are eligible for three years, or up to the child’s 18th birthday, whichever is earlier. This means you will not be required to re-enroll for the program during this period of time. Your public health unit will inform you of your child’s term of eligibility when you enroll. Each year, you will receive a form in the mail to confirm that you are still eligible for the program. Upon signing and returning the form, the public health unit will renew your child’s annual client card for the next year. To find out more about Healthy Smiles Ontario and to see if you qualify, call the ServiceOntario INFOline:
If you are not eligible for the Healthy Smiles Ontario program, find out more about other dental services that may be available to you or your family. Source: http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/programs/dental/
