Are Dental Implants Covered on the CDCP?

The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) is a federal program designed to help Canadians access basic dental care. If you need a tooth replaced, you might be asking whether dental implants are covered by this plan. Dental implants are a modern solution for missing teeth they involve placing an artificial tooth root (usually titanium) in the jawbone and capping it with a lifelike crown. Implants look and function like real teeth, but they are considered a major (and often costly) dental procedure. Let’s discuss how the CDCP works and whether it will pay for implants. 

CDCP Coverage Basics 2025 

The CDCP (rolling out more services over the next year) primarily covers preventive and basic dental services for eligible Canadians. The goal is to make sure people can get essential treatments like exams, cleanings, fillings, and extractions without financial barriers. The plan focuses on procedures that address pain, infection, and basic function; essentially, keeping your natural teeth healthy.  

Services like cleanings, check-ups, X-rays, cavity fillings, root canals, and even dentures are included under CDCP for those who qualify. However, the plan is not designed to cover elective or high-end treatments that go beyond fundamental care.

Unfortunately, dental implants fall into this excluded category at this time (time of writing, October 2025). 

In the CDCP’s official provider guide, implants (along with procedures like cosmetic veneers, teeth whitening, and fixed bridges) are considered outside the scope of the plan. Essentially, the government plan will not pay for any part of an implant: Not the implant screw, the surgery, nor the crown that attaches on top. These are considered beyond “basic” care, partly because implants are often viewed as elective or prosthetic treatments that go above replacing teeth with standard dentures or bridges. 

If you decide to get a dental implant, you will need to budget for it outside of CDCP coverage. The CDCP will help cover other needs (like treating cavities or extracting a tooth if needed), but it won’t contribute to the cost of placing an implant to replace that tooth. 

Why Aren’t Dental Implants Covered by the CDCP?  

Dental implants, while beneficial, are one of the more expensive dental treatments. The CDCP has limited funding intended to cover as many people as possible for essential services. Procedures that are considered cosmetic (like implants) were excluded so the plan can prioritize basic oral health needs nationwide. Additionally, implants often require specialized care and materials.  

By comparison, the plan does cover more affordable tooth replacement options. Notably, removable dentures are covered under CDCP for those missing teeth. Dentures are considered a basic service to restore the ability to eat and speak, whereas implants are a more permanent (and expensive) upgrade. From the plan’s perspective, a denture can meet the functional need at a lower cost, so that is what’s included. 

Keep an eye on future announcements, though, because the landscape of public dental coverage is changing. If and when the CDCP expands to include more services, we will be sure to update our patients. 

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