Canada’s Dental Program (CDCP): What’s Working, What’s Not, and Why Private Coverage Still Matters

Canada’s new national dental program (Canadian Dental Care Plan, or CDCP) has made real progress in opening the doors to dental care for many people who went without for years. Children, seniors, and households with lower incomes now have access to coverage that helps reduce barriers to treatment. For dentists, that means being able to save teeth rather than just extract them, which is a meaningful improvement.

Like any new program, however, it has not been without challenges. Recent reporting highlights several difficulties:

• Misunderstandings about “free care.” Early political messaging described the CDCP as “free dental care.” In reality, patients with household incomes between $70,000 and $90,000 are responsible for 40 to 60 percent of costs, and clinics may charge above the CDCP’s fee schedule. This has left some Canadians surprised by unexpected bills.
• Claim denials and administrative hurdles. Complex treatments require pre-authorization, and more than half of those requests have been denied or delayed. Common claims like cleanings and X-rays have also been turned down when patients reach coverage limits. Clinics report that these processes add significant administrative work and frustration for both patients and providers.
• Limited preventive coverage. For example, the plan covers only one hour of hygienist scaling per year, which is not enough for most adults, especially those who have not had regular care for years.

None of these challenges mean the CDCP is a failure. On the contrary, it represents a major step forward in helping more Canadians access care. But it does show that the program is not yet a complete solution for everyone.

Learn more about common CDCP misconceptions.

Where Private Dental Insurance Still Fits In

If your household income is above $90,000, you will not qualify for the CDCP at all. And even if you do qualify, you may find gaps in preventive services, limits on coverage, or unexpected co-pays. That is where private dental insurance can still play an important role:

• Broader Coverage: Private plans can help cover the routine preventive care (like scaling, exams, and X-rays) that keep your teeth healthy and help avoid costly emergencies.
• Predictable Costs: With a private plan, you will know your coverage details upfront, which reduces the risk of unexpected bills.
• Faster Access: You will not need to navigate pre-authorization backlogs or paperwork hurdles for many standard procedures.

Making the Right Choice

The CDCP is a valuable program, especially for those who might otherwise go without care. But for many Canadians, particularly those above the income threshold or those wanting more robust preventive coverage, private dental insurance remains an important option.

At Aeva, we make it easy to compare dental insurance plans from Canada’s leading providers in less than five minutes.

Visit Aeva.ca today to explore plans that include dental coverage and find the one that fits your needs best.