CDCP Crown Coverage: What Ottawa Patients Should Know
Yes, the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) can cover a crown, but not automatically. Your dentist has to request approval before treatment, and the plan only approves crowns that meet its clinical criteria. Even then, you may still owe part of the bill.
We are a family dental office in downtown Ottawa, accepting new patients and CDCP patients. We bill insurance directly. This guide explains what the plan covers, what it leaves out, and what to confirm before you book. If you have a broken tooth or pain right now, we also offer same-day and emergency care.
TL;DR
The CDCP can cover certain single-unit crowns (cast metal, porcelain-fused-to-metal and porcelain/ceramic) for adults, but only with preauthorization submitted by your dentist.
Bridges, implants, implant-supported crowns, veneers, three-quarter crowns and cosmetic work are not covered.
The plan pays a share of its own fee schedule: 100%, 60% or 40% depending on family income. The clinic may charge more than that fee, so confirm extra costs first.
Root canals are part of the plan’s basic services, and a root canal often comes before a crown on the same tooth.
Check that your coverage is active for this benefit year before treatment. Approval from an earlier year does not carry over.
Table of Contents
Does the CDCP cover crowns?
The federal CDCP coverage page lists crowns among the services that restore teeth too damaged to be fixed with a basic filling, and it states that crowns require preauthorization. The same group of services includes posts, cores, and repairs or re-bonding of crowns.
The details sit in the CDCP Dental Benefits Guide. As of October 2026, it says:
Coverage applies to certain single-unit crowns for clients aged 18 and older.
Eligible types are cast metal, porcelain/ceramic fused to metal, and porcelain/ceramic.
Each client can have up to 4 crowns in any 120 months (10 years).
Each eligible tooth can have 1 crown in any 96 months (8 years).
The guide also says cores, the build-up that supports a crown, are considered only together with an approved crown request. They are eligible if the existing restoration is more than 24 months old.
That means a crown is a real benefit, but a limited one. Think of it as coverage for teeth that truly need a crown, not for a crown that is simply a good idea.
How preauthorization works
Preauthorization means the CDCP reviews the case before treatment starts. According to the federal preauthorization guidance for providers, your dentist submits the request, and it must show that the clinical criteria are met. The government says CDCP criteria are more stringent than those of private insurance, and not every request is approved. The CDCP can also ask for more information or deny a request that does not show eligibility.
Here is how it usually goes at a visit:
Exam and X-rays. We look at how much healthy tooth is left and whether the tooth can be restored.
Treat active problems. The plan’s guide considers untreated active disease such as decay, gum disease or infection at the tip of the root. A crown request is stronger when these have been addressed or documented.
Submission. We send the request with the clinical details the plan asks for.
Decision. The CDCP approves, asks for more, or declines.
Treatment. You book the crown once you know the answer and your share of the cost.
The decision is a clinical assessment, not an entitlement. A crown that seems reasonable to you can still be declined. If that happens, you can choose to go ahead privately, but you pay the provider for treatment the plan does not cover.
When a tooth is painful or cracked, waiting for approval can feel hard. Tell us about the pain. We can treat the urgent problem first, such as an infection, a temporary filling or a root canal, while the crown request is under review.
What is not covered
Some treatments people expect to be covered fall outside the plan. Public Health Ontario’s CDCP guide lists these among the exclusions:
Implant-supported crowns and all implant-related procedures
Bridges and other fixed prosthodontics
Veneers
Three-quarter crowns
Inlays and onlays
Cosmetic whitening
Crown lengthening
Bone grafts
Extensive rehabilitation
Implant-related procedures are not eligible for reconsideration either. If you were hoping a bridge could replace a missing tooth under the plan, it cannot. You can still choose a bridge or implant privately, and we explain both on our crowns and bridges page and our implants page.
Does the CDCP cover root canals?
Yes. The Public Health Ontario guide describes endodontic procedures as part of the plan’s basic services, alongside restorations and periodontal care. Root canal treatment saves a tooth that is infected or badly inflamed inside. It is often the step that makes a later crown possible.
Here is why the two treatments connect:
A tooth that has had a root canal is often weaker, so a crown may follow.
A crown request is stronger when infection at the root has been treated first.
Cores and posts can be part of the same plan, but they are tied to an approved crown request.
Exact rules, such as which teeth are eligible and how often, are set out in the benefits guide, and fees come from the plan’s schedule. For tooth-by-tooth pricing and a checklist, see our article on root canal costs in Ottawa. If you are in pain now, our root canal treatment page explains what to expect.
What you may still pay
CDCP coverage and a free crown are not the same thing. Two separate pieces decide your cost.
Your income-based share
The federal eligibility page says the CDCP pays a share of its established fees based on adjusted family net income:
Adjusted family net income | CDCP pays (of CDCP-established fee) | You pay |
Under $70,000 | 100% | 0% |
$70,000 to $79,999 | 60% | 40% |
$80,000 to $89,999 | 40% | 60% |
The page also notes that additional charges can still apply.
