Free dental care for eligible children and youth under 18. We are an enrolled provider.
Healthy Smiles Ontario is a provincial program covering routine and emergency dental care for children in lower-income households. For eligible families, covered services cost nothing at all.
Book your child’s covered visit
Who Qualifies
Your child may be eligible if they are 17 or under, live in Ontario, and your household income falls within the program threshold. Children already enrolled in Ontario Works or ODSP are generally automatically enrolled.
Eligibility is set by the province and reassessed annually. You apply through the Ontario government or your local public health unit — in our area, the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit. We cannot enrol your child, but we can point you in the right direction if you are unsure where to start.
If your household income is above the Healthy Smiles threshold, your child may still be covered under the Canadian Dental Care Plan. It is worth checking both.
What Is Covered
- Checkups and examinations
- Cleanings, scaling and polishing
- Fluoride treatments and sealants
- X-rays
- Fillings
- Extractions
- Urgent and emergency dental care
Orthodontics and cosmetic treatment are not covered. Where something falls outside the program, we tell you the cost before proceeding — you will never get a bill you did not agree to.
How to Book
- Confirm enrolment — you should have a Healthy Smiles Ontario card or confirmation letter with a client number
- Book the appointment and mention Healthy Smiles so we can verify coverage in advance
- Bring the card to the visit
- That is it — we bill the program directly. Nothing to pay, no forms to submit, no reimbursement to chase
Your Child’s Visit
Covered or not, the appointment is the same. We take things slowly with children, explain before we do anything, and never force treatment on a child who is not ready. See children’s dentistry and what to expect on a first visit.
Bring your child in every six months. The program covers regular preventive visits precisely because catching problems early is cheaper for everyone and easier on the child.
If Your Child Has Dental Pain Now
Urgent care is covered. Do not wait for a routine appointment — see emergency dental care and contact us the same day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it really free?
For covered services, yes — fully paid by the program, with nothing owed by you.
How do I apply?
Through the Ontario government or the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit. Enrolment is handled by the province, not by dental offices.
My child is on Ontario Works. Do I need to apply separately?
Children in families receiving Ontario Works or ODSP are generally enrolled automatically. Check your paperwork or contact the health unit to confirm.
What happens when my child turns 18?
Coverage ends. At that point they may be eligible under the Canadian Dental Care Plan in their own right. Worth applying before the gap opens.
Can my other children come too?
Yes, and we will book them consecutively. Adults in the household may be covered under CDCP — ask and we will check. See family dentistry.
Book Your Child’s Visit
Book online or get in touch if you are unsure whether your child is covered.