Dental Insurance in BC (2026 Guide): Costs, Coverage & Best Plans
Does BC cover dental care?
British Columbia does not cover routine dental care under the provincial healthcare system, the Medical Services Plan (MSP). The MSP may cover some medically necessary dental or oral surgeries in a hospital, but it does not cover cleanings, fillings, crowns or root canals.
While some British Columbians may qualify for dental coverage through federally funded programs or provincial income assistance programs, other residents may opt for a private dental insurance plan to help manage the ongoing costs of dental care.
Private dental plans typically cost between $45 and $115/month or more, depending on coverage levels and insurance provider.
Your dental insurance options in BC, from provincial benefits to private plans
There are five major dental coverage options in British Columbia, with varying levels of coverage and eligibility criteria.
Medical Services Plan (MSP)
Who it’s for: BC residents enrolled in MSP.
What it costs: Free.
MSP is BC’s provincial health plan. It only covers medically necessary dental services in a hospital, like dental and oral surgery. It does not cover basic or preventive care, fillings, crowns, root canals, or the removal of impacted wisdom teeth.
Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)
Who it’s for: Canadian residents without private dental coverage who meet income eligibility.
What it costs: Free, but coverage is tiered by income.
The CDCP is a federal program that helps qualifying Canadians with an adjusted family net income under $90,000 pay for dental care. The CDCP covers basic, preventative, major, and restorative care. CDCP recipients may still have out-of-pocket dental costs depending on their adjusted family net income and eligibility status.
Provincial income- and disability-assistance dental coverage
Who’s it for: Eligible BC residents (and their dependents) receiving income or disability assistance.
What it costs: Free, but eligible residents may still pay additional out-of-pocket costs.
If you qualify for income or disability assistance in BC, you and eligible dependents under 19 may also qualify for basic dental coverage (up to $1,000 over two years for adults, and $2,000 for kids). Basic coverage includes routine checkups, cleanings, fillings, X-rays, extractions, and dentures.
Employer-sponsored dental insurance
Who it’s for: Employees and eligible family members with access to workplace benefits.
What it costs: Varies by employer and plan.
You may have some level of dental coverage if your workplace (or your partner’s) provides health benefits. However, it’s common for these group plans to stick to a lower level of coverage that may only cover basic preventive care, like cleanings and fluorides. You may also need to cover part of the monthly premium or outstanding treatment costs.
Private dental insurance
Who it’s for: BC residents who want to purchase or supplement their dental coverage.
What it costs: Typically between $45 and $115 per month.
You can purchase dental health benefits through a private health insurance company if you don’t qualify for government-sponsored dental coverage, are self-employed, or aren’t satisfied with your group dental benefits. Private dental insurance may include preventive, restorative, comprehensive, major or orthodontic services, depending on the plan.
Nearly 1 in 3 BC residents have no dental insurance, including 55% of seniors aged 65 and older, according to Statistics Canada.
What does the CDCP cover?
The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) is a federally funded program that provides eligible Canadians with coverage for the following services:
- Diagnostic and preventive services, such as dental exams, x-rays, cleanings, fluoride applications and sealants.
- Basic services, like restorative fillings and cavity treatments, endodontic services, like root canals, and periodontal services.
- Major services, like tooth removal, crown repair, dentures and some oral surgeries.
- Anesthesia or sedation services during dental work.
As of this writing, orthodontic services are not covered by the CDCP.
To qualify, applicants must meet four requirements:
- Income: Your adjusted family net income is below $90,000.
- Current coverage: You do not have any access to private dental insurance through work, school, a spouse, a pension or private insurance.
- Resident status: You are a Canadian resident for tax purposes.
- Taxes filed: You and your spouse or common-law partner have filed your tax returns in Canada for the previous year.
Full coverage (100%) is reserved for households that earn under $70,000. Those earning $70,000-$79,999 get 60% coverage and those who earn $80,000-$89,999 get 40% coverage.
The CDCP also covers only eligible expenses outlined by the program, meaning your CDCP coverage may be different from what your dental office charges. Any charges that exceed the CDCP’s fees will come out of your pocket, regardless of whether you have 100% coverage through the program.
