Losing all of your natural teeth is more than a cosmetic problem. It affects how you eat, how you speak, how you feel when you smile at someone you love, and even how your brain ages. Research now links complete tooth loss to higher rates of malnutrition, social isolation, and even an increased risk of dementia. For millions of Canadians, this is not a distant possibility—it is their everyday reality.

This report takes an honest look at the full denture landscape in Canada: how many people need them, how much they cost, how the country’s dental workforce holds up, how Canada compares to the United States, and what kinds of insurance exist to help Canadians get the care they need. Whether you are personally facing tooth loss, caring for a parent who is, or simply curious about the state of oral health in this country, this guide is for you.

Understanding Edentulism

The medical term for having no natural teeth at all is edentulism. An edentulous person has lost every single tooth in their mouth—top, bottom, or both—and requires full dentures (also called complete dentures) to eat and speak normally. This is distinct from a partial denture, which replaces only some missing teeth when others remain.

The most comprehensive national data on edentulism in Canada comes from Statistics Canada’s Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) conducted from 2007 to 2009—still the country’s most thorough clinical examination of oral health. According to that survey, approximately 6.4% of Canadian adults aged 20 to 79 were completely toothless. In 1990, that figure stood at 17%, meaning Canada has made real progress—driven largely by better access to fluoride and preventive dental care. But millions of Canadians still live without a single natural tooth.

Estimating the Current Numbers

Canada’s population as of 2025 is approximately 41.5 million people, with roughly 32 million adults aged 20 and older. Applying the CHMS edentulism rate of 6.4% to the adult population yields an estimate of approximately 2.05 million completely edentulous Canadians. Additional data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (2011–2015)—which examined Canadians aged 45 to 85 specifically—found that 8% of that age group reported having no natural teeth, with 61% of edentulous participants falling in the 65–85 age bracket.

Because edentulism is so strongly tied to age, the picture becomes clearer when broken down by generation. Among Canadians aged 40 to 59, roughly 4.3% of men and 4.4% of women have no natural teeth. That rate climbs steeply for those aged 60 to 79, where 22.3% of men and 21.1% of women are completely toothless—meaning more than one in five Canadians in that age range lives without natural teeth. Nine out of ten edentulous people rely on dentures to function.

Based on these figures, Canada’s full denture population is estimated at between 1.8 and 2.1 million people, with demand expected to grow as the country’s senior population expands. Statistics Canada projects that Canada will have over 10.4 million seniors by 2036, making this an issue that will only become more pressing in the years ahead.

Estimated Full Denture Need: Canada’s Top 30 Cities

The following estimates are calculated by applying the 6.4% edentulism rate from Statistics Canada’s CHMS survey to each city’s adult population (approximately 80% of the total population). Cities with older age profiles—such as Victoria and Windsor—may skew higher in practice, while younger cities like Calgary may be lower. These figures represent the approximate need, not confirmed cases.

 

#	City	Est. Population (2025)	Approx. Adults	Est. Full Denture Need
1	Toronto, ON	2,900,000	2,320,000	~148,000
2	Montreal, QC	2,100,000	1,680,000	~107,500
3	Calgary, AB	1,400,000	1,120,000	~71,700
4	Ottawa, ON	1,050,000	840,000	~53,800
5	Edmonton, AB	1,010,000	808,000	~51,700
6	Winnipeg, MB	820,000	656,000	~42,000
7	Mississauga, ON	790,000	632,000	~40,400
8	Vancouver, BC	680,000	544,000	~34,800
9	Brampton, ON	660,000	528,000	~33,800
10	Hamilton, ON	580,000	464,000	~29,700
11	Quebec City, QC	560,000	448,000	~28,700
12	Surrey, BC	570,000	456,000	~29,200
13	Laval, QC	440,000	352,000	~22,500
14	Halifax, NS	440,000	352,000	~22,500
15	London, ON	420,000	336,000	~21,500
16	Markham, ON	380,000	304,000	~19,500
17	Vaughan, ON	360,000	288,000	~18,400
18	Gatineau, QC	300,000	240,000	~15,400
19	Longueuil, QC	260,000	208,000	~13,300
20	Burnaby, BC	250,000	200,000	~12,800
21	Saskatoon, SK	290,000	232,000	~14,800
22	Kitchener, ON	270,000	216,000	~13,800
23	Windsor, ON	230,000	184,000	~11,800
24	Regina, SK	240,000	192,000	~12,300
25	Richmond, BC	220,000	176,000	~11,300
26	Richmond Hill, ON	215,000	172,000	~11,000
27	Oakville, ON	210,000	168,000	~10,800
28	Burlington, ON	195,000	156,000	~10,000
29	Victoria, BC	365,000	292,000	~18,700
30	Oshawa, ON	175,000	140,000	~9,000

Note: Population figures are approximate 2025 estimates. Edentulism rates applied are based on the Statistics Canada CHMS national average of 6.4% for adults aged 20–79. Actual rates vary by socioeconomic factors, age distribution, and access to preventive care.

