Dental Insurance in Ontario: Costs, Coverage & Best Plans (2026)
Provincial vs private dental plans in Ontario
Ontario residents may get dental insurance through provincial programs, employer-sponsored group plans, private policies, or a combination of the three.
Provincial coverage for dental care doesn’t exist through OHIP unless it’s a hospital-based procedure, so most Ontarians must rely on private dental insurance or income-based government programs like the CDCP (income-contingent), Healthy Smiles Ontario (for youth), or OSDCP (for seniors).
Healthy Smiles Ontario and OSDCP are free of charge.
CDCP participants with an adjusted family net income between $70,000 and $89,999 will pay a portion of the cost of dental care.
Private plans charge monthly premiums and typically cover less than 100% of dental fees.
Nearly 1 in 3 Ontario residents have no dental insurance, including 65% of seniors aged 65 and older, according to Statistics Canada.
Does OHIP cover dental in Ontario?
Under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP), the only oral healthcare services covered are certain dental surgeries performed in a hospital setting. Your dental surgery might be covered by OHIP if you:
- Have another medical condition that needs monitoring during your procedure
- Require a medically-necessary tooth removal
- Have a tumor that’s being removed
- Need reconstructive dental surgery
Routine dental treatments—from cleanings, checkups, and x-rays to fillings, extractions, and root canals—won’t be covered by OHIP.
How much does dental insurance cost in Ontario?
Private dental insurance typically costs around $70–$200/month for adults in Ontario, although costs vary by plan and age. Public dental insurance programs are free of charge for Ontario residents.
To give you a sense of how much you might pay for dental insurance in Ontario, the table below compares premiums for different age groups in Ontario under PolicyMe’s Guaranteed Issue Dental Care plan.
* Average monthly premiums as of July 2026
According to Statistics Canada, the average Ontario household spent $583 on dental services in 2023. Buying a simple health insurance plan with dental coverage, like PolicyMe’s Guaranteed Issue Dental Care option, could save you up to $466/year by swapping out those steep out-of-pocket dental bills for affordable premiums.
The best dental insurance plans in Ontario
Our top 5 insurers for dental coverage in Ontario include PolicyMe, GreenShield, Manulife, GMS, and Sun Life.
Prices current as of July 2026.
Let’s take a deeper look into 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 1 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 3.
Premiums start at $143/month for adults aged 21–44 in Ontario.
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.
Compared to individuals, families should prioritize higher coverage limits, strong dental and vision benefits, and things like child-focused care or mental health support. It’s also important to look at how the plan handles claims per person versus per family, since costs can add up quickly. It’s about finding a plan that’s flexible, comprehensive, and built to handle real-life situations, not just the basics. — Luke Robar, Licensed Insurance Advisor
2. GreenShield Canada
Why it made our list: If you’re in search of low-cost dental insurance without a lot of bells and whistles, GreenShield’s ZONE 2 (Primary) plan might be a good fit. This guaranteed-acceptance plan pays for 80% of basic preventive dental care and up to 80% of comprehensive services like root canals, periodontal treatment, and denture repair. You won’t have access to coverage for major services or for orthodontic treatment, but the plan should cover the basics for most Canadian families.
If you need a little more coverage—say, for crowns or bridgework—or don’t want to wait three years to hit the maximum of 80% reimbursement for comprehensive care, GreenShield’s ZONE 3 (Basic) plan is a slightly more expensive alternative.
Premiums for the ZONE 2 (Primary) plan start at $88/month for adults aged 18–44 in Ontario.
3. Manulife
Why it made our list: Manulife has two dental insurance plans. DentalPlus Basic covers basic preventative dental services like routine cleanings, fillings, and select extractions, while DentalPlus Enhanced includes coverage for major restorative services and orthodontics. Both plans offer excellent coverage for dental care; the downside is that they both come with relatively high premiums.
Premiums start at $111.10/month for the DentalPlus Basic plan and $172.80/month for the DentalPlus Enhanced plan for adults aged 18–44 in Ontario.
4. GMS
Why it made our list: Dental care isn’t automatically included in GMS’s three tiers of private health insurance; instead, it’s available as an optional add-on to any of the three plans. We’ve chosen the OmniPlan—which includes robust coverage for paramedical services, vision care, and other common health expenses—as the best value, but you can tweak your coverage to meet your family’s needs with a wide range of optional add-ons.
