Dental and Vision Care in Canada: What's Covered and What You'll Pay

What the province covers (very little)

Dental: provincial plans cover dental surgery performed in a hospital (e.g., jaw reconstruction after trauma) and almost nothing else — no cleanings, fillings, root canals, or braces. Vision: in Ontario, OHIP covers one major eye exam per year for children and youth 19 and under, and for adults 65+ with an eligible eye-related medical condition; seniors 65+ without such a condition get one exam every 18 months. Adults aged 20–64 are covered only if they have a qualifying medical condition such as diabetes or glaucoma (rules tightened September 2023). Glasses, contacts, and laser surgery are never covered.

The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP): the 2026 rules

The federal CDCP is the largest new benefit in decades. For the 2026–2027 benefit period, you qualify if you meet all four: (1) no access to private dental insurance (through your job, a family member's job, pension, or a purchased plan); (2) adjusted family net income under $90,000; (3) you filed last year's Canadian tax return; (4) you're a Canadian resident for tax purposes. Coverage is tiered: under $70,000 income, the plan pays 100% of its fee guide with no co-payment; $70,000–$79,999, it pays 60% (you pay 40%); $80,000–$89,999, it pays 40% (you pay 60%). Applications are open now through Service Canada. Note: dentists may charge above the CDCP fee guide — ask about balance billing before you sit in the chair.

What dental care actually costs

Without coverage, a routine cleaning and checkup typically runs $200–$350, a filling $200–$400, a root canal $800–$1,500, and a crown $1,200–$2,000+ (varies by province and clinic). Dental schools (e.g., University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry) offer supervised student treatment at steep discounts if you can tolerate longer appointments.

Low-cost dental options beyond insurance

Dental schools are the best-kept secret: the University of Toronto, UBC, McGill, and other faculties of dentistry run teaching clinics where supervised students do cleanings, fillings, and even root canals at 30–50% of private rates — appointments take longer, but the work is checked by licensed dentists. Community health centres in most big cities offer sliding-scale dental for low-income residents. Some provinces run targeted programs too: Ontario's Healthy Smiles program covers kids 17 and under in low-income families with no cost and no CDCP application needed. For adults, a few cities have charitable clinics (e.g., volunteer dentist days) — ask your local public health unit what's available.

Employer dental: the 80/50/50 pattern

A typical employer dental plan covers preventive care (cleanings, checkups) at 80%, basic restorative (fillings) at 50–80%, and major work (crowns, bridges) at 50%, with an annual maximum around $1,000–$2,000 per person. Orthodontics is often a separate lifetime maximum or excluded entirely. If both spouses have plans, coordinate benefits — the second plan can cover what the first doesn't.

Vision costs and employer coverage

A private eye exam costs roughly $90–$150 in most cities. Glasses run $200–$500+ depending on lenses; contacts are a similar annual cost. Employer vision plans typically cover an exam every 24 months and $200–$300 toward glasses or contacts in the same period. If you have no coverage and need affordable glasses, online retailers (with a valid prescription including pupillary distance) are far cheaper than optical shops.

ShareCopied!

Scan with WeChat to share