What the Canadian Dental Care Plan covers in 2026: treatments, preauthorization and exclusions

The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) covers a defined list of dental services at its own established fees: diagnostic and preventive care (exams, X-rays, cleanings, fluoride, sealants), basic care (fillings, root canals, gum treatment), some major services (single crowns with preauthorization, posts, complete and partial dentures, oral surgery such as extractions) and certain sedation. It does not cover implants or any implant-related procedure, bridges, bone grafts, veneers, whitening and other cosmetic work, night guards or mouth guards, and orthodontic services are not currently available. Many services have frequency limits, and some always need preauthorization before treatment. The rules below reflect the CDCP Dental Benefits Guide in effect from 1 April 2026; check Canada.ca for the current version before treatment.

This guide is part of the dental implant cost overview. It focuses on what treatments the plan pays for. Who qualifies (income under $90,000, no access to private dental insurance, tax filing and residency) is explained on Canada.ca.

Covered service categories

Frequency limits worth knowing

The CDCP uses rolling periods, not a calendar year. Examples from the 2026 guide:

• Exams: up to three examinations in any 12 months overall, with sub-limits, such as one recall exam per 12 months and one complete oral exam per 60 months.
• Scaling: half a unit per 12 months for ages 0 to 11, one unit for ages 12 to 16, and up to four units (with root planing) for ages 17 and over; more needs preauthorization.
• X-rays: up to eight intraoral images per 12 months, one complete series per 60 months, and one panoramic image per 60 months (up to three in a lifetime).

If you had a service recently under a previous plan, it does not count against these limits, but CDCP claims history does. Ask your provider to check before repeating a service.

Crowns: covered, but with strict conditions

Single-unit crowns can be covered for clients aged 18 and over, only with preauthorization. The 2026 guide sets limits of four crowns per client in any 120 months and one crown per eligible tooth in any 96 months, and requires that the tooth be restorable with adequate gum and bone support and that basic treatment for decay and gum disease be finished first. Crowns for aesthetics, for minor chips on mostly unrestored teeth or solely for sensitivity are not covered. Implant-supported crowns are excluded. See the crown and root canal cost estimate for the arithmetic.

What the CDCP excludes

Appendix E of the guide lists exclusions, "including but not limited to":

• Implants and all implant-related procedures
• Bone grafts (and ridge augmentation, which section 6.7 also lists)
• Fixed prosthodontics: bridges and all bridge-related procedures
• Veneers, three-quarter crowns, and inlays and onlays
• Cosmetic treatment, including teeth whitening
• Night guards and other periodontal appliances, and mouth guards
• Temporomandibular joint therapy and appliances
• Crown lengthening and extensive rehabilitation
• Precision attachment partial dentures

Orthodontic services are stated to be not currently available.

Preauthorization: how it works

Preauthorization means your provider asks the CDCP, before treatment, whether a service will be covered. The 2026 guide lists services that always need it, including:

• Crowns, cores and posts for crowns
• Root canal re-treatment
• Bonding for mobile teeth
• Partial dentures and some complete immediate dentures and overdentures
• Conscious sedation, deep sedation and general anesthesia
• Services beyond the normal frequency limits

Most approvals are valid for up to 12 months from the approval date (some preventive and periodontal approvals for up to 24 months). The plan's administrator also announced that from 1 April 2026 desensitization services need preauthorization and certain complete immediate dentures no longer do; these details change, so ask your provider to confirm.

Steps before CDCP-covered treatment

1. Confirm the provider accepts CDCP clients. Participation is voluntary, and providers can bill directly or on a claim-by-claim basis.
2. Ask which services are covered and which are not. You cannot submit CDCP claims yourself; your provider does.
3. Ask about extra charges. If your provider's fee is higher than the CDCP fee, or if you choose a non-covered service, you may pay the difference. See CDCP co-payments and extra charges.
4. Get preauthorization where needed before booking.
5. Renew on time. Coverage runs to 30 June; members renew each spring after filing their tax return. Care during a gap is not reimbursed retroactively.

FAQ

Will the CDCP pay for part of an implant?

No. Implants and all implant-related procedures are excluded. It may pay for an extraction or a denture, which are separate services.

Does the CDCP cover braces?

Orthodontic services are not currently available under the plan, according to the 2026 Dental Benefits Guide.

Can I see a denturist under the CDCP?

Dentures are covered, and the benefit grids are organized by type of provider, so denturists can participate. Confirm the provider's participation first.

What if I get treatment while my coverage has lapsed?

Care received during a gap in coverage is not reimbursed retroactively. Renew before the deadline. See CDCP problems and complaints.

Sources

• Canadian Dental Care Plan: covered services and Dental Benefits Guide — current coverage, preauthorization and exclusions
• Sun Life CDCP information — the plan administrator's provider and member information, including benefit grids
• Government of Canada — eligibility and renewal