Dental Checkup & Exam Cost in Canada (2026)
A recall (periodic) exam in Canada costs $41–$182 CAD depending on the province, with a national average of $58 from our dataset. The CDCP covers 1 recall exam per 12 months with no pre-authorization required. Prince Edward Island is the cheapest province ($41); Ontario is the most expensive ($96–$182).
Estimate your CDCP out-of-pocket cost
The CDCP covers 1 recall exam per 12-month period — and up to 3 dental exams of any kind per year — without requiring pre-authorization. Select your province and income tier below to estimate your out-of-pocket cost under the 2026 CDCP Dental Benefit Grids.
Dental Exam CDCP Out-of-Pocket Calculator
Recall exam — 1 per 12 months covered • Province × income tier • 2026 CAD
paymentsCDCP Coverage & Out-of-Pocket Estimate
* Estimates based on 2025–2026 provincial suggested-fee guides (CAD). Actual costs vary by province and provider; figures flagged as estimates are modelled.
The CDCP reimburses on its own established fee grid, which may be lower than your province's published suggested-fee amount. Even at the under-$70,000 income tier (100% CDCP coverage), you could owe a balance if your dentist bills above the CDCP's grid fee. Always confirm whether your dentist accepts assignment before the appointment.
Dental exam cost by province (2026)
The figures below come directly from 2026 provincial suggested-fee guides, compiled in our open dataset (DOI 10.5281/zenodo.20744781). Manitoba is flagged as an estimate because the MDA fee guide is members-only; all other provinces are sourced from the published guide.
Recall exam fees from 2026 provincial suggested-fee guides. Source: Real Dental Costs analysis (ODA, DAPEI, NSDA, CDSS, BCDA, Alberta DA, ACDQ, NLDHA and others). Manitoba and Quebec show ranges.
| Province | Recall Exam (CAD) | Source | Official? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prince Edward Island | $41 | DAPEI 2025 | Yes |
| Nova Scotia | $43 | NSDA 2026 | Yes |
| Saskatchewan | $44 | CDSS 2026 | Yes |
| Manitoba (est.) | $45–$70 | MDA + modelling | Estimate |
| Newfoundland | $60 | NLDHA 2026 | Yes |
| Quebec | $61–$114 | ACDQ 2025 | Yes |
| British Columbia | $63 | BCDA 2026 | Yes |
| National average | $58 | Real Dental Costs dataset | — |
| Alberta | $81 | Alberta DA 2026 | Yes |
| New Brunswick (est.) | $82 | NBDS + modelling | Estimate |
| Ontario | $96–$182 | ODA 2026 | Yes |
The wide Ontario range reflects the difference between a shorter recall/periodic exam (lower end) and a more complex comprehensive or complete examination (higher end). When booking, confirm which code your dentist will bill.
Recall exam vs comprehensive exam: which does the CDCP cover?
There are three common examination codes billed at Canadian dental offices, and the CDCP covers all three — with one important restriction: the plan allows a maximum of 3 dental exams of any type per 12-month period.
Recall exam (periodic exam): Designed for established patients with a complete dental record on file. The dentist checks for changes since your last visit, reviews any new X-rays, performs an oral cancer screen and periodontal probing, and updates your treatment plan. This is the most common type for routine check-ups and the one most patients book every 6–12 months.
Comprehensive exam: A complete initial assessment — performed for new patients or patients who have not been seen in several years. It involves a full oral health history, complete periodontal charting, full-mouth X-rays and diagnostic records. It takes longer than a recall exam and is priced higher ($80–$250+ depending on province).
Limited exam: A focused assessment for a specific complaint or concern (such as toothache or trauma), not a full check-up.
Under the CDCP, the recall exam is the standard annual visit; the 3-exam-per-year cap means you cannot combine a comprehensive exam with three recall exams in the same 12 months. Both recall and comprehensive exams are covered without pre-authorization.
