Does CDCP Cover Dentures in 2026? The Biggest Senior Savings

Last updated 2026-05-24. Fact-checked against Sun Life CDCP benefit grid and Canada.ca prosthodontic coverage documentation.

Of every CDCP-covered service, dentures save patients the most out-of-pocket -- typically $1,500 to $3,500 per arch for a complete denture. Here's the complete-vs-partial math, the reline and repair rules, and the implant-supported exclusion that catches a lot of seniors planning denture work.

Key Takeaways

• CDCP covers complete dentures, partial dentures, relines, and repairs under the removable prosthodontic category.
• New dentures always require preauthorization. Reline and repair work typically does not.
• Implant-supported dentures are excluded. This is a hard exclusion -- no appeal route.
• Frequency limit: typically one new complete denture per arch every 5 years (varies by clinical justification).
• Biggest dollar value: a senior at the 0% co-pay bracket saves roughly $3,000-$7,000 on a complete upper-plus-lower denture set vs paying privately.

What's covered

Service	Covered?	Preauthorization?	Notes
Complete denture, upper or lower	Yes	Yes (always)	Full arch replacement
Complete denture set (upper + lower)	Yes	Yes (always)	Both arches
Cast partial denture	Yes	Yes	Metal framework partial
Acrylic partial denture	Yes	Yes	Acrylic-only partial
Reline (laboratory)	Yes	Usually no	Restores fit when ridge changes
Reline (chairside)	Yes	Usually no	Same-visit fit adjustment
Repair	Yes	Usually no	Cracked or broken denture
Tooth replacement on existing denture	Yes	Sometimes	Adding teeth to a partial
Implant-supported denture	NO -- excluded	--	All implant work excluded
Implant placement before denture	NO -- excluded	--	Implants are not covered

The full procedure code list is in the Sun Life CDCP benefit grid; your dentist or denturist can confirm exact codes.

How frequency limits work

CDCP typically covers a new complete denture once per arch every 5 years, with the clock starting from the date of the last covered denture. If your existing dentures are still functional, CDCP will not approve replacements just because you'd prefer new ones.

Exceptions that allow earlier replacement:

• Significant ridge change due to bone loss, weight change, or medical condition
• Damage beyond repair (the denture is broken in a way that can't be fixed)
• A medical condition that requires different denture design

Your dentist documents these clinically in the preauthorization submission. Approval is at CDCP's discretion based on the clinical evidence.

How the cost math works

For a complete upper denture, the federal CDCP fee schedule is roughly $1,400-$1,800 per arch. A full upper-plus-lower set roughly doubles to $2,800-$3,600. (Exact federal rates vary by region and the specific codes billed.)

AFNI bracket	Your share -- complete upper	Your share -- upper + lower set
Under $70,000	$0	$0
$70,000 -- $79,999	~$640	~$1,280
$80,000 -- $89,999	~$960	~$1,920

At the 0% bracket, the entire cost is covered by CDCP. At the 60% bracket, you still save thousands compared to paying privately at the provincial fee guide (which can run $4,000-$8,000 for a full set).

For worked examples on other services, see the CDCP co-payment calculator.

The implant-supported denture exclusion -- read this before planning

The single biggest source of denture-related disappointment with CDCP is the implant-supported denture exclusion. The rule, in plain language:

• Conventional removable dentures (tissue-supported): covered
• Dentures that attach to dental implants (implant-retained or implant-supported): NOT covered
• The implants themselves: NOT covered
• Bone grafting in preparation for implants: NOT covered

If you have existing implants and you want a new denture that attaches to them, CDCP will not cover the attachment components or the implant-related preparation. CDCP will cover a conventional removable denture as an alternative, but if that's not clinically appropriate, you're paying privately for the implant-supported version.

This exclusion is in Appendix E of the CDCP Dental Benefits Guide and is not appealable. Plan accordingly.

What about denture work after extractions?

If you need teeth extracted before your denture work, those extractions are covered separately (see Does CDCP Cover Extractions?). Common sequence:

1. Extractions (CDCP-covered, often without preauthorization for simple)
2. Healing period (typically 6-12 weeks before impressions)
3. Immediate denture or healing denture (covered as a temporary measure, with preauthorization)
4. Final denture impressions and fabrication (covered with preauthorization)
5. Reline at 6-12 months as healing settles (covered, typically no preauthorization)

This is a multi-visit, multi-month sequence. Plan it around your benefit-year cycle so you're not waiting on annual renewal at a critical step.

From Dr. Kaur

"Dentures are where CDCP changes lives. The patient at the 0% bracket who's been wearing a 15-year-old denture that no longer fits comes in, we preauthorize a new full set, and three months later they're eating foods they hadn't touched in years. The financial impact is real -- $4,000-$8,000 in private cost reduced to zero. The biggest mistake I see is patients planning around implants before they apply. If you're at the stage of choosing between conventional and implant-supported, get the CDCP plan sorted first; the conventional path is fully covered, and we can revisit implants outside the CDCP envelope if you want them later."

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does CDCP take to approve new dentures? Preauthorization typically returns in 7-21 days. Your dentist submits clinical evidence (existing denture if any, oral exam, ridge assessment); CDCP reviews against the benefit guide criteria. Can I get implants and have CDCP cover the dentures attached to them? No. Both the implants and the implant-supported dentures are excluded. CDCP will cover a conventional removable denture as the alternative. Does CDCP cover relines? Yes -- both laboratory relines and chairside relines are covered, typically without preauthorization. Frequency limits apply. What if my dentures break? Repair is covered. Bring them to your participating dentist or denturist; most repairs are completed same-day or next-day and don't require preauthorization. Can I see a denturist directly instead of a dentist for dentures? Yes. Denturists who are enrolled in CDCP can provide most denture services directly. Check the Sun Life provider search for participating denturists in your area. Are immediate dentures (placed at extraction) covered? Yes, with preauthorization. These are temporary dentures placed at the same visit as the extraction so you're never without teeth during healing. Does CDCP cover dentures more than once? Yes, but typically only once per arch every 5 years unless clinical evidence supports earlier replacement (significant ridge change, damage beyond repair, etc.).

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. Government of Canada. Canadian Dental Care Plan -- Dental Benefits Guide. https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/dental/dental-care-plan/guide.html
3. Sun Life. Dental benefit grids -- CDCP. https://www.sunlife.ca/sl/cdcp/en/provider/dental-benefit-grids/
4. Sun Life. Find a provider -- Canadian Dental Care Plan. https://www.sunlife.ca/sl/cdcp/en/member/find-a-provider/

Bottom line

CDCP fully covers conventional complete and partial dentures, with reline and repair work in the same scope. Implant-supported dentures and the implants themselves are excluded -- a hard exclusion with no appeal route. New dentures require preauthorization; reline and repair typically don't. Frequency limit is roughly one new complete denture per arch every 5 years. At the 0% co-pay bracket, the entire cost is covered (saving $4,000-$8,000 on a full set vs paying privately). This is the single biggest dollar-value use of CDCP for senior patients.

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 denture consultation or call (416) 760-0404. If you're outside the GTA: Use the Sun Life provider search to find a participating dentist or denturist in your area.

Related posts

• Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) 2026: Complete Guide
• What CDCP Actually Covers in 2026
• CDCP Co-Payment Calculator 2026

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Clinically reviewed by Dr. Abinaash Kaur, DDS, on 2026-05-24. Dr. Kaur is a general dentist in Toronto registered with the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO).