Dental Filling Cost in Canada (2026)
A 1-surface bonded composite (white) filling carries a suggested fee of $160–$214 CAD across the six provinces that publish a fee guide (average ~$178). Ontario is the highest, Prince Edward Island the lowest. The CDCP covers composite fillings without pre-authorization — once per surface per 24 months. Four provinces (Manitoba, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland) do not publish a fee guide, so no figure is shown for them.
Estimate your CDCP out-of-pocket cost
Composite dental fillings are covered under the CDCP 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 Filling CDCP Out-of-Pocket Calculator
Province × income tier — 2026 figures in 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 the provincial suggested-fee guide figure. Even at the under-$70,000 income tier (100% coverage), you may owe a balance if your dentist charges above the CDCP rate. Ask upfront whether your dentist accepts assignment (billing only the CDCP fee).
Composite filling cost by province (2026)
Every figure below is read directly from the province's own publicly available abbreviated fee guide, for the same procedure code (23111 — one surface, permanent anterior, bonded). Four provinces do not publish a fee guide at all: rather than estimate them, we leave them out and say so.
Read from each province's public abbreviated fee guide. Six provinces publish one; Manitoba, Quebec, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland do not and are excluded rather than estimated. A suggested fee is not a price cap — your dentist may charge more or less.
| Province | Code 23111, 1 surface (CAD) | Published fee guide |
|---|---|---|
| Prince Edward Island | $160.00 | DAPEI Abbreviated Guide 2025 |
| Nova Scotia | $165.00 | NSDA Abbreviated Fee Guide 2026 |
| Alberta | $173.95 | ADA&C Abbreviated Guide for General Dentists 2026 |
| British Columbia | $175.00 | BCDA Abbreviated Fee Guide 2026 — Public Patient Version |
| New Brunswick | $183.28 | NBDS Abbreviated Guide 2026 |
| Ontario | $214.00 | ODA fee guide, as republished by an Ontario dental practice (July 2026) |
| Average of the six | ~$178 | — |
| Manitoba · Quebec · Saskatchewan · Newfoundland | not published | no public guide — no figure given |
Why some provinces are missing. A suggested-fee guide is published by each provincial dental association, and only six of them make it public. Manitoba (MDA), Quebec (ACDQ), Saskatchewan (CDSS) and Newfoundland publish theirs to members only. We would rather show six verified numbers than ten numbers where four are guesses.
Composite vs amalgam fillings: cost comparison
Composite (white, tooth-coloured) fillings and amalgam (silver) fillings differ significantly in material, appearance and cost:
- Composite fillings bond directly to the tooth structure, preserving more of the natural tooth. They are tooth-coloured and virtually invisible. Across the six provinces that publish a fee guide, the suggested fee for a 1-surface composite averages approximately $178 CAD.
- Amalgam fillings are a silver-mercury alloy. Historically, amalgam was cheaper per surface due to lower material costs and faster placement. Availability is decreasing rapidly as Canada phases it out, and most published guides no longer list it as a separate line — ask your dentist directly.
Health Canada introduced restrictions on amalgam use in 2023, prohibiting its use in children under 10, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and people with kidney disease. A full phase-out of dental amalgam is planned as Canada complies with the Minamata Convention on Mercury. As a result, composite is now the practical standard at most Canadian dental offices.
For a detailed comparison of materials, durability and CDCP coverage by type, see our dedicated page on composite vs amalgam fillings.
1-surface vs 2-surface vs 3-surface filling costs
Provincial fee guides price fillings by the number of surfaces restored. The figures below are read from each published guide, for permanent anterior teeth (codes 23111 / 23112 / 23113):
| Surfaces | Prince Edward Island | Nova Scotia | Alberta | New Brunswick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 surface (23111) | $160.00 | $165.00 | $173.95 | $183.28 |
| 2 surfaces (23112) | $199.00 | $209.00 | $208.25 | $232.80 |
| 3 surfaces (23113) | not listed | not listed | $272.40 | $282.21 |
Multi-surface fillings restore more of the tooth and take longer to place, so each additional surface adds roughly $35–$50 CAD in the published guides. Fees also vary by tooth type — posterior (back) teeth carry their own codes and are generally higher than the anterior figures above. The CDCP covers multiple surfaces per appointment; each surface is assessed against the 24-month limitation independently.