CDCP vs. private dental insurance in BC
There are some important differences to know when comparing the CDCP to private dental insurance in BC.
By supplementing your CDCP coverage, private dental insurance can help you manage dental expenses with the lowest out-of-pocket costs. Where CDCP falls short, your private coverage may cover the remaining costs.
What dental services does MSP cover?
MSP primarily covers dental and oral surgery performed in a hospital. However, the province also provides other healthcare programs that include access to dental care based on age and income level.
The Healthy Kids program provides children of low-income families with up to $2,000 of basic dental coverage every two years, including exams, X-rays, fillings, cleanings and extractions. To qualify, your family’s net adjusted income must be below $42,000 a year, and you must be in receipt of income assistance, disability assistance or hardship assistance.
For adults who receive financial or disability assistance, the BC Employment and Assistance program provides up to $1,000 in dental care every two calendar years. It includes basic and preventive services, partial denture replacement, and bridges and crowns in some circumstances.
You can apply for these programs through Service BC to find out if you qualify.
However, many BC residents will only have access to dental care through MSP, which only covers medically necessary dental services that require hospitalization:
Major dental services are not covered by the MSP:
The bottom line: Routine dental work—from cleanings, checkups, and X-rays to fillings, extractions, and root canals—won’t be covered by MSP.
How much does dental insurance cost in BC?
Private dental insurance in BC typically costs between $45 and $115/month or more depending on the provider and your coverage needs.
In BC, low-income residents can access dental care through federal and provincial healthcare plans. If your age and income qualify you for dental care through CDCP, MSP, or income-assistance programs, you receive your benefits free of charge up to the program limit the government may cover some or all of the cost of eligible dental services, up to the program limit.
To give you a sense of how much you might pay for private dental insurance in British Columbia, the table below compares premiums for different age groups in BC under PolicyMe’s Guaranteed Issue Dental Care plan.
* Average monthly premiums as of October 2026.
Average dental costs in BC without insurance
Without dental insurance, the cost of even a single visit to the dentist can add up quickly. Dentists in British Columbia must base their pricing on the minimum guidelines set out by the BC Dental Association’s Suggested Fee Guide, as seen in the table below.
* Total cost for 45 minutes of scaling and polishing.
** Total cost for 2 bitewing X-rays.
*** Total cost for cavity treatment and amalgam filling on one anterior/bicuspid surface.
Without insurance, a single routine checkup could cost upwards of $350—and more serious oral health problems, like cavities or broken teeth, could rack up even bigger charges. Those costs are quickly compounded in households with multiple dependent children.
A dental plan covering 70% or more of the cost of routine preventive care could keep dental care affordable.
According to Statistics Canada, the average BC household spent $666 on dental services in 2023. Buying a simple health coverage plan with dental insurance, like PolicyMe’s Guaranteed Issue Dental Care option, could save you up to $532/year by swapping out those steep out-of-pocket dental bills for affordable premiums.
The best dental insurance in British Columbia
Our top 4 insurers for dental coverage in BC include PolicyMe, GreenShield, Sun Life, and Manulife.
* Premiums reflect the approximate monthly cost for an 18-year-old adult living in Canada and are accurate as of October 2026.
Let’s take a deeper look at each one.
1. PolicyMe
Why it’s our top pick: PolicyMe’s Guaranteed Issue Dental Care insurance plan offers the most comprehensive slate of covered dental services—from routine cleanings to major services like crowns and bridges—at the lowest price in our analysis of Canadian dental insurance plans.
Under the Dental Care plan, 80% of all basic preventative and restorative services are covered with no waiting period, subject to an annual maximum of $750 in year one and $900 in subsequent years. You’ll also get 60% reimbursement for comprehensive services like root canals and periodontal treatment, plus coverage for major services starting in year three.
Premiums start at $115/month for adults aged 21–44 in BC.