What a dental checkup includes
When you attend a recall exam, your dentist or dental hygienist typically performs the following:
- Visual inspection: All visible tooth surfaces are examined for decay, chips, wear and colour changes.
- Periodontal probing: A thin probe measures the depth of the pockets around each tooth. Depths above 3 mm can signal early gum disease.
- Oral cancer screen: The soft tissues of the mouth, tongue, floor of the mouth, cheeks and throat are visually checked for unusual lesions or colour changes.
- X-ray review: If bitewing or panoramic X-rays are due (typically every 12–24 months), the dentist reviews them for cavities between teeth, bone levels and root status.
- Treatment plan update: The dentist notes any changes, discusses findings and updates your care plan for the next visit.
Cleaning — scaling (tartar removal) and polishing — is almost always billed as a separate procedure from the examination itself. It is common for patients to receive both the recall exam and a cleaning in the same appointment, but the two services are invoiced separately on the CDCP claim.
X-rays and cleaning: what else to budget for
The recall exam fee covers the examination only. Two additional services are commonly billed at the same appointment:
Bitewing X-rays: Taken every 12–24 months to detect cavities between teeth. Provincial guides typically list bitewing X-ray fees of $20–$35 per film (2 or 4 films per appointment = $40–$140). The CDCP covers bitewing X-rays up to its established frequency limits without pre-authorization.
Scaling and polishing (cleaning): Scaling removes calculus (tartar) from tooth surfaces and below the gum line; polishing removes surface stain. Fees depend on the number of units (15-minute intervals) required. A routine cleaning at a moderate-tartar level typically runs $80–$200 CAD from provincial fee guides. The CDCP covers scaling units up to an annual limit; patients with heavier buildup may exceed that limit and pay out-of-pocket for additional units.
Full-mouth X-rays: Required less frequently (typically every 3–5 years), these panoramic or full-series films are priced higher — commonly $80–$180 per series. Pre-authorization is required from the CDCP for large X-ray series.
Budgeting for a complete check-up appointment (exam + bitewing X-rays + cleaning) in Canada: approximately $150–$400 CAD at market rates before CDCP reimbursement.
CDCP coverage: income tiers for dental exams
The CDCP uses a tiered co-pay structure based on your adjusted family net income (AFNI) as reported on your most recent Notice of Assessment:
| Income tier | CDCP pays | Your co-pay |
|---|---|---|
| Under $70,000 | 100% of the CDCP fee | 0% |
| $70,000–$79,999 | 60% of the CDCP fee | 40% |
| $80,000–$89,999 | 40% of the CDCP fee | 60% |
| $90,000 and above | Not eligible | 100% |
The CDCP's own fee grid is set by Sun Life Financial under the federal contract and does not always match provincial suggested-fee guides. The gap between what the CDCP pays and what a dentist charges (balance billing) is your responsibility, regardless of income tier.
Open dataset
Recall exam fees on this page come from our publicly licensed open dataset:
The dataset covers recall exams, simple extractions, scaling units and amalgam fillings across 10 provinces. All figures are from 2025–2026 provincial suggested-fee guides; estimates are flagged with "(est.)".
Related pages
- Dental Cost by Province in Canada — full procedure cost comparison across all provinces
- CDCP Coverage Guide — complete coverage matrix, income tiers, exclusions and pre-authorization rules
- Dental Costs in Canada — overview of all procedures from routine care to implants
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dental checkup cost in Canada?
Does the CDCP cover a dental checkup?
What is the difference between a recall exam and a comprehensive exam?
Which province has the cheapest dental exam?
How often should I get a dental checkup?
What does a dental checkup include?
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.
This page provides pricing and market research information, NOT medical or dental advice. Real Dental Costs is an independent data publisher and is not affiliated with the Government of Canada, Health Canada, or Sun Life Financial. Fees marked "(est.)" are modelled estimates; all other provincial figures are sourced from published 2025–2026 provincial suggested-fee guides.