The cost of full dentures in Canada is not a simple, one-size-fits-all number. It depends on where you live, the type of materials used, whether you need teeth extracted first, how many follow-up adjustments are required, and the experience level of the dental professional doing the work. That said, the general landscape of pricing is clear enough to plan around.

Average Costs Across the Country

According to the Lower Mainland Denture Clinic and data aggregated from Canadian dental associations, the average cost for a full (complete) denture in Canada is approximately $1,800 per arch. That means a full set—both upper and lower jaw—will typically cost in the range of $3,000 to $5,000 or more when both arches are included. Here is a breakdown by type:

 

Denture Type	Cost Per Arch (CAD)	Full Set Estimate (CAD)	Notes
Standard Complete Dentures	$1,000 – $3,500	$2,000 – $7,000	Most common option
Premium Complete Dentures	$2,000 – $4,500	$4,000 – $9,000	Porcelain teeth, custom fit
Immediate Dentures	$1,500 – $3,500	$3,000 – $7,000	Placed the same day as extractions
Implant-Supported Dentures (2 implants)	$2,800 – $5,000	$5,600 – $10,000	Much greater stability
All-on-4 Full Arch Implants	$15,000 – $30,000 per arch	$30,000 – $60,000+	Permanent, top-tier solution

Source: Ottawa South Denture Clinic (2025), Parkside Dental Group (2026), Lower Mainland Denture Clinic (2025), Belle Rive Dental (2025)

Provincial Variations in Pricing

Canada Life’s dental cost guide notes that provincial dental associations publish annual fee guides that dentists typically use as a pricing baseline. For a complete upper jaw (maxillary) denture, 2024 suggested fees from provincial fee guides were approximately $968 in Alberta, $987 in British Columbia, and $938 in Nova Scotia. For a complete lower jaw (mandibular) denture, Alberta’s suggested fee was $968, and British Columbia’s was $1,077. Keep in mind these are suggested fees, and dentists are not legally required to follow them—prices can be higher in urban centers or premium clinics.

In Ontario specifically, the cost of complete dentures ranges from $1,500 to $3,500 per arch in 2025, with the Toronto area typically falling at the higher end of that range. In British Columbia, prices run from roughly $876 to $1,531 for a basic denture. Manitoba tends to be among the more affordable provinces, with costs ranging from approximately $659 to $1,082.

Hidden Costs to Be Aware Of

The sticker price is rarely the full story. Before dentures can be fitted, many patients need tooth extractions, which add hundreds of dollars per tooth to the total. X-rays, preliminary examinations, gum treatments, and lab fees are often billed separately. Multiple fitting appointments are also common, as the jaw and gums shift during the healing process—and each adjustment visit can carry its own charge. The hellodent.com cost guide notes that the average cost of dentures with extractions in Canada is approximately $1,168 per arch, though this figure can rise quickly depending on complexity.

Access to dental care depends not just on cost but on the availability of dental professionals. If there are not enough dentists to go around—especially in rural and northern communities—then even people with money or insurance can struggle to get care.

The Dentist-to-Patient Ratio

According to a 2021 Canadian population census analysis published in BMC Health Services Research (2024), Canada has approximately 3.4 active dentists per 10,000 people, for the working-age dental workforce (ages 25–54). An older Canadian Dental Association estimate from January 2016 placed the population-to-dentist ratio at 1,622 people per dentist nationally. More recent industry data from TempFind (2026) places the number of practicing dentists in Canada at approximately 25,000, supported by around 28,853 active dental practices.

For context, that means roughly one dentist for every 1,660 Canadians as of 2025—a ratio that is generally considered adequate in urban areas but masks deep shortages in rural, remote, and northern communities. The BMC study found that all three categories of dental professionals (dentists, hygienists, and assistants) were significantly overrepresented in highly urbanized areas compared to remote ones, meaning that access is not distributed equally across the country.

Canada vs. the United States: A Dental Care Comparison

How does Canada stack up against its southern neighbor when it comes to dental care quality? The answer is nuanced—Canada performs well on certain clinical measures but faces similar structural challenges around affordability and access.

