Current as of October 2026. Government programs, tax rules and prices change. Check the official sources listed at the end of this page before making a decision, and confirm details with a licensed advisor.
What Healthy Smiles Ontario is
Healthy Smiles Ontario (often shortened to HSO) is a government funded dental program for children and youth aged 17 and under in Ontario. It pays for preventive, routine and emergency dental care at participating dentists and clinics, so a family that might otherwise skip a check-up because of the cost can keep a child's teeth on track.
For employers, the program matters for two reasons. First, some of your employees may have children who qualify, especially part-time or lower-paid staff who do not have family dental coverage. Second, the program interacts with your group plan and with the federal Canadian Dental Care Plan in ways that are worth understanding before an employee asks you about it.
The details below reflect the Government of Ontario's published program information as of October 2026. Program rules and income thresholds are updated from time to time, so families should always confirm current rules on ontario.ca before applying.
What the program covers
According to the Government of Ontario, Healthy Smiles Ontario covers preventive, routine and emergency dental services. Think of the everyday visits that keep a child's mouth healthy: the regular check-up, a cleaning, an x-ray when the dentist needs one, and a filling when a cavity shows up.
Cosmetic work is not included. The province specifically lists teeth whitening and braces as not covered, so orthodontics remains something families pay for themselves or through a private or workplace plan. If a child in your workforce's families needs orthodontic treatment, it can be worth checking what your group dental coverage includes, and the braces cost guide explains the main cost drivers.
- Check-ups
- Cleaning and scaling
- Fillings for cavities
- X-rays
- Tooth extractions
- Urgent or emergency dental care
Who qualifies as of October 2026
Eligibility is based on age, residence and family net income. As of October 2026, the income thresholds published by Ontario (in effect from July 1, 2026) start at a family net income of $29,065 or lower for a family with one child and $31,265 or lower for a family with two children, rising by $2,200 for each additional dependent child. Families must have filed their taxes for the previous year so income can be assessed.
Some children are enrolled automatically. As of October 2026, the province says children are automatically enrolled if their family receives Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support, or if the child receives Temporary Care Assistance or Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities. One exception: children of Ontario Works recipients who live in a First Nations community are not automatically enrolled, so those families need to apply.
There is also an emergency and essential services stream for children who need urgent dental care. As of October 2026, enrolment through this stream lasts six months from the date of enrolment, and each child can enrol this way a maximum of three times in their lifetime.
- Age 17 and under
- Family net income at or below the published threshold for the number of dependent children
- Taxes filed for the previous year (a guarantor form is available for families who do not have a SIN or did not file taxes last year)
Coverage periods and how to apply
Regular enrolment covers a child for up to one benefit year, which runs from August 1 to July 31 of the following year. Coverage ends at the child's 18th birthday, so a child who turns 18 partway through the benefit year is no longer eligible after that. Families generally need to keep an eye on renewal each summer.
Families can apply online through the Ontario government's online application, or by mailing a completed application form. The province notes that a local public health unit can help a family apply or find a dental provider. If a family already has a dentist, the simplest step is to call the office and ask whether it accepts Healthy Smiles Ontario.
How HSO fits with employer dental coverage
Here is the part many families find surprising: a child who already has dental insurance may still be eligible. The Government of Ontario states that even if a child has existing dental insurance coverage, they may still qualify for Healthy Smiles Ontario. Eligibility turns mainly on family income, not on whether a parent has workplace benefits.
In practice, though, many families who qualify for HSO do not have rich workplace dental coverage, and families with a strong employer plan may sit above the income thresholds. Where a child does have both, the dental office handles which plan is billed and in what order. Families should ask their dentist's office how claims will be submitted, and an employee can check their group plan booklet for its coordination of benefits rules.
For employers, the takeaway is simple: HSO does not replace a group dental plan. It does not cover braces, and its covered services focus on preventive, routine and urgent care rather than the broader range of treatment many family plans are designed to help with. It is a safety net for lower-income households. When you think about dependent coverage in your own plan, HSO is useful context, not a substitute.
How HSO fits with the Canadian Dental Care Plan
The federal Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) also covers eligible children, and some Ontario children can qualify for both programs. Health Canada's coordination fact sheet for Ontario (updated in 2026) says that the CDCP is the primary payer and Healthy Smiles Ontario is the secondary payer. The dental office submits the claim to the CDCP first, then to the Ontario program as second payer, and balance billing is not permitted where the Healthy Smiles Ontario schedule is used to supplement CDCP fees.
Access to private coverage changes the picture. As of October 2026, the Government of Canada states that people with access to private dental insurance, including coverage through an employer, a family member's workplace plan or a health spending account that covers dental, are not eligible for the CDCP. Coverage through a provincial government social program such as HSO does not, on its own, rule someone out of the CDCP. So a child whose parent has workplace dental coverage would generally be outside the CDCP, but might still be within HSO if the family's income qualifies. The CDCP eligibility guide walks through those rules in more detail.
This is one reason employers offering a health spending account should know that an HSA covering dental counts as access to private coverage for CDCP purposes. An advisor can explain how a plan design choice may affect employees' access to federal programs.
What this means for your benefits planning
If you have staff without family dental coverage, such as part-time employees or people in a waiting period, it can be helpful to point them to ontario.ca so they can see whether their children qualify for HSO while they are not covered. Avoid telling an employee whether they qualify yourself: income tests and program rules belong with the government program.
If you are thinking about adding or improving family dental coverage, a licensed advisor can walk you through how basic, major and orthodontic benefits are typically structured, what drives the cost, and how your choices interact with public programs. When you are ready, get matched with a licensed benefits advisor who can explain your options. GroupBenefitPlans.ca is a referral and information service and does not administer HSO or the CDCP.
Common questions
Can my child get Healthy Smiles Ontario if I have dental benefits at work?
Possibly. The Government of Ontario says a child who already has dental insurance may still be eligible. Eligibility depends mainly on age and family net income, so check the current thresholds on ontario.ca and ask your dentist's office how claims would be handled.
Does Healthy Smiles Ontario cover braces?
No. As of October 2026, the province lists braces and teeth whitening as not covered. Orthodontics is usually paid out of pocket or through a private or workplace dental plan that includes orthodontic benefits.
How long does Healthy Smiles Ontario coverage last?
Regular enrolment lasts up to one benefit year, from August 1 to July 31, and ends when the child turns 18. As of October 2026, enrolment through the emergency and essential services stream lasts six months.
If my child qualifies for both HSO and the Canadian Dental Care Plan, which pays first?
According to Health Canada's Ontario coordination fact sheet, the CDCP pays first and Healthy Smiles Ontario acts as the secondary payer. Your dental office submits the claims in that order.
Do employers have any role in Healthy Smiles Ontario?
No. Employers do not enrol employees or administer the program. Families apply directly to the province, with help from their local public health unit if needed. Employers may simply want to know the program exists when planning dependent dental coverage.
Sources and further reading
GroupBenefitPlans.ca is a referral and information service. Advice and coverage are provided by the licensed professional and relevant providers. An enquiry does not activate insurance.