This is a blog site providing general information on the Canadian government dental program. For official information, please visit Canada.ca/dental




Covered Dental Services Under the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP): Complete Guide

The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) provides financial assistance for eligible Canadian residents to access necessary oral health care services. Administered by Sun Life in partnership with the Government of Canada, the plan covers a wide array of preventive, diagnostic, restorative, and surgical treatments based on family net income levels.

Summary Table: Covered vs. Non-Covered CDCP Services

Category What is Covered Under the CDCP What is NOT Covered Under the CDCP
Diagnostic & Preventive Dental exams, X-rays, scaling, polishing, fluoride, and sealants. Custom sports mouth guards and night guards.
Restorative (Basic & Major) Fillings, pain control, root canals, posts, cores, and crowns (preauthorization required). Dental implants, fixed bridges, veneers, inlays, and onlays.
Periodontal & Oral Surgery Deep cleaning under gums, abscess care, tooth/root extractions, and jaw fracture care. Bone grafting and surgical ridge augmentations.
Prosthodontics Complete and partial dentures, repairs, relines, rebases, and tissue conditioning. Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) therapy appliances.
Anesthesia & Sedation Nitrous oxide, oral sedation, conscious sedation (deep/general sedation require preauthorization). Unapproved elective cosmetic pharmacological agents.
Orthodontics Currently not covered. Braces, clear aligners (Invisalign), and orthodontic correction.

Detailed Breakdown of CDCP-Eligible Dental Services

1. Diagnostic and Preventive Services

Preventive care focuses on stopping dental issues before they worsen:

  • Examinations: Routine, complete, specific, and emergency dental exams.
  • X-rays: Bitewing, periapical, and panoramic diagnostic imaging subject to frequency limits.
  • Cleanings: Professional scaling and polishing units.
  • Preventive Care: Topical fluoride varnish applications and protective dental sealants.

2. Basic and Major Restorative Services

  • Fillings: Permanent and temporary fillings, plus therapeutic pain control for diseased teeth.
  • Endodontics: Comprehensive root canal treatments and pulpectomies.
  • Crowns: Placement of dental crowns and core buildups (subject to formal preauthorization).

3. Periodontal Services and Oral Surgery

  • Periodontics: Non-surgical management of gum disease and deep sub-gumline scaling.
  • Oral Surgery: Surgical extractions of teeth, roots, benign cysts, and tumours.

4. Removable Prosthodontics

  • Dentures: Standard complete dentures, immediate dentures, and removable partial metal/acrylic dentures.
  • Denture Maintenance: Repairs, relines, rebases, and oral tissue conditioning.

Related reading: How to apply for the CDCP

Related reading: Renew or re-apply for CDCP coverage

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