 

Measure	Canada	United States
Dentists per 10,000 pop.	~3.4 (active workforce)	~6.0 (all ages, ADA)
Full edentulism (ages 65-74)	~24.6%	~22.3%
Annual dental visit rate	~75% of adults	~65% of adults
Share without dental insurance	~32–35%	~40–45%
Average full denture cost	$3,000–$7,000 (set)	$2,500–$4,500 (set)
Government dental coverage	CDCP (income-based, 2023–present)	Medicaid (varies by state)
Oral health inequality (SII)	21.0 (moderate)	28.2 (highest)
DMFT caries ranking	Low (0.0–1.1 range)	Low-moderate

Sources: Statistics Canada CHMS (2009), PLOS ONE oral health inequality study (2022), FDI World Dental Federation Atlas, ADA, BMC Health Services Research (2024)

When researchers at PLOS ONE compared oral health inequality in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom, they found that income-based disparities in untreated dental decay were worst in the United States, followed by Canada, with the UK performing best. This reflects the heavily privatized nature of dental care in both North American countries. The FDI World Dental Federation’s oral health atlas ranks Canada favorably on low rates of tooth decay (DMFT scores of 0.0–1.1), low incidence of severe periodontal disease (under 10% of the population), and a below-average edentulism rate relative to many peer nations.

Where Canada has historically lagged behind the U.S. is in specialist density. Canada has fewer prosthodontists (the specialists who focus on dentures and dental restoration) per capita than the United States, which has more than 3,500 prosthodontists serving its larger population. In practical terms, this means Canadians seeking advanced prosthetic care may face longer wait times or limited options, particularly outside major cities.

On the positive side, Canada’s new Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) represents a major step that the United States has not yet taken at the federal level. There is no equivalent national dental insurance program in the U.S., where adult dental coverage through Medicaid is patchy and often limited. As of May 2025, the CDCP had approved more than 4 million applicants, with over 2 million having already received care, making it one of the largest social programs in Canadian history.

One of the most confusing aspects of getting dental care in Canada is figuring out what kind of coverage you actually have—or whether you have any at all. Unlike physician visits and hospital stays, which are covered by provincial health insurance plans under the Canada Health Act, dental care sits almost entirely outside the public system. Approximately 32 to 35% of Canadians have no dental insurance of any kind, and historically, the responsibility for paying for dental work has fallen almost entirely on individuals and their employers.

That is beginning to change with the introduction of the CDCP, but private insurance still covers the majority of Canadians who have any coverage at all. Here is a full breakdown of every type of dental insurance plan available to Canadians in 2025.

1. Employer-Sponsored Group Dental Plans

This is the most common form of dental coverage in Canada, held by approximately two-thirds of Canadians. Employers purchase group dental plans through insurers such as Sun Life, Manulife, Great-West Life (Canada Life), Green Shield Canada, and Blue Cross, then offer them to employees as part of their total compensation package. These plans typically cover preventive services (cleanings, checkups, x-rays) at 80–100%, basic restorative work (fillings) at 70–80%, and major services (crowns, dentures) at 50–60%, with an annual maximum—often $1,500 to $2,500—that resets each year. Most employer plans require employees to pay monthly premiums, and the employer contributes a portion as well. Coverage for a full set of dentures under a standard employer plan might pay out $900 to $1,500 toward a $3,000 procedure, leaving the employee to cover the rest.

2. Individual (Private) Dental Insurance Plans

Self-employed Canadians, retirees, and others not covered through an employer can purchase individual dental insurance from providers like Sun Life, Manulife, Desjardins, Blue Cross, or through brokers. These plans tend to be more expensive than group plans for equivalent coverage, because the risk pool is smaller and insurers cannot spread costs as widely. Many individual dental plans have waiting periods (typically 3 to 6 months for basic services and up to 12 months for major services like dentures) before coverage kicks in. Annual maximums are similar to employer plans, typically ranging from $750 to $2,500 per year. Premiums can range from roughly $50 to $200 per month for an adult individual, depending on the coverage level selected.

3. The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) — Federal Government Program

Launched in December 2023 and expanded to all eligible Canadians by mid-2025, the CDCP is the federal government’s answer to the gap in dental coverage for lower-income Canadians. To qualify, applicants must be Canadian residents with no access to private dental insurance and an adjusted family net income of less than $90,000 per year. Coverage is income-graduated: families earning under $70,000 receive 100% coverage of eligible services, while those earning $70,000–$79,999 pay a 40% co-payment, and those earning $80,000–$89,999 pay a 60% co-payment.

The CDCP covers a broad range of services: preventive care (cleanings, x-rays, fluoride), basic restorative work (fillings), endodontic and periodontal treatment (root canals, deep cleanings), oral surgery (extractions), and major prosthodontic services including complete and partial dentures. The plan is administered by Sun Life on behalf of the federal government, and as of March 2026, more than 25,000 oral health providers have signed on to participate. Cosmetic procedures, dental implants, teeth whitening, and veneers are not covered.

4. Provincial and Territorial Government Dental Programs

Before the CDCP existed, most provinces had their own limited dental programs targeting specific vulnerable populations. Many of these continue to operate alongside the CDCP, and in some provinces, they provide the first layer of coverage, with the CDCP covering remaining costs. Examples include:

•      Ontario: The Healthy Smiles Ontario program provides free dental care to low-income adults and children who meet income thresholds.

