What Dental Services Are Covered Under the Canadian Dental Care Plan?

Canada’s new Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) is the most significant public oral-health investment since Medicare. Designed for households earning under $90 000, the plan began rolling out in 2024 and now covers Canadians of every age group. Yet many patients remain unsure which procedures the plan pays for, which need preauthorization, and what co-payments apply.

This guide breaks down every covered category, highlights key limits, and shows how Marketplace Dentistry in Vaughan can help you make the most of your benefits.

How the Canadian Dental Care Plan Works

The CDCP is a federal benefit administered by Sun Life on behalf of Health Canada. Eligible residents apply online or by mail; once approved, they receive a coverage start date and an ID number to share with participating providers.

The plan reimburses providers directly, so you should not pay the full fee up front. Depending on adjusted family net income, you may owe a 0 %, 40 % or 60 % co-payment on the plan’s fee guide, plus any difference between that fee and the clinic’s standard charge.

Preventive and Diagnostic Coverage

Preventive and diagnostic care keeps minor problems from snowballing into complex treatments, so the CDCP places these services first.

Regular exams, imaging, and cleanings catch decay early, remove plaque, and perform oral cancer screening. By funding these basics, the CDCP aims to slash emergency visits and systemic complications linked to gum disease. Here is what you can expect at no additional cost beyond any required co-payment:

Examinations – Up to three exams in any 12-month period, including complete, recall, specific, and emergency appointments.
Radiographs (X-rays) – Bite-wing, periapical, panoramic, and full-mouth series, subject to frequency caps (for example, eight intra-oral images per year).
Scaling and Polishing – Routine scaling to remove calculus, plus polish and fluoride applications.
Sealants and Fluoride – Protective coatings on molars for children and high-risk adults, plus topical fluoride varnish.

Restorative Care You Can Count On

Even with great hygiene, cavities and chipped enamel still happen. Restorative dentistry repairs this damage so you can chew, speak, and smile with confidence. The CDCP covers a wide range of options, from simple fillings to crowns, reducing out-of-pocket surprises.

Key inclusions are listed below:

Fillings – Composite restorations, permanent or temporary, once per tooth surface every 24 months.
Crowns – Coverage for new crowns, cores, and posts, but most cases need preauthorization.
Adjustments and Repairs – Fixes to existing crowns or posts if they fail prematurely.

Endodontic and Periodontal Treatments

Untreated decay can reach the pulp or surrounding bone, causing pain and infection. Root canal and gum therapies save teeth that once required extraction. Because these procedures can be costly, CDCP inclusion is a major financial relief.

Root-Canal Therapy – Pulpectomies, full root-canal treatments, and medically needed re-treatments (preauthorization required for retreat).
Periodontal Scaling Under the Gumline – Deep cleaning, abscess drainage, and splinting of mobile teeth; some services need prior approval.

Oral Surgery and Sedation Benefits

Whether you need a wisdom-tooth extraction or a biopsy, surgical fees can add up quickly. The CDCP funds a wide surgical menu and essential pain-control options. Patients with dental anxiety benefit from accessible sedation coverage.

Extractions and Minor Surgery – Tooth extractions and surgical extractions
Incision and Drainage – Emergency relief for infections.
Sedation and General Anesthesia – Minimal conscious sedation is covered automatically; moderate, deep, or general anesthesia requires preauthorization for medically necessary cases.

Removable Prosthodontics: Dentures

Tooth loss affects nutrition, speech, and self-esteem. By funding dentures, the CDCP restores function for retirees and younger adults alike. Coverage includes both full and partial appliances, plus adjustments that extend their lifespan. Keep in mind that implants remain outside the plan for now.

Complete and Immediate Dentures – Standard or temporary sets, with overdentures needing prior approval.
Partial Dentures – Covered once preauthorization confirms suitability and cost.
Repairs, Relines, Rebases – Ongoing maintenance to keep fits comfortable.

Services Outside Current Scope

Not every procedure makes the list. Patients should budget for excluded treatments or supplemental insurance. Below are the chief gaps as of August 2025:

Dental Implants, Bridges, and Veneers – Classified as elective or cosmetic.
Whitening and Cosmetic Bonding – Aesthetic upgrades remain self-pay.
Orthodontics – Expected to launch later in 2025 for medically necessary cases only, under a separate spending cap.

Frequency Limits, Co-Payments, and Preauthorization

The CDCP is generous but not limitless. Every category carries rolling frequency caps: three exams a year, annual bite-wing imaging, and 24-month rules on repeat fillings. Exceeding these limits or requesting major restorations triggers preauthorization, which your clinic submits electronically.

Co-payments are income-based: families under $70 000 pay none; those between $70 000 and $79 999 pay 40 %; and those between $80 000 and $89 999 pay 60 % of the CDCP fee guide.

Accessing Your CDCP Benefits

Before booking, confirm that your dentist has opted into the CDCP; participation is voluntary. Bring your CDCP ID or share it over the phone so staff can verify eligibility and submit a treatment estimate. Always request a cost breakdown showing what the plan covers and any residual balance.

Apply and Receive Your Welcome Letter – You’ll get a date after which services are eligible.
Choose a Participating Provider – Marketplace Dentistry accepts CDCP patients and bills Sun Life directly.
Sign the Consent Form – Required for each visit, so the clinic can claim on your behalf.
Discuss Treatment Options – Ask whether any items require preauthorization or exceed frequency caps.

Marketplace Dentistry: Your Partner for CDCP Care

Located in Vaughan, Marketplace Dentistry already provides evening and weekend appointments, contactless check-ins, and multilingual service. By joining the CDCP, our team extends these patient-first values to qualifying families who previously skipped care due to cost.

From preventive cleanings to denture fittings, we guide you through every CDCP form and estimate, so you maximize benefits without financial guesswork.

Take the Next Step Toward Confident Oral Health

The Canadian Dental Care Plan removes a major barrier between Canadians and healthy smiles. Book your CDCP consultation with Marketplace Dentistry today.

Let us turn coverage into a care routine that keeps you eating, laughing, and living well without unexpected bills.