Does CDCP Cover Dentures? A 2026 Guide for Richmond Patients

If you have been approved for the Canadian Dental Care Plan, you may be wondering what it actually covers—and whether you can use it toward new dentures.

The short answer is yes. The CDCP may help pay for complete dentures, partial dentures, repairs, relines, and other eligible denture services. However, being enrolled in the CDCP does not automatically mean every denture is fully covered or that there will be no cost to you.

At Premium Denture Clinic in Richmond, we regularly help patients understand their CDCP benefits. We can check whether your coverage is active, submit estimates or preauthorization requests when needed, explain your expected patient portion, and bill Sun Life directly for eligible services.

This guide explains the most important things to know before starting denture treatment.

2026 CDCP Update: Applications are open for the 2026–2027 benefit year, which runs from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.

The renewal deadline for existing members was June 1, 2026. If you missed it, you can reapply, but there may be a gap in your coverage.

What Denture Services Can CDCP Help Cover?

The CDCP includes a range of removable denture services. Depending on your clinical needs, active coverage, and the plan’s rules, eligible services may include:

• Standard complete dentures

• Acrylic partial dentures

• Cast partial dentures

• Certain immediate or temporary dentures

• Complete overdentures

• Denture repairs and tooth additions

• Denture relines and rebases

• Tissue conditioning and certain denture liners

Implants, implant procedures, and implant-supported complete or partial dentures are not covered under the current CDCP rules.

It is also important to understand that every service has its own eligibility requirements and frequency limits. Coverage is confirmed individually; it is not based only on having a CDCP card.

How Often Will CDCP Cover Dentures?

Under the current general CDCP limits:

• Standard complete dentures may be covered once per arch in a rolling eight-year period.

• Cast partial dentures may be covered once per arch in a rolling eight-year period.

• Acrylic partial dentures may be covered once per arch in a rolling five-year period.

• Denture repairs or tooth additions may be covered once per arch in a rolling 12-month period.

• Relines and rebases may be covered once per arch in a rolling two-year period.

• Tissue conditioning may be covered once per arch in a rolling two-year period.

These are rolling periods rather than calendar-year benefits. For example, a two-year limit is generally measured from the date the previous eligible service was completed—not reset automatically every January.

The CDCP may consider certain services beyond a normal frequency limit through preauthorization when there is a documented exceptional need. Approval is not automatic.

Another important rule is that the CDCP generally will not cover a new denture within 24 months of a reline or rebase. If your existing dentures are becoming loose and you are considering a reline, it is worth discussing whether a reline or replacement denture makes more sense before treatment begins.

Does CDCP Cover Partial Dentures?

Partial dentures may be covered, but an initial partial denture generally requires preauthorization. This means a denturist or dentist must submit the proposed treatment and supporting clinical information to Sun Life before fabrication begins.

The CDCP considers factors such as:

• Which teeth are missing

• The amount of space available for the replacement teeth

• The condition of the remaining teeth and gums

• Whether the teeth supporting the partial are strong enough

• Whether necessary fillings, gum treatment, root treatment, or extractions have been completed

Under the current clinical criteria, a partial denture may be considered when there is at least one missing front tooth or at least two missing back teeth in the same quadrant, excluding second and third molars. Other clinical requirements must still be met.

This is why a consultation is valuable even if you already know that you have CDCP coverage. We first need to determine whether the proposed partial denture meets the plan’s clinical rules and whether any dental work should be completed before the denture is made.

When treatment from a dentist is required first, we can help coordinate the denture plan with your dental office.

Do Complete Dentures Require Preauthorization?

Standard complete dentures generally do not require preauthorization when the treatment is within the CDCP’s normal eligibility and frequency rules.

Complete overdentures and complete dentures with a long-term soft liner do require preauthorization. Standard complete immediate dentures generally do not require preauthorization under the rules effective April 1, 2026, while immediate overdentures do.

Immediate and transitional or provisional complete dentures are generally limited to one per arch per lifetime. The type of temporary denture selected can also affect when another complete denture may become eligible.

Treatment should therefore be planned carefully before extractions take place.

Does CDCP Pay the Entire Cost of Dentures?

Not always.

The CDCP pays a percentage of its own established fee for an eligible service. Your co-payment percentage is based on your adjusted family net income:

Less Than $70,000

• CDCP portion of eligible CDCP fees: 100%

• Your co-payment: 0%

$70,000–$79,999

• CDCP portion of eligible CDCP fees: 60%

• Your co-payment: 40%

$80,000–$89,999

• CDCP portion of eligible CDCP fees: 40%

• Your co-payment: 60%

The key phrase is “CDCP-established fee.” The amount recognized by the CDCP may be different from the fee charged by a clinic.

Your out-of-pocket amount can therefore include:

1. Your income-based co-payment

2. The difference between the clinic’s fee and the CDCP-established fee

3. Any treatment or service that is not covered by the CDCP

Even if your letter says you have a 0% co-payment, you may still have a patient portion. This is why we avoid describing CDCP dentures as “free dentures.” A clearer and more accurate way to say it is that the CDCP may help cover part of the cost.

