Costs, Fee Guides and 2026 Coverage
Provincial dental fee guides in Canada: how they work and why your insurer pays less than the bill
What a dental fee guide is, how dentists and insurers use it in each province, the Quebec difference, and how to tell whether a fee is above the guide.
A dental fee guide is a list of suggested fees, by procedure code, that a provincial dental association publishes for its members, usually once a year. In most of Canada it is a reference, not a price control: a dentist may charge the guide amount, more or less. Insurers and benefit plans often reimburse "up to" a fee guide amount, sometimes from an earlier year, which is why your plan can pay less than the percentage you expected. In Ontario, the Ontario Dental Association's Suggested Fee Guide is a members-only reference; in other provinces access varies. Quebec uses its own reference and has a formal fee-dispute route through the Ordre des dentistes du Québec. Federal programs such as the Canadian Dental Care Plan set their own fees instead.
This guide belongs to the dental implant cost overview. Amounts are illustrative.
Who publishes fee guides, and who regulates dentists
Two kinds of organizations matter, and they are often confused:
- Dental associations represent dentists. They typically publish the fee guide and negotiate with governments and insurers.
- Regulatory colleges license dentists and handle complaints about conduct and care. They do not usually set fees.
| Province or region | Association (fee guide) | Regulator (licensing and complaints) |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario | Ontario Dental Association | Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario |
| British Columbia | British Columbia Dental Association | BC College of Oral Health Professionals |
| Alberta | Alberta Dental Association | College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta |
| Quebec | Association des chirurgiens dentistes du Québec | Ordre des dentistes du Québec |
| Other provinces | Provincial dental association or society | Provincial dental board, college or association (in some provinces one body does both roles) |
Specialist associations and the regulators for denturists, dental hygienists and dental therapists are separate again. A denturist's fees for dentures, for instance, follow the denturist profession's own references.
How dentists use the guide
A dentist chooses the fees for their office. Many set fees at or near the current year's guide; some charge a percentage above it, for example because of specialist training, location or overhead; a few charge less. Fees for specialists (periodontists, oral surgeons, prosthodontists) are often listed separately or are higher.
Some procedures in a fee guide are listed with an "independent consideration" or lab-fee component, meaning the dentist sets the fee by case or adds the lab's charge. Implant crowns and abutments commonly involve lab fees, so the guide alone does not tell you the full price.
How insurers use the guide
Most private and group dental plans in Canada describe their reimbursement as a percentage of the eligible expense, and the eligible expense is often capped at a fee guide amount:
- Current-year guide. The plan pays up to this year's suggested fee in your province.
- Previous-year guide. Some plans reimburse according to an older guide, often one year behind, which saves the plan sponsor money.
- Reasonable and customary. Some plans use their own schedule of usual fees.
- Specialist or general schedule. Some plans reimburse a specialist's work only at the general practitioner rate.
Worked example (illustrative): your dentist bills $1,450 for a crown. Your plan covers major services at 50% of the eligible fee, based on the previous year's guide, where the crown is listed at $1,300.
- Eligible fee: $1,300
- Plan pays 50%: $650
- You pay: $1,450 − $650 = $800, not the $725 you might expect from 50% of the bill.
The $150 difference between the bill and the eligible fee is yours to pay. Use the dental plan cost-share calculator with the eligible amount, then add the difference.
The CDCP uses its own fees
The Canadian Dental Care Plan does not reimburse at provincial association fee guides. It pays according to its own established fees, set out in the CDCP dental benefit grids (hosted on the plan administrator's site and organized by province or territory and type of provider). If your dentist's fee is higher than the CDCP fee, you may be asked to pay the difference. See CDCP co-payments and extra charges.
Provincial public programs for children, seniors or social assistance recipients also have their own fee schedules, which are often lower than association guides. See provincial public dental programs.
Quebec: what differs
- The Association des chirurgiens dentistes du Québec (ACDQ) publishes the fee reference used by Quebec dentists, in French.
- The Ordre des dentistes du Québec (ODQ) is the regulator. It offers a "contestation d'honoraires" process for patients who dispute a dentist's fees, separate from a conduct complaint ("demande d'enquête").
- RAMQ pays for certain dental services for children under 10 and for some people receiving last-resort financial assistance, at its own rates.
- Private insurance complaints in Quebec go through the insurer and then the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF).
See disputing a dental bill for the steps.
Alberta: a different history
Alberta's dental fee market operated for many years without a suggested fee guide, and fees there have often been described as varying more between offices. The Alberta Dental Association now publishes Alberta Suggested Fee Guides: the full guides are for members, and a public abbreviated guide for general dentists (2026 edition) is posted on its "Understanding Dental Fees" page. Each dentist still sets their own fees, so ask each office for its fee for the specific code. For Alberta patients, comparing two or three written estimates is especially worthwhile.
How to check whether a fee is "above the guide"
- Ask the office. Ask whether its fees follow this year's provincial guide and, if not, by how much they differ.
- Ask your insurer. Your insurer will usually tell you the eligible amount for a code in a predetermination or by phone.
- Get the codes. Fee guides are organized by procedure code. Without the code you cannot compare.
- Check lab fees. Ask for the lab fee as a separate line for crowns, bridges, dentures and implant restorations.
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Which year's fee guide do you use? | Fees often change each January |
| Are you charging specialist fees? | Plans may reimburse specialists at GP rates |
| Is the lab fee included? | Lab fees can be a large part of crown and implant costs |
| Does my plan use the current or previous guide? | Determines the eligible fee |
FAQ
Is a dentist allowed to charge more than the fee guide?
In most provinces, yes. The guide is a suggestion. What a dentist must do is explain the fee and get your consent before treatment.
Can I get a copy of the fee guide?
Access varies. The ODA describes its guide as a members-only reference. Ask your dentist or insurer for the fee and eligible amount for each code you are quoted.
Why does my plan pay a lower percentage than its booklet says?
Usually because the percentage applies to the eligible fee, not your dentist's bill. Check which fee guide year your plan uses.
Does the CDCP follow the provincial fee guide?
No. It uses its own established fees, which can differ from both the guide and your dentist's fees.
Sources
- Ontario Dental Association — suggested fee guide information
- Alberta Dental Association — patient information on dental fees
- Ordre des dentistes du Québec — fee disputes and complaints in Quebec
- Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario — patient resources on fees and charges
- Canadian Dental Care Plan — how CDCP fees and extra charges work