If you’d like your dental insurance to come with a healthy helping of medical coverage for things like prescription drugs, paramedical services, and vision care, consider the Guaranteed Issue Classic plan, which includes the same dental coverage as the Dental Care plan. The Advanced Plan offers even more comprehensive dental benefits, including coverage for orthodontics starting in year 2.
2. GreenShield
Why it made our list: These are all guaranteed-acceptance dental policies from GreenShield.
Zone 3 covers 80% of basic services and comprehensive services up to $600 in the first year, $800 in the second year, and $1,000 from the third year. Major services are covered at 50%, subject to the annual maximum, but only in year 3. Orthodontics are not covered in the basic Zone 3 plan.
Zone 2 is a step down and doesn’t cover major services. You get 80% coverage for basic services and 50% coverage for comprehensive basic services in the first year, increasing to 80% in year 3 to a maximum of $800 per year. Zone Fundamental caps dental at $450 per year with 70% coverage.
Premiums start at $103/month for adults aged 18–44 in BC.
3. Sun Life
Why it made our list: Sun Life offers three tiers of personal health plans with optional dental add-ons in British Columbia. There is no dental-only plan, so this is a good option if you need both health and dental coverage.
The Standard plan offers 70% reimbursement for preventative care with an annual maximum of $750, whereas the Basic plan is 60% up to $500. Both have a three-month waiting period.
The Enhanced plan is 80% up to $750, and it covers restorative services at 50% up to $500 per year and orthodontics (60% up to $1,500 lifetime maximum). There are waiting periods to consider: 3 months for preventative, 1 year for restorative, and 2 years for orthodontic care.
Premiums for the Standard plan start around $139/month for adults aged 18–44 in BC.
4. Manulife
Why it made our list: Manulife is an established insurer that offers individual health & dental plans in BC (and nationwide). With Flexcare, you can choose from two tiers, Basic or Enhanced.
Basic offers 50% coverage with a cap of $575 in the first year and $750 in the second year. It includes check-ups every nine months. This covers fillings and cleanings, but not major work like orthodontics, bridges, or crowns.
Enhanced is capped at $840 the first year and $920 the second year, with check-ups every six months. There is some coverage for oral surgery, major services, and orthodontic coverage starting in year 2.
Premiums start at $102/month for adults aged 18–44 in BC.
Who needs private dental insurance in BC?
Not everyone in BC needs private dental insurance.
How to choose the right dental insurance plan in British Columbia
Coverage is super individual, so you’ll need to consider several variables to find the best dental coverage in BC for you:
- Start with eligibility for government programs: Income-based dental coverage may be available to some BC residents. Check if you qualify, and use your tax returns to confirm and sign up.
- Consider current spending: Add up your current out-of-pocket expenses for dental care not covered by provincial benefits, CDCP, or a group insurance plan.
- Predict future spending: What does the future hold? If you know your teeth (or your kids’ teeth) will need work in the future, like bridgework or orthodontics, add up those future costs.
- Find the gap that needs covering: Compare current and predicted spending to find the dental coverage gap. Divide it by 12 to estimate monthly savings.
- Research plans: Speak to your friends and family about their chosen insurers, or start with the providers above. Be sure to research the following:
- Coverage levels: Check the coverage levels to see if they align with the services you expect to need. Carefully review any maximums, deductibles, co-payments, and exclusions.
- Waiting periods: Some dental plans require you to wait a set period before accessing certain services. Routine exams often have shorter waiting periods than major work like bridges or crowns, but these periods vary by provider.
- Start dates: Find out how long it takes for your coverage to actually take effect after you apply. The insurer usually doesn’t cover any services before this date.
- Get quotes: Once you know what kind of coverage you need, you can get as many quotes as you want to compare pricing. Request dental insurance quotes from at least three companies to find the best rate.
There is not a single ‘best dental insurance’ plan for every BC resident. Every mouth is different! Take time to review your household dental needs and narrow down the options to fit your budget.
FAQ: Dental insurance in British Columbia
Prices listed on this page are based on information available as of June 2026. The prices shown are for general reference only and may vary based on factors like your age, location, and product selection.