Any gap between the clinic’s fee and the CDCP fee
The CDCP reimburses according to its own fee schedule, which is not the same as a provincial fee guide. Fees are reassessed each year, and Sun Life publishes the dental benefit grids with procedure codes and policies for participating providers. If a clinic charges more than the CDCP fee, you can owe the difference. Laboratory or other additional charges can also apply.
Because of this, there is no single Canada-wide crown price that decides what you pay. It depends on the crown type, the clinic’s charge, the CDCP fee, your income level and whether the request is approved. The government advises members to confirm both direct billing and extra costs before treatment. We recommend asking for a written estimate before you book the crown.
For how annual caps and frequency limits compare, read our guide to dental annual maximums and CDCP frequency limits.
Who qualifies for the CDCP in the first place
Crown approval comes second. First you must be enrolled. The federal requirements are all four of these:
You have no access to private dental insurance or coverage.
You filed your tax return in Canada (and your spouse or partner did too, if applicable).
Your adjusted family net income is under $90,000.
You are a Canadian resident for tax purposes.
Having other government dental coverage does not automatically disqualify you, and coordination may be possible. Parents can read our CDCP eligibility guide for kids.
Check that your coverage is active
The CDCP runs on a benefit year. For 2026-27, the government said existing members had to renew between April 15 and June 1, 2026. People who missed it could re-enrol from June 2, but there might be a gap, and services received during a gap would not be reimbursed retroactively. If you are not sure, check your status before the crown appointment, and bring your CDCP details to your visit.
Direct billing and your visit
CDCP patients do not file their own claims at a clinic like ours. We bill through the plan’s process. Our article on direct billing versus reimbursement explains what that means in practice, and our overview of how dental insurance works in Canada shows how to work out what you will owe. For a longer look at crown types, read our crowns and insurance guide.
Before a crown appointment, confirm these points with your dentist:
The crown preauthorization was approved, and for which tooth.
Your CDCP coverage is active today.
Your income-based share, if any.
Whether the clinic’s fee is above the CDCP fee, and by how much.
Whether laboratory or other additional charges apply.
That the clinic bills the plan directly.
Preauthorization is not a promise of a zero bill. The rules and co-payment level in effect on the day of treatment control payment.
Can you claim a crown on your taxes?
Sometimes. The Canada Revenue Agency’s medical expenses guide says amounts paid to a dentist for dental services can generally qualify as medical expenses, but you can only consider the amount you actually paid and were not reimbursed for, whether by the CDCP, insurance or another source. Cosmetic procedures are not eligible.
The medical expense tax credit is non-refundable, so it reduces tax owing rather than paying you cash. Whether it helps depends on your total medical expenses compared with the threshold for that tax year. Keep itemized receipts, and check the current rules with the CRA or a tax professional.
Our perspective: plan the crown, not just the claim
We see the same pattern often. A patient hears that the CDCP covers crowns, books a visit, and is surprised when the approval takes time or the bill is not zero. None of that is a sign that the plan is not working. It is a plan built on clinical criteria, a fee schedule and income levels.
Our advice is simple:
Start with the tooth, not the paperwork. If there is pain, swelling or a broken tooth, we treat the problem first. We offer same-day treatment and emergency care for this reason.
Ask for the numbers early. A clear estimate lets you decide with no surprises.
Know your private option. If a crown is declined, or you want something the plan excludes, we will explain the choices, including what a private crown or bridge involves.
Bring your questions in your own language. Our team is multilingual, so you can ask about costs and care in the language you are most comfortable with.
We welcome CDCP patients and new patients, and we aim to make every visit safe, gentle and comfortable. You can read more about how we welcome CDCP patients.
— Mersal
Book a crown or root canal assessment in downtown Ottawa
Mersal Dental is accepting new patients, with direct insurance billing and acceptance of CDCP and IFHP. Whether you need an assessment for a crown, a root canal, or urgent care for a painful tooth, we can look at it and explain your options. Learn more on our crowns and bridges page, or see our new patients page to get started.
FAQ
Does the CDCP cover crowns?
Yes, for certain single-unit crowns in adults, with preauthorization from your dentist. The plan covers cast metal, porcelain-fused-to-metal and porcelain/ceramic crowns, and it does not cover three-quarter crowns or cosmetic crowns. Not every request is approved.
Does the CDCP cover root canals?
Yes. Endodontic procedures are part of the plan’s basic services. Your share depends on your family income level, and the clinic may charge more than the CDCP fee, so ask for an estimate.
Can I get a bridge or an implant crown under the CDCP?
No. Bridges and other fixed prosthodontics are excluded, and so are implants and implant-supported crowns. You can still choose these treatments and pay privately.
What if my crown request is denied?
The CDCP may deny a request that does not show the clinical criteria are met. You can choose to proceed privately and pay the provider, or ask your dentist about other ways to restore the tooth.
How often can the CDCP pay for a crown?
The benefits guide sets a limit of 4 crowns in any 120 months per client, and 1 crown in any 96 months for each eligible tooth. Your dentist can check your history before submitting a request.
Sources
Recommended
Comments