Regular Dental Coverage
Canadian Dental Care Plan: For more information, visit Canadian Dental Care Plan.
The Healthy Smiles Ontario (HSO) program covers regular visits to a dentist or registered dental hygienist to maintain a healthy mouth and teeth. It is for children from households in financial hardship who meet income eligibility criteria.
Eligibility
Children may be eligible if they meet all of the following requirements:
- They are 17 years old or under
- They live in Ontario
- Their family meets income eligibility requirements – based on income as reported to the Canada Revenue Agency
Children 17 and under are automatically enrolled in HSO when they or their family receive: Ontario Works, Temporary Care Assistance, Ontario Disability Support Program or Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities.
What is Covered?
HSO covers basic dental services like:
- Regular checkups
- Cleaning
- Fillings
- X-rays
- Scaling and more
Standard coverage is from August 1 to July 31. Your HSO dental card will clearly show an expiry date.
HSO does not cover orthodontics or cosmetic dentistry like teeth whitening and braces.
Cost
Dentists cannot bill HSO patients for services that are covered by the program.
If you agree to any services that are not covered by HSO, your dentist will bill you directly.
How to Apply
Children 17 and under are automatically enrolled in HSO when they or their family receive: Ontario Works, Temporary Care Assistance, Ontario Disability Support Program, or Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities
All other families in financial hardship can apply online, by mail or by appointment at a Public Health dental clinic.
Apply Online
Before You Start
Before you begin the online application, you need:
- Your child(ren)’s date(s) of birth
- A valid Ontario address
- Your Social Insurance Number (SIN) or Temporary Taxation Number (TTN)
- To have filed your taxes in the previous year
Be Ready to Print
Once you submit the online application, you’ll need to print, sign and mail a Consent Form, within 30 days to:
Healthy Smiles Ontario
33 King Street West
PO Box 645
Oshawa, ON L1H 8X1
Apply by Mail
To apply by mail:
- Download, print and complete the application form
- Mail the completed form to:
Healthy Smiles Ontario
33 King Street West
PO Box 645
Oshawa, ON L1H 8X1
You can also get an application form at a ServiceOntario location or at any public health unit. For more information call the ServiceOntario INFOline at Toll-free: 1-844-296-6306 or TTY Toll-free: 1-800-387-5559
Appointment for Help
If you live in York Region and need help applying for HSO, you can call York Region Public Health at 1-800-735-6625, extension 74388, and speak with a dental program staff member for assistance.
Did Not File a Tax Return/ Don’t Have a SIN
If you don’t have a Social Insurance Number or didn’t file your taxes last year, you can still apply by mail but you’ll need a Guarantor (one per household).
A Guarantor must be a Canadian Citizen, at least 18 years of age who can confirm the:
- Identity
- Age
- Ontario residency of the person applying and (if applicable) their spouse/common law partner
Your Guarantor must be a practicing member, in good standing with a provincial regulatory body, serving as a:
- Chiropractor
- Midwife
- Nurse
- Optometrist
- Pharmacist
- Physician or surgeon
- Psychologist
- Veterinarian
- Lawyer
- Professional accountant
- Professional engineer
- Social worker or social service worker
- Teacher/vice-principal/principal in a primary or secondary school
- Dietitian
- Dentist or dental hygienist
- Judge, Justice of the Peace, municipal/provincial/First Nations police officer/constable, officer/constable of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
- Mayor
- Member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
- Minister of religion authorized under provincial law to perform marriages
- Municipal clerk or treasurer who is a member of the Association of Municipal Managers or Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario
- Notary public
- Professor in a university, a senior administrator in a community college
- Signing officer of a bank
Mail your application form to:
Healthy Smiles Ontario
33 King Street West
PO Box 645
Oshawa, ON L1H 8X1
Change Your Account Information
Generally, you need to complete and submit a Change of Information form for a child that is already enrolled in the program.
Mail your completed form to:
Healthy Smiles Ontario
33 King St W
PO Box 645
Oshawa, ON L1H 8X1
HSO Dental Card
Once enrollment is confirmed you will receive and HSO dental card.
You must show your HSO dental card to your dental provider at each visit to receive dental care under the HSO program.
Lost or Misplaced HSO Dental Card
Contact ServiceOntario INFOline at Toll-free: 1-844-296-6306
TTY Toll-free: 1-800-387-5559
Finding a Dental Office
If you have a dentist, contact their office to find out if they participate in the Healthy Smiles Ontario program.
If you live in York Region and do not have a dentist, call the York Region Public Health Dental Program for help at 1-800-735-6625, extension 74388.
York Region Public Health Dental Clinic Locations
Newmarket Dental Clinic
17150 Yonge Street
Newmarket, Ontario
L3Y 8V3
Richmond Hill Dental Clinic
50 High Tech Road
Richmond Hill, Ontario
L4B 4N7
Markham Dental Clinic
4261 Highway 7 East
Unionville, Ontario
L3R 9W6
Vaughan Dental Clinic
9060 Jane Street
Vaughan, Ontario
L4K 0G5
Sutton Dental Clinic
20849 Dalton Road
Sutton, Ontario
L4P 3E9
Hours
York Region Public Health Dental Clinics are open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
By Appointment Only.
Related Resources
External Resources
Get Dental Care - Ontario
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Healthy Smiles Ontario Client Guide
