CDCP Co-Payment Calculator 2026: What You Actually Pay by Income

Last updated 2026-05-23. Fact-checked against Canada.ca CDCP coverage page and Sun Life benefit grid documentation. Dollar examples illustrative -- actual federal fee schedule amounts current as of the 2026-27 benefit year.

CDCP co-pay is 0%, 40%, or 60% of the federal fee schedule, depending on your adjusted family net income. Here's exactly what you'll pay for a cleaning, filling, crown, root canal, extraction, and denture at each bracket -- with worked dollar examples in real Canadian money. Use this before treatment so the math is never a surprise.

Key Takeaways

• Co-pay structure: 0% under $70K AFNI, 40% at $70-79.9K, 60% at $80-89.9K. $90K+ not eligible.
• The federal fee schedule, not provincial fee guides, sets the amounts CDCP pays. Provincial private fees are typically 10-20% higher.
• Your co-pay applies to the federal CDCP fee, not the dentist's private fee.
• Above-schedule fees are your responsibility only with written consent first.
• Biggest dollar impact: dentures and crowns (where co-pay savings range $600-$2,000+). Smallest: routine cleanings (typically $30-$60 difference).

The co-payment table

Adjusted Family Net Income (AFNI)	Your co-pay	CDCP pays
Under $70,000	0%	100% of federal fee schedule
$70,000 -- $79,999	40%	60% of federal fee schedule
$80,000 -- $89,999	60%	40% of federal fee schedule
$90,000+	Not eligible	--

For full eligibility detail (including how AFNI is calculated), see the 4-question eligibility check.

Worked dollar examples by service

These examples use representative federal fee schedule amounts. Your actual cost depends on the specific procedure codes billed, regional variations, and whether the dentist accepts the schedule as full payment. Numbers shown are CAD.

Routine cleaning + exam (recall visit)

Typical bundle: dental exam, two units of scaling (30 min), polishing, fluoride. Federal CDCP fee schedule total: roughly $155.

AFNI bracket	Your co-pay	You pay	CDCP pays
Under $70K	0%	$0	$155
$70-79.9K	40%	$62	$93
$80-89.9K	60%	$93	$62

Single-surface composite filling

Federal CDCP fee schedule: roughly $120-$150 for a basic filling.

AFNI bracket	Your co-pay	You pay	CDCP pays
Under $70K	0%	$0	$135
$70-79.9K	40%	$54	$81
$80-89.9K	60%	$81	$54

Porcelain crown (single tooth, major restorative)

Requires preauthorization. Federal CDCP fee schedule: roughly $900-$1,200 depending on tooth and materials.

AFNI bracket	Your co-pay	You pay	CDCP pays
Under $70K	0%	$0	$1,050
$70-79.9K	40%	$420	$630
$80-89.9K	60%	$630	$420

Root canal (molar)

Requires preauthorization above cost threshold. Federal CDCP fee schedule: roughly $700-$950 for a molar root canal.

AFNI bracket	Your co-pay	You pay	CDCP pays
Under $70K	0%	$0	$825
$70-79.9K	40%	$330	$495
$80-89.9K	60%	$495	$330

Simple extraction

Federal CDCP fee schedule: roughly $150-$200.

AFNI bracket	Your co-pay	You pay	CDCP pays
Under $70K	0%	$0	$175
$70-79.9K	40%	$70	$105
$80-89.9K	60%	$105	$70

Complete upper denture (single arch)

Requires preauthorization. Federal CDCP fee schedule: roughly $1,400-$1,800 per arch.

AFNI bracket	Your co-pay	You pay	CDCP pays
Under $70K	0%	$0	$1,600
$70-79.9K	40%	$640	$960
$80-89.9K	60%	$960	$640

A complete upper-plus-lower denture set roughly doubles the numbers above. This is where CDCP delivers the biggest dollar value -- a senior at the 0% bracket saves $3,000+ on a full denture set vs paying privately.

How to estimate your bill before treatment

For any CDCP-covered service:

1. Ask the dentist what procedure codes will be billed. Every dental service has a code (e.g., 11111 for one unit of scaling, 21111 for a one-surface composite filling on a primary tooth, etc.).
2. Ask the dentist what they'll bill at the CDCP federal fee for those codes. A participating practice should be able to tell you within minutes.
3. Apply your co-pay percentage based on your income bracket (0%, 40%, or 60%).
4. Ask if there's anything above the schedule they want to bill. If yes, get the difference in writing before treatment.