For instance, if you’re only in search of dental insurance with basic coverage for other types of care, the Basic Plan starts as low as $9.75/month for single applicants and $14/month for couples. But the added benefits of the ExtendaPlan and OmniPlan, like coverage for hearing aids, diabetic supplies, and blood pressure monitors, may add value for many Canadians—especially seniors.
Premiums for the Dental Care add-on range from $69.25/month for adults under 35 to $76.75/month for seniors aged 80+. Premiums for the OmniPlan start at $62.00/month.
5. Sun Life
Why it made our list: Sun Life’s plans aren’t the cheapest, and you can’t buy a standalone dental insurance plan; you can only add dental coverage to a personal health insurance plan. Sun Life's offerings may be a better fit for customers seeking bundled health and dental coverage.
But Sun Life’s Enhanced Plan offers one of the most comprehensive dental coverage packages in the industry, on top of robust health insurance coverage. Under this plan, you’ll get coverage for things other plans may not include, like dentures and orthodontics (though coverage caps and waiting periods may apply).
Premiums start at $239.35/month for adults aged 18–44 in Ontario.
Sun Life’s Personal Health Insurance plan is the only fully underwritten plan in our ranking, meaning that you’ll need to complete a health questionnaire or medical exam to get this coverage.
Is dental insurance worth it in Ontario?
Dental insurance may be worth it for people who do not qualify for provincial dental programs and are paying high out-of-pocket costs for dental care. Private plans in Ontario start around $70 per month or $840 per year and typically cover between 50% and 80% of dental services.
* Assumes 80% coverage for basic services and 50% for major services
** Estimates include the impact of annual coverage limits (typically $750–$1,500), which can increase out-of-pocket costs
You’re more likely to break even if you need multiple procedures or coverage for multiple family members. You’re less likely to save money with private coverage if you only need routine cleanings and fillings. In this case, premiums may cost more than paying out-of-pocket.
How to choose the right dental insurance plan in Ontario
Picking the best dental coverage in Ontario involves a ton of variables, which change from person to person.
- Check your eligibility for government programs: Ontario residents have access to several income-based dental health care programs through the federal and provincial governments, but you’ll need to check if you qualify. You may need your tax return from the previous year to calculate your eligibility for these programs.
- Take stock of your current dental spending: How much do you spend each year on routine care like cleanings, fluorides, and checkups for yourself and other members of your household?
- Evaluate the cost of future services: Have you been told that you’ll likely need major dental work in the future? Try to estimate the cost of future services, such as bridgework, dentures, or orthodontics, that you or your household members may need.
- Calculate your dental insurance gap: Add up your current and predicted dental spending to get an estimate of what you’ll pay in the next year for oral health care services. Divide that number by 12 to find your dental insurance gap.
- Research dental insurance plans: You can use the plans recommended above as a starting point, research online, or talk to family and friends about their coverage. Look for plans with the best fit of coverage for the service you actually use (or plan to in the future) — and be careful to check any applicable waiting periods, deductibles, co-payments, and exclusions, such as for pre-existing conditions.
- Request quotes: Once you’ve found the plans with the best match for your needs, request dental insurance quotes and compare the monthly cost of insurance with the coverage gap you calculated earlier.
No single dental insurance plan is right for every person in Ontario. Take the time to review your household’s dental insurance needs or work with a licensed insurance advisor to narrow down your best fit.
How to get dental insurance in Ontario
Once you’ve chosen your ideal plan, getting private dental insurance in Ontario is fairly straightforward.
- Fill out an online application: In order to get quotes and sign up for coverage, you’ll need to provide some basic personal information, including your age.
- Complete any required medical tests: Some private dental plans require medical exams for full underwriting; others don’t. All of PolicyMe’s private health and dental insurance plans are available with no medical exam.
- Make your first payment: In order to lock in coverage, pick your policy’s start date and make your first premium payment.
- Be aware of waiting periods: Some dental insurance in Ontario is subject to a waiting period before you can use your coverage. For basic services, the waiting period is typically no more than three months; for major services, it may be as long as 2–3 years.
FAQs: Dental insurance in Ontario
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.