CDCP Dentures: Who Qualifies and the Yearly Renewal Most People Miss

This article explains the Canadian Dental Care Plan in general terms. Always confirm your own coverage with the plan before treatment.

CDCP dentures have made new teeth affordable for a lot of seniors and families across Vernon, Kelowna and the rest of the Okanagan. The catch is that many people who qualify for the Canadian Dental Care Plan have never applied, and many who are already on it lose their coverage because they miss the yearly renewal.

Below is a plain-language guide to who qualifies, what the plan pays toward full dentures and partials, and the renewal deadline that catches people out. It is written by the team at Kasper Denture Clinic, a registered CDCP provider since the plan opened to denture patients.

Quick answer: does CDCP cover dentures?

Yes. The Canadian Dental Care Plan covers most of the denture services people need, as long as you are enrolled and your coverage is current on the day of treatment. Covered denture care includes:

  • complete upper and lower dentures, including immediate dentures placed the day teeth are removed
  • partial dentures that fill gaps between natural teeth
  • denture repairs, relines and rebases when a denture cracks or gets loose
  • tissue conditioning liners that let sore gums heal under a denture

Partial dentures and immediate dentures need approval from the plan, called preauthorization, before work starts.

The four rules for CDCP eligibility

The Government of Canada sets four conditions, and you need to meet every one of them.

  1. No access to private dental insurance. That includes coverage through your job, your spouse’s job, a pension plan or a plan you pay for yourself, even if you have never used it.
  2. Taxes filed for last year. You and your spouse or common-law partner both need a filed Canadian return.
  3. Adjusted family net income under $90,000. This is calculated from line 23600 on your return.
  4. Canadian residency for tax purposes. Both you and your partner must be residents.

What you pay at each income level

CDCP pays a set fee for each covered service. How much of that fee the plan covers depends on your adjusted family net income.

  • Under $70,000, the plan covers 100 percent of its set fee
  • $70,000 to $79,999, the plan covers 60 percent and you pay 40 percent
  • $80,000 to $89,999, the plan covers 40 percent and you pay 60 percent

Some clinics charge more than the CDCP fee for certain services. Ask about any difference before treatment so the numbers are clear from the start.

The renewal deadline that ends coverage

This is the part most people miss. CDCP coverage does not roll over on its own. Each benefit year runs from July 1 to June 30, and every spring you have to renew and confirm you still have no access to dental insurance. In 2026 that renewal window ran from mid-April to June 1.

If you miss it, your coverage ends on June 30. You can apply again, but anything you have done before the new approval comes through is not covered or paid back. We have seen patients start their dentures, lose coverage halfway through, and end up paying for the rest themselves.

Your CDCP dentures checklist

  • Find your CDCP member card or Sun Life member number and bring it to your appointment
  • Log in to your My Service Canada Account and confirm your coverage is active for this benefit year
  • If you get a pension, check box 015 on your T4A slip, where a “1” means your plan reported no dental coverage
  • Make sure your spouse or partner filed their taxes, since a missing return can stall your file
  • Wait for preauthorization on partials and immediate dentures before treatment begins
  • Put a reminder in your calendar for April so you renew on time next year

Questions we hear from CDCP patients

Can I use CDCP if I have had dentures for years? Yes. Relines, repairs and replacement dentures can all be covered, as long as you meet the plan’s timing rules for how often a denture can be replaced.

Do I need a dentist to approve my CDCP dentures? No. You can book directly with a denturist, and the denturist sends any preauthorization request to the plan for you.

Does CDCP cover implant dentures? The plan covers the denture itself in some cases, but implant placement is not listed as a covered service. If you are considering snap-in implant dentures, ask us to break down which parts the plan may help with.

How CDCP works at our clinics

All three of our clinics accept CDCP. We check your coverage before your treatment plan is set, send any preauthorization the plan requires, and bill the plan directly so you are not paying up front and waiting to be reimbursed. Your consultation is free either way, and most new dentures are finished in about 3 visits thanks to our digital process and in-house lab in Vernon.

Find out if your dentures are covered

Bring your member card to a free consultation at our Vernon denture clinic, Kelowna denture clinic or Lake Country clinic, and we will check what the plan covers before anything starts. You can also send us a message with your question.

Written by the team at Kasper Denture Clinic, a family run denture clinic serving Vernon, Kelowna and Lake Country since 1974.