Healthy Smiles Ontario Program

Notice: Due to COVID-19, The City of Toronto has cancelled most City-operated programs and closed a number of City facilities. The Dental Outreach Program is suspended at this time.

The following 6 publicly funded dental programs have been combined into the new Healthy Smiles Ontario program effective January 1, 2016:

  • dental benefits for children under Ontario Works
  • dental benefits for children under the Ontario Disability Support Program
  • dental benefits for children under the Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities program
  • the Children In Need Of Treatment program
  • the Healthy Smiles Ontario program
  • preventive oral health services provided by local public health units

Children and youth currently receiving care from the programs listed above are still eligible for free dental services. They will be automatically transitioned into the new Healthy Smiles Ontario program.

Additional information, including how to apply or re-apply to the new Healthy Smiles Ontario Program are available at the provincial website: https://www.ontario.ca/page/get-dental-care

Background

On October 1, 2010 the province introduced the Healthy Smiles Ontario program, a new dental program to provide free preventive and treatment care for eligible children 17 and under.

Healthy Smiles Ontario is a free dental program that covers regular visits to a licensed dental care provider, such as a dentist or dental hygienist. It covers a full range of preventative and early treatment dental services including regular check-ups, cleaning, fillings, x-rays and scaling. Accerta will manage this dental program for the province.

Prior to January 2016, Accerta will mail clients with children 17 years of age and under a package of program information and a dental card with an expiry date of July 31, 2016. For contact information regarding Accerta, refer to the provincial website: http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/dental/

Children and youth 17 years of age and under may be eligible if they:

  • Live in Toronto
  • Have no existing dental coverage (including private insurance, Ontario Works and other government-funded programs); and
  • come from a household with an income that is at or under the levels shown in the table on the Provincial website

Applicants do not need to have an existing or urgent dental condition to apply.

Applications are available for pick up at any TPH dental clinic. The following supporting documentation must be presented in person at any TPH dental clinic to verify eligibility:

  • Proof of residence in Toronto (e.g. utility bill)
  • 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

If families/youth do not have these documents they can self-declare their need for the program, and provide a guarantor to support their application. More information on guarantors and supporting documents is available by calling TPH dental clinics.

If you have questions about this new dental program, please contact the closest clinic to apply and to determine eligibility. If you are not eligible for this program, you may be eligible for other TPH dental services.

For more information, contact any one of the Public Health community dental clinics.

If you are not eligible for this program you may be eligible for other Toronto Public Health dental services.

If you are eligible for the program - program duration will vary depending on the circumstances; however, each Client card is issued for one-year time period or up till their 18th birthday (the earlier of the two dates), as indicated by the "Card Expiration Date". If your card is soon to be expired or is expired you will need to contact the Public Health Dental Clinic closest to them and make an appointment to have the card renewed.

Claims procedure/payment process for dentists
Providers must submit a completed claim form (note claim form includes invoices as submitted by physician anaesthetists) to the local PHU (indicated on the Client Card) to obtain payment for services rendered under this program. By submitting a claim for services under this program to the Public Health unit, the provider is accepting all terms and conditions set out under this Schedule.