With the launch of the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), one of the most common questions we hear is: “How many dental cleanings per year does CDCP cover?”
Quick Answer: How Many Cleanings Per Year Does CDCP Cover?
The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) covers roughly one dental cleaning every 12 months. This includes the scaling of plaque and tartar off the teeth, polishing, and fluoride treatment. Some patients may qualify for additional cleanings under certain conditions, but we need to apply for that separately and it is rarely approved.
What Is Covered Under CDCP?
The CDCP provides basic preventive care to eligible Canadians, including:
- Dental cleanings- four 15 minute units of scaling per year-
- Most people will need at least 30-45 minutes of time for a proper cleaning
- Some people with less teeth or those who take really good care of their teeth can get a cleaning done in 15-30 minutes. If thats the case then you can get 2 cleanings a year covered. (scaling, polishing, and fluoride treatments)
- Routine exams and x-rays
- Fillings, extractions, and other essential treatments
For most people, the most useful piece will be the cleaning that is provided from the CDCP Plan.
Why One Cleaning May Not Be Enough
While CDCP ensures coverage for one cleaning per year, many patients benefit from professional cleanings every 6 months. More frequent visits can help:
- Prevent and treat gum disease (gingivitis and periodontitis)- only 1 cleaning/ year has not been shown to be effective at treating gum disease.
- Prevent future problems like infections and tooth loss
- Reduce risk of cavities and bad breath
- Maintain a brighter, healthier smile
At Tinto Dentistry, we will always recommend what’s best for your personalized oral health, and we will help you work with the CDCP coverage to help get you to being the healthiest version.
Do I Have to Pay Out of Pocket for Extra Cleanings?
Short answer: yes,
Long answer- the CDCP may still subsidize some of the next cleaning. Since normal cleanings usually take roughly 45 minutes, there will still be 15 minutes of coverage for the second cleaning in the year. This means that at Tinto Dentistry, you will only need to pay about $100 for the second cleaning.
So while 1 cleaning will be fully covered, for most people that come to the dentist regularly the second cleaning will be partially subsidized/
How to Maximize Your CDCP Coverage
- Book your annual CDCP-covered cleaning
- Ask the dentist to see if you can qualify for extra scaling units
- Keep up with recall exams to catch issues early and prevent bigger problems from happening.
Your Smile, Our Priority
At Tinto Dentistry, serving the St. Clair West and Toronto community, we’re here to make navigating the new and confusing CDCP plan simple to understand.
📅 Ready to book your next cleaning? Call us today or request an appointment online.
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