•      British Columbia: The BC Healthy Kids program covers basic dental care for children in low-income families. Income assistance recipients may receive emergency dental coverage.

•      Alberta: The Alberta Adult Health Benefit provides limited dental coverage for adults on income support programs.

•      Quebec: The Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) covers certain dental services for children under 10 and for social assistance recipients.

•      Manitoba, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and other provinces: Various targeted programs exist for low-income seniors, children, and social assistance recipients.

5. First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Health Benefits (NIHB)

The federal government provides dental coverage to eligible First Nations and Inuit individuals through the Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) program. This program covers a comprehensive range of dental services, including dentures, extractions, fillings, and emergency care. Métis coverage varies by province and agreement. The NIHB is one of the more comprehensive public dental programs in Canada and predates the CDCP by decades.

6. Veterans Affairs Canada Dental Benefits

Canadian Armed Forces veterans and their families may be eligible for dental coverage through Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC). Eligible veterans can receive coverage for restorative, preventive, and prosthetic dental services, including full dentures. The extent of coverage depends on the veteran’s disability status and the specific conditions of their service.

7. Group Association Plans

Many professional associations, unions, alumni organizations, and membership groups offer group dental plans to their members. Examples include the Canadian Medical Association, various teachers’ unions, and alumni associations linked to universities. These plans function similarly to employer group plans, offering group-rate pricing for individuals who would otherwise purchase individual policies. Coverage and premiums vary widely by association.

8. Health Spending Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts

Some employers offer Health Spending Accounts instead of or in addition to traditional dental insurance. An HSA is a set dollar amount—say $1,000 to $2,500 per year—that an employee can use toward any eligible health expense, including dental work. HSAs are tax-advantaged for both the employer and employee. They are flexible but do not provide the predictable coverage of a traditional plan; once the balance is used up, the employee pays out of pocket for the rest of the year.

9. Critical Illness and Accident Insurance (Indirect Coverage)

Some Canadians carry critical illness or disability insurance policies that, while not dental insurance per se, may provide lump-sum payments that can be used for any purpose, including dental care, if a qualifying health event occurs. Similarly, if tooth loss or damage results from a recognized accident, auto insurance (in some provinces) or personal injury settlements may cover the cost of dentures and other dental restoration.

10. Out-of-Pocket (No Coverage)

For approximately one-third of Canadians, there is no insurance at all. These individuals pay 100% of their dental costs directly, making full dentures—which can cost $3,000 to $7,000 for a complete set—a significant financial burden. A CBC survey cited by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans found that 35% of Canadians are skipping or reducing dental visits, and 56% are delaying appointments altogether because of out-of-pocket costs. This is the group the CDCP was primarily designed to help.

Canada is a country that takes pride in its healthcare system, but for generations, the mouth has been treated as somehow separate from the rest of the body. Millions of Canadians have lived with pain, embarrassment, and declining health because dental care—and specifically, the cost of things like full dentures—was simply out of reach.

The numbers are clear: roughly 2 million Canadians are completely edentulous, meaning they rely entirely on full dentures to eat and speak. Nine out of ten of them use dentures, but fitting and maintaining a quality set costs between $3,000 and $7,000 on average, a price that stretches or breaks the budget for anyone without coverage. The CDCP is a genuine turning point—over 4 million Canadians have already been approved, and dentures are among the covered services. But implementation challenges remain, with more than half of preauthorization requests for major dental work being denied between late 2024 and mid-2025.

Canada’s dentist-to-population ratio is workable in cities but thin in rural and remote communities. Compared to the United States, Canada performs better on annual dental visit rates and has lower income-based inequality in dental health, but both countries have a long way to go. The CDCP gives Canada a structural advantage the U.S. lacks at the federal level, though whether it delivers on its promise will depend on provider participation, adequate funding, and continued expansion of covered services.

For the approximately 2 million Canadians who have lost all their natural teeth, the question is not abstract. It is deeply personal. Getting good-fitting dentures means being able to eat a proper meal, smile at a grandchild without embarrassment, and live with the dignity that every person deserves. Canada is getting closer to making that possible for everyone—but it is not there yet.

 

The following sources were consulted in the preparation of this report. All statistics cited in the article body are drawn from these references.

 

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Statistics Canada. (2023). Oral Health Problems among Canadians Aged 45 to 85. Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging Baseline Survey (2011–2015). PMC10138597.

BMC Health Services Research. (2024). Imbalances in the oral health workforce: a Canadian population-based study. https://bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12913-024-11677-7

Government of Canada. (2024). Canadian Dental Care Plan — Application Statistics (as of March 31, 2026). https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/dental/dental-care-plan/statistics.html

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