Dental Costs in Ontario (2026)
Ontario has the highest suggested dental fees in Canada. Under our 2026 Ontario estimate, a molar root canal $1,417–$1,579, a ceramic crown $1,349–$1,449 + lab, and a full single implant starts at $4,165. The CDCP can offset many routine costs for eligible Ontarians.
Estimate your CDCP out-of-pocket cost
Pick your income tier and procedure to estimate what the Canadian Dental Care Plan covers in Ontario and what you owe out-of-pocket.
Ontario CDCP Out-of-Pocket Calculator
Income tier × procedure — 2026 ODA guide figures in CAD
paymentsCDCP Coverage & Out-of-Pocket Estimate
The CDCP payment is its share of the 2024 CDCP Dental Benefit Grid fee for a general dentist ($844.05), not of the provincial guide. Your cost assumes your dentist bills the provincial fee shown; a higher bill adds to it. Laboratory fees are extra (not included in the grid fee).
The CDCP reimburses on its own established fees (the CDCP Dental Benefit Grids), which are often lower than a dentist's actual charge. Even at the 100% tier you may owe a balance if your dentist bills above the CDCP fee. Where we hold the CDCP grid (Alberta and British Columbia 2025, Ontario 2024), the estimate uses that grid fee; everywhere else it uses the provincial suggested-fee guide as a proxy, so your real out-of-pocket can be higher.
* 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 at its own established fee rate, which is typically below what Ontario practices bill. Even at the under-$70,000 income tier you may owe a balance if your Ontario dentist bills at guide.
Dental costs in Ontario by procedure (2026)
Low and high = our 2026 Ontario estimate range. Figures are verbatim from our 2026 Ontario estimate. Source: Real Dental Costs analysis of ODA Suggested Fee Guide 2026.
| Procedure | Ontario (CAD) | National Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scaling (per unit) | $68 | $65 | +$3 |
| Composite filling (1 surface) | $235 | $205 | +$30 |
| Simple extraction | $218 | $174 | +$44 |
| Root canal (molar) | $1,498 | $1,194 | +$304 |
| Complete denture (per arch) | $1,398 | $1,140 | +$258 |
| Cast partial denture | $1,005 | $1,210 | –$205 |
| Ceramic crown | $1,399 | $1,065 | +$334 |
| Single implant (full) | $4,583 | $4,475 | +$108 |
Ontario figures = our 2026 Ontario estimate average (midpoint of published range). National averages from Real Dental Costs Canada dataset DOI 10.5281/zenodo.20744781.
About the ODA Suggested Fee Guide
The Ontario Dental Association Suggested Fee Guide is the primary pricing benchmark for general dentists in Ontario. Published annually each January, the 2026 edition increased approximately 3.32% above the 2025 guide. Key facts:
- Dentists are not legally obligated to follow the ODA guide — it is a suggestion.
- Most Ontario practices bill at guide or above; some discount practices bill below.
- The ODA guide covers hundreds of procedure codes from routine exams through complex restorative work.
- Implants are covered in the ODA guide at code level, but most practices also factor lab and material costs.
The widest fee ranges in Ontario appear in complete dentures ($618–$2,177/arch) and composite fillings ($214–$257, anterior to molar), reflecting significant variation in technique, material and practice location.
What the CDCP covers in Ontario
The Canadian Dental Care Plan covers many procedures for Ontarians with net family income under $90,000:
- No pre-authorization: recall exams, scaling (within frequency limits), composite fillings, simple extractions, standard root canals.
- Pre-authorization required: ceramic crowns, cast partial dentures.
- Excluded at every income tier: dental implants, implant-supported crowns, bone grafts.
Income tiers for CDCP coinsurance: under $70,000 = 100%; $70,000–$79,999 = 60%; $80,000–$89,999 = 40%; $90,000 or more = not eligible.
Ontario public dental programs: who qualifies
Publicly funded dental care in Ontario is limited to specific groups. Each line below is taken from the official program page, read on October 24, 2026.
- Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program (OSDCP): free routine dental services for residents 65 or older with an annual net income of $25,480 or less (single senior) or a combined annual net income of $42,290 or less (couple), and no other dental benefits apart from the CDCP; you may qualify for both the CDCP and the OSDCP. Dentures are partially covered, and coverage ends on July 31 each year. Source: ontario.ca, Dental care for seniors.
- Healthy Smiles Ontario: free preventive, routine and emergency dental services for children and youth 17 and under from low-income households. Source: ontario.ca.
- Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP): recipients and their spouse 18 or older are eligible for dental benefits; dependent adults are not, but may receive dental services as a discretionary benefit through Ontario Works (in most cases emergency care or dentures). The Dental Special Care Plan adds services when a disability, medication or medical treatment affects oral health. Source: ODSP policy directive 9.7, Dental benefits.
- OHIP: covers in-hospital dental surgeries (fracture repair, tumor removal, reconstructive surgery, medically necessary tooth removal with prior OHIP approval), not dental services in a dentist's office. Source: ontario.ca, What OHIP covers.
- Canadian Dental Care Plan (federal): see the section above; "Orthodontic services are currently not available." Source: canada.ca, CDCP coverage.
Why dental prices vary within Ontario
Even within Ontario, our estimates span wide bands (for example $1,417–$1,579 for a molar root canal). Reasons prices vary inside Ontario:
- Urban vs. rural: downtown Toronto practices carry higher overhead than smaller communities, and many bill above the ODA guide range.
- Specialist vs. general dentist: endodontists and periodontists use their own specialist fee guides.
- Lab costs: crown and denture fees exclude lab bills, which are invoiced separately and vary by lab.
- New patient discounts: some practices offer discounted first-visit exams not reflected in the guide.
Explore neighboring provinces
Compare Ontario fees with nearby provinces:
- Dental Costs in Quebec — ACDQ 2025, exam $61–$114 (lower than Ontario)
- Dental Costs in Manitoba — MDA 2026, implant $3,000–$4,500* (estimated)
See the full dental cost by province comparison or the CDCP coverage guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dentist cost in Ontario?
What is the ODA fee guide?
Does the CDCP cover dental costs in Ontario?
Why is the dentist so expensive in Ontario?
Is dental care free in Ontario?
How to qualify for free dental in Ontario?
Does OHIP cover dental?
What are three things that OHIP does not cover?
Do Canadians get free braces?
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.