CDCP coverage rules for fillings
The Canadian Dental Care Plan covers composite (and amalgam) fillings under its restorative section with no pre-authorization required. The key limitation to know:
- One filling per tooth surface per 24 months. If a surface was restored and the filling fails within 24 months, CDCP may not cover a replacement unless clinical failure is documented.
- The CDCP grid fee may be lower than the provincial suggested fee. A gap between the CDCP fee and your dentist's charge can result in a balance bill even at the 100% coverage tier.
| 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% |
What happens during a composite filling procedure?
A composite filling appointment typically follows these steps:
- Examination and X-ray — the dentist confirms the extent of the cavity.
- Local anaesthetic — the tooth and surrounding gum are numbed.
- Decay removal — a dental drill removes the decayed tooth structure.
- Tooth conditioning — a mild acid gel etches the surface so the composite bonds securely.
- Composite application — the resin is applied in thin layers, each cured with a UV light.
- Shaping and polishing — the filling is trimmed, shaped to the bite, and polished.
The entire procedure takes 30–60 minutes depending on the size and location of the cavity. Multiple fillings can be done in a single visit, though extensive treatment may be split over two appointments.
When a filling isn't enough: inlays, onlays and crowns
If the cavity is too large for a direct filling — typically when more than half the biting surface is affected — your dentist may recommend an indirect restoration:
- Inlay — a custom restoration fitted within the tooth cusps, similar to a filling but lab-fabricated. Costs approximately $500–$900 CAD in most provinces.
- Onlay — covers one or more cusps of the tooth, bridging the gap between a filling and a crown. Typically $700–$1,200 CAD.
- Crown — a full cap over the entire tooth, used when structural integrity is compromised. See our dental crown cost guide for 2026 province-by-province data.
Neither inlays nor onlays appear on provincial suggested-fee guides as discrete line items; these are market estimates from 2026 Canadian clinic pricing.
Sources
Each figure on this page was read from the province's own abbreviated fee guide, all of which are published free of charge by the provincial dental associations:
| Province | Published guide | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Prince Edward Island | DAPEI Abbreviated Suggested Fee Guide | 2025 |
| Nova Scotia | NSDA Abbreviated Fee Guide | 2026 |
| Alberta | ADA&C Abbreviated Dental Fee Guide for General Dentists | 2026 |
| British Columbia | BCDA Abbreviated Fee Guide — Public Patient Version | 2026 |
| New Brunswick | NBDS Abbreviated Guide | 2026 |
| Ontario | ODA fee guide, as republished by an Ontario dental practice (July 2026) | vintage not declared |
We do not re-host these PDFs. Amounts and procedure codes are facts and are reported as such; the associations' descriptive wording is not reproduced.
Manitoba, Quebec, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland publish no public fee guide, so this page gives no figure for them. A suggested fee is guidance for dentists, not a price cap — what you are charged can differ.
Open dataset
Related pages
- Composite vs Amalgam Fillings — full material comparison, phase-out timeline, CDCP coverage by type
- Filling Cost by Province — full province-by-province table with multi-surface cost breakdowns
- CDCP Coverage Guide — full coverage matrix, income tiers, pre-authorization rules
- Dental Costs in Canada — all procedures, recall exam to implants
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dental filling cost in Canada?
Does the CDCP cover dental fillings?
Are white (composite) or silver (amalgam) fillings cheaper in Canada?
How long do composite fillings last in Canada?
Can I get multiple fillings done in one appointment?
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, Sun Life Financial, or any provincial dental association. Figures are suggested fees read from each association's published guide; they are guidance for dentists, not price caps, and the fee you are charged may differ. No figure is given for Manitoba, Quebec, Saskatchewan or Newfoundland because those associations do not publish a public fee guide.