Coverage, explained plainly
Understanding the
Canadian Dental Care Plan
We're registered CDCP providers at both our Steveston and New Westminster clinics. Here's what the plan actually covers for denture patients.
A federal program that helps cover dental and denture costs for eligible Canadians.
The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) is run by the Government of Canada and administered through Sun Life. It's designed for residents who don't already have dental insurance, helping cover exams, cleanings, fillings, extractions, and dentures — including complete and partial dentures, relines, rebases, and repairs.
To qualify, you generally need to: be a Canadian resident for tax purposes, have an adjusted family net income under $90,000/year, have no access to private dental insurance (including through an employer or a spouse's plan), and have filed a tax return for the previous year. You'll need to reapply for coverage annually.
How much is covered
Your coverage depends on household income
CDCP doesn't pay 100% for everyone — the portion covered scales with your adjusted family net income. The rest is a co-payment you pay directly to us.
Under $70,000
100%
CDCP covers the full eligible cost — and at Metta, we don't charge any copay or top-up on top of that. You pay nothing out of pocket.
$70,000 – $79,999
60%
CDCP covers 60%; you pay the remaining 40% co-payment.
$80,000 – $89,999
40%
CDCP covers 40%; you pay the remaining 60% co-payment.
Figures reflect published CDCP income tiers and are subject to change by Health Canada. We'll always confirm your exact coverage and out-of-pocket cost before any treatment begins.
What's covered, and how often
Denture coverage & timelines
Like most dental plans, CDCP limits how often each denture service is covered. Here's the general schedule for denture-related care.
| Complete dentures | 1 per arch, every 8 years |
| Cast-frame partial dentures | 1 per arch, every 8 years |
| Acrylic partial dentures | 1 per arch, every 5 years |
| Relines & rebases | 1 per arch, every 2 years |
| Repairs | Covered as needed, up to 1 per arch every 12 months |
Good to know: a brand-new denture generally isn't covered within 24 months of a reline or rebase on that same arch. And while CDCP doesn't cover the surgical placement of dental implants, if you already have implants, ask us whether your removable denture portion may still qualify under standard denture coverage.
Before treatment begins
What's a pre-determination — and how to check yours
For select treatments like a new partial denture, we submit a pre-determination (sometimes called a preauthorization) to Sun Life before any work begins. It's a written estimate confirming your coverage is active, exactly which services are covered, and how much CDCP will pay — so you know your cost in advance, not after the fact.
Sign in and check
Your Sun Life CDCP member account shows your coverage details, claims, and pre-determination status. Your My Service Canada Account (MSCA) shows your application status, coverage start date, and co-payment level.
Or just call
Call the Sun Life CDCP Contact Centre for a status update on a submitted pre-determination. Processing usually takes about 2 weeks, so it's worth checking in around then.
Prefer not to deal with the phone tree? We also inform patients when we hear back from Sun Life about your pre-determination. Please make sure your coverage is active by renewing annually. Coverage percentage may change due to your income.
This page is a general guide, not financial or dental advice. Coverage percentages, income thresholds, and frequency limits are set by Health Canada and can change — always confirm your specific coverage through your Sun Life CDCP member account or with us directly.