verified_userIndependent data • Reviewed June 2026

CDCP Coverage by Province 2026

The Canadian Dental Care Plan applies the same eligibility rules and income tiers in every province — but your actual out-of-pocket cost depends on where you live. Dental fee guides vary widely across Canada. The CDCP reimburses on its own grids; any gap between the grid and your dentist's fee is balance billing you pay directly.

Why province matters for CDCP out-of-pocket cost

The CDCP income tiers — 100% coinsurance under $70,000, 60% for $70,000–$79,999, and 40% for $80,000–$89,999 — apply uniformly in every province and territory. However, balance billing risk is not uniform: it depends entirely on how much your dentist charges above the CDCP Dental Benefit Grid set by Sun Life. Provincial suggested-fee guides range from about $41 (recall exam in Prince Edward Island) to $182 (Ontario), meaning dentists in higher-fee provinces are far more likely to bill above the CDCP grid. CDCP patients in Ontario can face significant balance billing even at the 100% income tier, while patients in Atlantic provinces typically face little to none on the same procedure.

Understanding the fee guide in your province is therefore the single most important factor in estimating your true CDCP out-of-pocket cost — not just your income tier.

Dental costs by province for key CDCP procedures (2026)

The table below shows 2026 suggested-fee-guide ranges for the most common CDCP-covered procedures across all ten provinces. Where a provincial guide is members-only, figures are modelled estimates from neighbouring provinces and flagged (est.).

ProvinceRecall exam (CAD)Ceramic crown (CAD)Complete denture/arch (CAD)Root canal molar (CAD)
Ontario$96 – $182$1,349 – $1,449$618 – $2,177$1,417 – $1,579
Quebec$61 – $114$800 – $2,200 (est.)$1,000 – $2,500 (est.)$1,000 – $1,400 (est.)
British Columbia~$63~$1,104$1,000 – $3,000 (est.)~$1,196
Alberta~$81~$1,073$900 – $1,750 (est.)~$1,355
Manitoba$45 – $70 (est.)$1,350 – $2,000 (est.)$800 – $1,500 (est.)$900 – $2,200 (est.)
Saskatchewan~$44$825 – $1,500 (est.)$1,000 – $3,000 (est.)$900 – $1,500 (est.)
Nova Scotia~$43~$973$973 – $1,174~$1,128
New Brunswick~$82~$1,059~$1,027~$1,228
Prince Edward Island~$41~$910$998 – $1,147~$1,101
Newfoundland & Labrador~$60$900 – $1,400 (est.)$900 – $1,500 (est.)$900 – $1,400 (est.)

Ranges come from 2026 provincial suggested-fee guides or modelled estimates (est.) from our open dataset. The CDCP Dental Benefit Grids are set separately by Sun Life; your actual CDCP reimbursement may differ. Implants ($3,000–$6,100) are not covered by the CDCP in any province.

CDCP Calculator by province

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CDCP Out-of-Pocket Calculator by Province

Select your province, income tier and procedure — 2026 CAD figures

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* Estimates based on 2025–2026 provincial suggested-fee guides (CAD). Actual costs vary by province and provider; figures flagged as estimates are modelled.

Provinces at a glance

Ontario — highest fees, most balance billing risk

Ontario's ODA suggested-fee guide is the highest in Canada across nearly every procedure category. CDCP patients in Ontario face the most balance billing risk: a recall exam can reach $182 versus a national average of $58, and a ceramic crown tops out at $1,449, well above the national low of $910.

Atlantic provinces — lowest fees, least balance billing risk

Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Newfoundland have the most competitive dental fees in the country. PEI's recall exam ($41) and crown ($910) are the lowest nationally, meaning CDCP patients in Atlantic Canada face minimal balance billing on most covered procedures.

Quebec — separate association, estimates only

Quebec follows the ACDQ (Association des chirurgiens dentistes du Québec) fee guide rather than the ODA or other provincial guides. Our figures for Quebec include modelled estimates flagged (est.) in the open dataset, because portions of the ACDQ guide are members-only. Balance billing can still occur if dentists charge above the CDCP Dental Benefit Grid.

Implant costs by province: the CDCP does not cover these

Dental implants are not covered by the CDCP in any province at any income tier. If you need an implant, the full cost — ranging from $3,000 in lower-fee provinces to $6,100 in Ontario and Newfoundland — is your responsibility regardless of CDCP eligibility. For a full breakdown of implant costs by province, see our dedicated page: Does the CDCP cover implants?

Further resources

For a procedure-by-procedure breakdown of dental costs across all ten provinces — including fillings, extractions, scaling and more — see our full dental cost by province index. For complete CDCP eligibility rules, income tier details and the list of covered procedures, visit the CDCP coverage hub.

Frequently asked questions

Does the CDCP work differently in each province?
The CDCP eligibility rules and income tiers are the same across all provinces and territories. However, your out-of-pocket cost can vary by province because dental fee guides differ. The CDCP reimburses on its own Dental Benefit Grids — if your dentist charges above the grid (balance billing), the gap is your responsibility and that gap varies by province.
Which province has the highest dental costs under the CDCP?
Ontario consistently has the highest suggested-fee-guide prices: a recall exam reaches $182, a ceramic crown $1,349–$1,449, and a molar root canal $1,417–$1,579. Since the CDCP reimburses on its own grids, balance billing is more likely in Ontario than in Atlantic provinces.
Which province has the lowest dental costs?
Atlantic provinces — particularly Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia — have the lowest suggested-fee-guide prices. A recall exam in PEI is about $41; a ceramic crown is about $910; a root canal about $1,101. This means less balance billing for CDCP patients in those provinces.
Does Quebec participate in the CDCP?
Yes. Quebec residents are eligible for the CDCP under the same income rules as all other provinces. Quebec has its own dental association (ACDQ) with a separate suggested-fee guide, and balance billing can still occur if dentists charge above the CDCP Dental Benefit Grid.
Do I need to find a dentist who accepts CDCP in my province?
Yes. Not all dentists participate in the CDCP. Participating dentists submit claims directly to Sun Life. You can use the CDCP practitioner search on the Health Canada website or the Sun Life provider directory to find a participating dentist in your province.

This page provides pricing and market research only. It is not medical advice. Dental costs are estimates based on 2026 provincial suggested-fee guides and modelled data; your actual costs may differ. The CDCP Dental Benefit Grids are administered by Sun Life and set independently of provincial fee guides.

Researched & verified by the Real Dental Costs Data & Research Team

Independent dental pricing research — figures verified against provincial suggested-fee guides (ODA, ACDQ, BCDA, etc.) and the CDCP coverage rules published on canada.ca. Pricing/market research, not medical or dental advice.

Reviewed: How we verify our data

Data Methodology & Sources

The Real Dental Costs Data & Research Team compiles pricing data from provincial suggested-fee guides (ODA, ACDQ, BCDA, Alberta DA, NSDA, NBDS, DAPEI and others, 2025–2026) and the official CDCP coverage and guide pages on canada.ca. The full per-province dataset is published openly (DOI 10.5281/zenodo.20744781). Figures marked as estimates are modelled from neighbouring-province guides where a guide is members-only.
Pricing & Research Disclaimer: Real Dental Costs publishes independent dental pricing and market-research data for informational purposes only. It is not medical or dental advice, a diagnosis, or a treatment recommendation, and it is not affiliated with the Government of Canada or the CDCP. Costs vary by provider and province — always confirm coverage with Sun Life and get an exact quote from a licensed dentist.