Ways to replace a missing tooth: cost and coverage compared
Implants, bridges, removable dentures and other options compared on cost structure, coverage and trade-offs in Canada.
This table compares treatment types, not providers or prices. The cost notes describe how each option is usually billed and covered in Canada; any dollar figures elsewhere on this site are illustrative ranges. Which option is clinically suitable for you is a decision for you and your dentist, and this is cost information, not dental advice.
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| Option | How it is usually billed | Coverage pattern in Canada | Cost trade-offs to weigh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single implant with crown | Several stages: consultation and imaging, surgery to place the fixture, abutment, crown; sometimes extraction and graft first | Excluded by the CDCP; private plans vary from no implant coverage to major-restorative coverage subject to the annual maximum | Highest upfront cost for one tooth; does not involve reshaping neighbouring teeth; crown may need replacing in time |
| Fixed bridge (three-unit) | Crown work on the teeth either side plus the replacement tooth, usually billed as units | Private plans often treat bridges as major restorative; the CDCP Dental Benefits Guide lists fixed prosthodontics (bridges and bridge-related procedures) as an exclusion | Often less than an implant upfront; involves preparing adjacent teeth; the whole bridge may need replacing if one support fails |
| Removable partial denture | Impressions, framework (acrylic or cast metal) and adjustments | Covered by the CDCP with preauthorization; private plans usually cover as major or prosthodontic services | Lower cost; removable; may need relines and replacement over time |
| Complete denture | Impressions, try-ins and delivery, often by a denturist or dentist | Covered by the CDCP subject to its rules; many provincial senior and social assistance programs focus on dentures | Lowest cost way to replace all teeth in an arch; stability and comfort vary; periodic relines |
| Implant-retained overdenture | Two or more implants plus attachments and a removable denture | Implant parts excluded by the CDCP; private plans may pay only the denture portion under an alternate benefit clause | Middle ground between dentures and fixed full-arch work; attachments wear and need maintenance |
| Full-arch fixed implant bridge | Multiple implants, often with extractions, sedation and a temporary arch, then a final prosthesis | Rarely covered beyond a plan's annual maximum; CDCP excludes implants | Largest single dental expense most people face; confirm what is included and the cost of the final prosthesis |
| No replacement | No treatment cost, though monitoring visits continue | Exams and X-rays usually covered under basic or preventive benefits | No immediate cost; ask your dentist about possible tooth movement and future costs |
Coverage patterns change. Check the current CDCP Dental Benefits Guide on Canada.ca (the guide in effect from 1 April 2026 lists implants and implant-related procedures, bridges, bone grafts and cosmetic treatment among its exclusions), your plan booklet and a written predetermination from your insurer. Fee levels are influenced by provincial dental association fee guides, which dentists may follow or not. Verify your dentist's registration with your provincial regulator before treatment.