That's it. There's no mystery; the math is simple once you have the procedure codes and federal fees.

What about above-schedule charges?

A participating CDCP dentist accepts the federal fee schedule as full payment for covered services unless they get your written consent first to charge above the schedule. Why might they?

• The service is technically complex (e.g., a molar root canal with extra canals)
• The materials chosen are premium (e.g., a higher-grade crown ceramic)
• The procedure took longer than the schedule's average

Reputable practices are transparent and only bill above schedule when they've explained why and you've agreed in writing. If you receive a bill higher than expected and you didn't sign anything ahead of time, ask -- the practice may have made an error.

From Dr. Kaur

"I tell patients to think of CDCP at the 0% bracket like having a really good employer plan that always pays at 100% -- no surprises, no claim forms, no waiting. At 40% and 60%, the savings are still significant, especially for major services like crowns and dentures, but you need to budget for your share. The patients who get the most out of CDCP plan a year ahead: line up the cleaning every 9-12 months, get the crown done in one benefit year if you can, and use the renewal cycle to plan major work."

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-- Dr. Abinaash Kaur, DDS, The Village Dentist, 750 Annette St, Toronto

Frequently Asked Questions

How is my income bracket calculated? Based on your adjusted family net income (AFNI) from your most recent tax return. For the 2026-27 benefit year, that's your 2025 NOA. What if my income changes during the year? Your bracket is locked for the benefit year (July 1 to June 30). Income changes during the year are reflected at next renewal. Does the co-pay change if I see a specialist? The co-pay percentage is the same. The federal fee schedule rate may be different for specialist services (endodontist, oral surgeon, periodontist, orthodontist), so the dollar amount changes but the percentage is constant. Can I pay my co-pay later? Most practices collect co-pay at the time of service. Some offer payment plans for larger co-pays (e.g., for dentures, crowns at the 60% bracket). Ask the practice's billing policies. Why are some dental procedures more expensive than the CDCP federal fee? Provincial fee guides (ODA, ADA-AB, BCDA, etc.) typically set rates 10-20% higher than CDCP's federal schedule. Practices that bill privately follow the provincial guide; the CDCP schedule is the federal contract rate. Does CDCP cover the same procedures at 100% as at 60% co-pay? Yes. Coverage scope is the same regardless of bracket. The bracket only affects what share you pay. Are there any procedures where the co-pay is different from my income bracket? No -- if a service is covered, your bracket applies uniformly. Some services aren't covered at all (cosmetics, implants, adult ortho, etc.), so they're 100% your responsibility regardless of bracket.

References

1. Government of Canada. What services are covered in the Canadian Dental Care Plan. https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/dental/dental-care-plan/coverage.html
2. Sun Life. Dental benefit grids -- Canadian Dental Care Plan. https://www.sunlife.ca/sl/cdcp/en/provider/dental-benefit-grids/
3. Government of Canada. Canadian Dental Care Plan. https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/dental/dental-care-plan.html
4. Government of Canada. Canadian Dental Care Plan -- Dental Benefits Guide. https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/dental/dental-care-plan/guide.html

Bottom line

Your CDCP co-pay is 0% under $70K AFNI, 40% at $70-79.9K, 60% at $80-89.9K. The percentage applies to the federal fee schedule, not your dentist's private rate. A routine cleaning costs $0 at the 0% bracket and roughly $62 at the 40%; a major service like a complete denture saves $1,600+ at 0% bracket and still saves $640+ at the 60%. Above-schedule charges are your responsibility only with written consent first. Ask your dentist for the procedure codes and federal-fee amounts before any treatment to know exactly what you'll pay.

Need help using your CDCP coverage?

If you're in Toronto or the GTA: We're a CDCP-participating dental practice at 750 Annette St in Bloor West Village. Book a CDCP-covered visit or call (416) 760-0404. If you're outside the GTA: Use the Sun Life provider search to find a participating dentist in your area.

Related posts

• Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) 2026: Complete Guide
• What CDCP Actually Covers in 2026
• Does CDCP Cover Dentures in 2026?

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Clinically reviewed by Dr. Abinaash Kaur, DDS, on 2026-05-23. Dr. Kaur is a general dentist in Toronto registered with the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO). She practises at The Village Dentist, 750 Annette St, Toronto, ON.