Before you commit to treatment at Premium Denture Clinic, we will explain what the plan is expected to pay and what you may need to pay.

Who Is Eligible for CDCP?

To qualify, you must meet all four federal requirements:

1. You must not have access to private dental insurance or coverage.

2. You and your spouse or common-law partner, if applicable, must have filed Canadian tax returns for the previous year.

3. Your adjusted family net income must be less than $90,000.

4. You must be a Canadian resident for tax purposes.

Private coverage can include benefits through your employer, pension, spouse or common-law partner, a professional or student organization, a purchased plan, or a health spending account that covers dental care.

You may be considered to have access even if you did not enrol in the plan, do not use it, must pay part of the premium, or the plan would not cover the full cost of treatment.

Government social dental benefits are different. If you receive dental coverage through a federal, provincial, or territorial social program, you may still qualify for the CDCP. The public plans may coordinate benefits where applicable.

If you are unsure, review the official CDCP eligibility requirements before applying.

What Happened With the 2026 CDCP Renewal?

CDCP members must renew their coverage every year. Coverage is not permanently active just because you were approved in a previous benefit year.

The renewal deadline for the 2026–2027 benefit year was June 1, 2026. If you had coverage during 2025–2026 but missed the renewal deadline, you can submit a new application.

Your existing member ID should remain the same, but your coverage may be inactive until the new application is approved.

Dental and denture services received during a coverage gap are not covered retroactively. This applies even if a treatment estimate or preauthorization had previously been approved.

Renewals for 2027–2028 are scheduled to open in spring 2027. Members should check the official CDCP renewal page for the opening date and deadline.

Your co-payment level may also change after renewal because it is calculated using updated family-income information.

How Do I Apply or Reapply for CDCP?

Applications for the 2026–2027 benefit year are currently open.

You can apply through:

• My Service Canada Account

• The online Canada.ca application

• Service Canada at 1-833-537-4342

There is no fee to apply or renew.

Before applying, you and your spouse or common-law partner, if applicable, must have filed the previous year’s Canadian tax returns and received your notices of assessment.

You can start on the official CDCP application page.

Be cautious of websites, advertisements, or messages asking you to pay an application fee or provide banking or credit-card information. The Government of Canada does not charge people to apply or renew.

Do Not Start Treatment Before Your Coverage Date

After you apply, Service Canada will confirm whether you are enrolled. Your confirmation includes your:

• CDCP plan number

• Member ID

• Coverage start date

• Co-payment level

Your member card alone does not show your coverage start date. Keep the Service Canada or Sun Life letter containing that information.

You should not receive treatment before your coverage start date. The clinic must also confirm that your coverage is active on the date each service is provided.

An estimate or preauthorization is helpful, but final payment still depends on your eligibility, co-payment level, CDCP fees, and plan rules on the date of service.

What Should I Bring to My Denture Consultation?

If you are visiting Premium Denture Clinic for a CDCP denture consultation, please bring:

• Your CDCP member card or member ID

• One piece of valid identification

• Your letter showing your coverage start date and co-payment level

• Your existing dentures, if you have them

• Any questions or concerns you would like us to address

Do not worry if the paperwork feels confusing. We can verify your active coverage and explain the denture-related information available to us.

Can I Pay for Treatment and Submit the Claim Myself?

No. CDCP claims must be submitted by an eligible oral health provider, and Sun Life pays the provider directly for the covered portion.

Patients cannot pay the full treatment cost and then request reimbursement from Sun Life.

At Premium Denture Clinic, we direct bill Sun Life for eligible CDCP services. You are responsible only for the amount that is not covered by the plan.

Are Adjustments Included After Receiving New Dentures?

The CDCP fee for new complete and partial dentures includes a three-month period of post-insertion care.

Follow-up is also an important part of our own treatment process. New dentures can require adjustments as your mouth adapts, and we want to make sure you are comfortable and supported after insertion—not simply handed a denture and sent on your way.

Need Help Understanding Your CDCP Denture Coverage?

The CDCP has made denture care more affordable for many Canadians, but the rules around co-payments, preauthorization, treatment dates, and frequency limits can be difficult to understand on your own.

At Premium Denture Clinic, our job is to make the process as clear and comfortable as possible. We will listen to what is bothering you, assess your denture needs, verify your active coverage, and explain your treatment options and estimated costs before you make a decision.

If you have not booked your free consultation yet, simply contact our Richmond clinic or give our office a call. We will be happy to help you understand the best path forward.

Book a Free Denture Consultation

Call: 604-600-5388
Location: Premium Denture Clinic, Richmond, BC

Sources and Disclaimer:

This article was prepared using the Government of Canada CDCP overview, coverage information, renewal information, and the CDCP Dental Benefits Guide effective April 1, 2026.

Premium Denture Clinic is an independent denture clinic and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Government of Canada or Sun Life.

This article provides general information only. CDCP eligibility, coverage, preauthorization, frequency limits, fees, and patient costs can change and must be confirmed for each person and service.