As tax time approaches, you may be wondering if your denture-related expenses qualify as tax deductible or what documentation you will need to submit.
Eligible denture-related expenses
While dental work is not covered under BC’s provincial health care plan, it may be deducted as a health expense on your tax return.
Tax deductible dental expenses are related to the prevention and alleviation of dental disease. This includes work such as:
- Dentures
- Denture relines, rebases, and repairs
- Dental implants and components
- Rest preparations for partial dentures
- Hygiene or cleanings
- Extractions
- Dental examinations
- X-rays
- Fillings and other tooth restorations
- Sealants and fluoride treatments
Purely cosmetic procedures like teeth whitening are not tax-deductible.
For more information on eligible denture-related expenses, please consult the Canada Revenue Agency.
If you have dental insurance
Dental insurance can help you cover the cost of needed denture treatment. However, most plans will not pay 100% of your denture costs. This means you might still have to pay out of pocket for a portion of your dental expenses.
At tax time, you will need to determine the amount that you paid out of pocket over the year for dental work. To do this, first calculate the total dental costs you paid over the year. Then subtract the amount that your insurance has reimbursed you. The remainder is the out-of-pocket dental costs that you can claim on your tax return.
Lost your receipts?
Thanks to wildfires, the “heat dome,” evacuations, flooding, and COVID, 2021 was a stressful whirlwind for many of our patients. It’s not unusual in times of stress to misplace important documents – such as receipts for denture work.
If tax time arrives and you cannot track down your receipts for denture work you had done in 2021, please give us a call. We can reprint your annual statement and set it aside for you to pick up from our office. We can also email your statement to you.