Understanding Your Options When Basic Dentist Coverage in Canada Isn’t Enough
The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) was designed to make dental care more accessible for Canadians—but it doesn’t cover everything. While it offers basic dental coverage for certain groups, many essential restorative and cosmetic dentistry treatments are excluded, leaving patients with significant out-of-pocket costs.
If you’ve been relying on the CDCP to cover major dental work, it’s important to understand where it falls short—and what alternatives exist.
Who Is Covered by the Canadian Dental Care Plan?
As of 2025, the CDCP is not available to all Canadians. It currently only covers:
✔ Seniors aged 65 and over
✔ Children under 18
✔ Adults with a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate
✔ Low-income individuals (family income under $90,000) without private dental insurance
If you don’t fall into one of these categories, you aren’t eligible for CDCP benefits—leaving you responsible for 100% of your dental costs.
What Treatments Does the CDCP Cover Today?
The Canadian Dental Care Plan primarily covers routine and essential dental care, such as:
✔ Basic preventive services (cleanings, exams, fluoride treatments)
✔ Fillings and extractions
✔ Some root canal treatments
✔ Limited oral surgery procedures
While this can help with routine dental needs, it does not cover many advanced or cosmetic dentistry treatments that patients need to restore function, confidence, and long-term oral health.
What the Canadian Dental Care Plan Does NOT Cover
Unfortunately, the CDCP does not cover some of the most common and costly dental procedures, including:
🚫 Dental Implants (including All-on-4 & All-on-6 solutions)
🚫 Full Mouth Restorations
🚫 Cosmetic Dentistry (Veneers, Hollywood Smile, Teeth Whitening)
🚫 Orthodontics (Braces, Aligners)
🚫 Night Guards & Other Specialized Prosthetics
The CDCP won’t provide financial relief for those needing major dental work, meaning patients are left with few options for affordable dental care in Canada.
What to Do If You’re Not Covered
If you need dental implants, cosmetic dentistry, or full restorations, waiting for the Canadian Dental Care Plan isn’t an option. With rising costs and long wait times in Canada, many patients are now seeking alternatives abroad—but finding the right clinic and avoiding misleading marketing can be overwhelming.
At Dental Pathways, we provide a trusted, transparent solution—connecting Canadians with high-quality, ethical dental care in Turkey at a fraction of the price.
✔ World-class dental care with leading specialists
✔ Up to 86% savings compared to Canadian prices
✔ Transparent pricing with no surprises
✔ Personalized treatment plans and full travel coordination
Final Thoughts
The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) is a step in the right direction—but for many Canadians needing advanced procedures like implants or full restorations, it falls short.
That’s where dental tourism comes in. With top-tier care available abroad at a fraction of the cost, it’s worth exploring all your options.
