Does CDCP Cover Extractions in 2026? Simple, Surgical & Wisdom Teeth

Last updated 2026-05-24. Fact-checked against Sun Life CDCP benefit grid -- oral surgery category.

Yes -- CDCP covers simple extractions at any age without preauthorization, and most surgical extractions (including impacted wisdom teeth) with preauthorization. The trick is knowing which type of extraction your tooth actually needs before you book, so the timeline and cost are predictable. Here's how to tell.

Key Takeaways

• Simple extractions: covered without preauthorization. Typically $150-$200 federal fee.
• Surgical and impacted extractions (including most wisdom teeth): covered with preauthorization. Typically $250-$500 federal fee.
• Multiple extractions in one visit: each billed separately; all covered.
• Sedation (oral, nitrous, IV) for extractions: covered separately, typically requires preauthorization.
• Bone grafting after extraction for future implant work: NOT covered (implant-related work is excluded).

Simple vs surgical -- knowing which you need

Extraction type	What it is	CDCP code (typical)	Preauthorization?
Simple extraction	Visible tooth, removable with forceps in one piece	71101, 71109 etc.	No
Surgical extraction (erupted)	Tooth fully erupted but requires sectioning or bone removal	72111 etc.	Sometimes
Surgical extraction (impacted)	Tooth partially or fully under bone or gum	72211, 72221, 72231 etc.	Yes
Wisdom tooth (3rd molar) -- fully erupted	Standard extraction if straightforward	71101 etc.	Often no
Wisdom tooth -- partial bony impaction	Surgical removal	72221 etc.	Yes
Wisdom tooth -- full bony impaction	Most complex surgical removal	72231 etc.	Yes

A dentist's exam (with x-rays) is the only way to know which category your tooth falls into. Many wisdom teeth that look simple on the surface are actually partial or full bony impactions requiring surgical extraction.

What you actually pay

Federal CDCP fee schedule (illustrative -- exact amounts depend on the specific code and current Sun Life benefit grid):

Extraction	Federal CDCP fee (typical)	Your share at 0% / 40% / 60%
Single simple extraction	~$175	$0 / ~$70 / ~$105
Surgical extraction (erupted)	~$280	$0 / ~$112 / ~$168
Partial bony wisdom tooth	~$380	$0 / ~$152 / ~$228
Full bony wisdom tooth	~$480	$0 / ~$192 / ~$288
Four wisdom teeth (mixed impaction levels)	~$1,200-$1,800 total	$0 / ~$480-$720 / ~$720-$1,080

For broader cost worked examples, see the CDCP co-payment calculator.

What about sedation?

Many extractions, particularly wisdom teeth and multiple-tooth surgical removals, are done under sedation. CDCP covers sedation services under a separate category:

• Nitrous oxide (laughing gas): typically covered, often without preauthorization
• Oral conscious sedation: covered with preauthorization
• IV sedation: covered with preauthorization, usually requires specialist (oral surgeon)
• General anaesthesia: covered for specific indications, requires preauthorization and usually hospital setting

The sedation pre-determination is separate from the extraction pre-determination. Your dentist or oral surgeon submits both together.

After the extraction -- what's covered next

Service after extraction	Covered?	Notes
Post-op visit / follow-up	Yes	Usually included in extraction fee
Suture removal	Yes	Often included; sometimes separately billed
Pain medication prescription	(Drug coverage separate)	CDCP is dental; medication coverage runs through provincial pharmacare or your separate drug plan
Immediate denture (placed same visit)	Yes	With preauthorization; see Does CDCP Cover Dentures?
Bone graft (socket preservation)	Generally yes for medical-necessity socket preservation	Bone graft specifically for future implant placement: NOT covered
Bridge to replace extracted tooth	Yes	See Does CDCP Cover Crowns & Bridges?
Implant to replace extracted tooth	NO -- excluded	All implant work is excluded under CDCP

From Dr. Kaur

"Wisdom teeth are where I see the most confusion. A patient comes in expecting 'simple extraction, in and out' and we discover on the panorex that all four are partially impacted. That's four surgical extractions with preauthorization, not four simple ones. The total federal fee is real -- $1,200 to $1,800 for the four -- but at the 0% co-pay bracket the patient pays $0. The week of waiting for preauthorization is the main inconvenience, not the cost. Plan the wisdom tooth conversation a month before you want the procedure done; that's the realistic timeline."

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Does CDCP cover wisdom tooth removal? Yes. Simple extractions don't require preauthorization; surgical extractions (which most impacted wisdom teeth are) do. Coverage at the federal fee schedule applies in both cases. How long does preauthorization take for surgical extractions? Typically 7-21 days. Your dentist submits clinical evidence including x-rays. Does CDCP cover removing all four wisdom teeth at once? Yes. Each tooth is preauthorized and billed separately, but the four can be removed in the same visit. Sedation is also covered with separate preauthorization if needed. Does CDCP cover oral surgeon visits? Yes, when the extraction is referred to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon for complex cases. The surgeon must be a CDCP-participating provider; check via the Sun Life provider search. What about bone grafting after a tooth is removed? Socket preservation grafting for medical-necessity reasons (preventing severe ridge collapse) is generally covered. Bone grafting specifically prepared for future dental implant placement is NOT covered (because implants themselves are excluded). Does CDCP cover the pain medication after extraction? Dental services are CDCP's scope; prescription medications run through your provincial pharmacare program (OHIP+, BC PharmaCare, Quebec RAMQ, etc.) or your separate drug coverage. Some practices stock common post-op pain medications on a self-pay basis. Can I get a tooth extracted urgently if I'm in pain? Yes. Simple extractions don't need preauthorization, so an urgent simple extraction can happen the day you're seen. Surgical/impacted urgent cases may need expedited preauthorization or emergency-billed treatment.

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 -- CDCP. https://www.sunlife.ca/sl/cdcp/en/provider/dental-benefit-grids/
3. Government of Canada. CDCP Dental Benefits Guide. https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/dental/dental-care-plan/guide.html
4. Canadian Dental Association. Oral surgery and extractions. https://www.cda-adc.ca/en/oral_health/

Bottom line

CDCP covers simple extractions without preauthorization (typically $150-$200 federal fee) and surgical/impacted extractions with preauthorization (typically $250-$500). All four wisdom teeth at once is fully covered with separate preauthorization for each tooth. Sedation is covered separately. Bone grafting specifically for future implants is excluded; medical-necessity socket preservation is generally covered. Replacement options after extraction: dentures and conventional bridges are covered; implants are not.

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 extraction consultation 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 2026-05-24. Dr. Kaur is a general dentist in Toronto registered with the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO).