The Best Dental Insurance for Seniors in Canada (2026)
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Is dental insurance worth it for seniors?
Dental insurance is worth it for seniors who don’t have access to dental benefits through federal and provincial programs or through an employee benefit or pension plan. If you have significant oral health care needs, such as dentures, tooth decay, or gum disease, private dental insurance could save you money.
- Do you qualify for free dental coverage through federal or provincial government programs? If so, you may not need private dental insurance.
- Do you have access to group dental benefits through a pension or employee benefits (yours or a family member’s)? If so, you may not need private dental insurance.
- Do you spend less than $500 per year on dental services? If so, you may not save money by buying dental insurance.
- Do you also need coverage for prescription drugs, paramedical services, vision care, or other health services? If so, a private health and dental insurance plan may be worth it.
Dental insurance vs. government programs for seniors
Start by determining whether you’re eligible for public coverage for dental care through either the government of Canada or your provincial health program.
Federal dental coverage (Canadian Dental Care Plan)
The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) provides free coverage for a wide range of dental services for eligible Canadians. You may qualify for CDCP coverage if:
- You’re a Canadian resident for tax purposes
- You and your spouse/partner (if applicable) filed a tax return in Canada last year
- Your adjusted net household income is under $90,000
- You do not have access to private or group dental insurance benefits
If you qualify, the CDCP will cover some or all of the cost of dental services, including:
- Diagnostic and preventive services like routine checkups, cleanings, fluoride treatments, scaling, and x-rays
- Basic restorative services like fillings and other cavity treatments
- Endodontic services like root canals, pulpectomies, and related care
- Periodontal services like gum cleanings
- Major restorative services like dental posts and crowns
- Prosthodontic services like dentures, including denture repair and partial dentures
- Oral surgery like tooth extractions
Some dental procedures, like dental implants, orthodontics, and cosmetic dentistry, aren’t covered by the CDCP.
Provincial dental coverage for seniors
Even if you’re not eligible for federal dental coverage, you might qualify for free dental care through a provincial program. Check the table below to see if your province offers dental benefits for seniors.
Some provinces only provide dental coverage to low-income seniors. Check your province’s eligibility requirements.
If you don’t qualify for dental coverage under the CDCP or provincial programs and you don’t have access to dental benefits through an employer-provided group plan, you may need to purchase private dental insurance.
Best dental insurance for seniors in Canada
To identify the best dental insurance plans for seniors aged 65 and over in Canada, we focused on a few basic criteria:
- No prescription drug coverage: To keep the focus on dental, we looked at plans that don’t include coverage for prescription drugs. If you need that coverage, you may want to compare complete health insurance plans instead.
- Competitive costs for seniors: Applicants age 65+ often pay higher rates for dental insurance, so we looked for plans with lower premiums.
- Varying coverage options: Every senior is different. To address a wide range of needs, we included plans with only basic coverage for routine services as well as a few with more robust options.
* Premiums reflect the approximate monthly cost for a 60-year-old senior living in Canada.
** Comparison reflects the total amount of prescription drug, dental, vision, paramedical, mental health, accidental dental, and ambulance coverage versus the industry average for comparable plans.
1. Dental Care by PolicyMe
PolicyMe’s Dental Care plan covers up to 80% of a wide range of dental services and includes $10,000 of emergency dental coverage—considerably more than most competitors.
PolicyMe's Dental Care Plan is ideal for individuals, families, and seniors 65+ with existing prescription drug coverage. It exceeds the industry average for dental coverage by 22%, and its paramedical coverage has no per-visit or per-profession limits.
* Premiums reflect the approximate monthly cost for a 60-year-old senior living in Canada.
2. ZONE 2 (Primary) by GreenShield
If you don’t have dentures, don’t need drug coverage, and want to keep your insurance costs as low as possible, GreenShield’s ZONE 2 is one of the cheapest dental plans for seniors.
ZONE 2 by GreenShield is a fairly barebones no-drug health insurance plan. Its paramedical coverage is its best feature, and it's a decent budget pick for young, active students who play sports and travel.
* Premiums reflect the approximate monthly cost for a 60-year-old senior living in Canada.
3. OmniPlan with Dental Care by GMS
GMS’s three health insurance plans come with the option to add dental, prescription drug coverage, and a range of add-ons and custom features. We’re featuring the top-of-the-line OmniPlan here, but those in search of cheaper coverage may opt for the Basic or ExtendaPlan.
OmniPlan (with Dental Care) by GMS has a strong pricing advantage, but weak dental coverage, and the lack of orthodontic coverage is unusual for a premium plan. It also places a per-practitioner limit on its paramedical coverage. We recommend seeking a plan with a flexible, combined annual maximum (such as PolicyMe's Advanced plan) if you make regular visits to one or two professionals.
* Premiums reflect the approximate monthly cost for a 60-year-old senior living in Canada.
How much does dental insurance for seniors cost?
On average, Canadians aged 65 and older pay between $100 and $300 per month for private healthcare plans that include dental insurance.
But premiums can change significantly after age 65, as shown in the chart below, which compares monthly premiums for PolicyMe’s Dental Care plan across four different senior age groups.
* Premiums reflect the approximate monthly cost for a 60-year-old senior living in Canada.
What seniors should consider before choosing a dental plan
Not all seniors need a private dental insurance plan. Before choosing a plan, consider the following:
- Are you eligible for dental coverage through any government programs? Look at provincial programs and the federal CDCP to see if you’re eligible for free cleanings or other oral health care.
- Do you have access to dental coverage through your workplace, pension, or a family member? If you’re eligible for group benefits, it may be a more affordable route to the dental care you need.
- How much did you spend out of pocket in the past year on dental care? Compare that figure with the cost of a 12-month plan.
- Do you anticipate needing major dental work in the next few years? If you expect to need dentures, crowns, bridgework, or other major procedures in the near future, dental insurance could reduce the cost.
- Do you need other health insurance coverage? You can’t buy a standalone dental insurance plan, so it’s only worth the cost if you plan to use other types of health coverage.
FAQ: Dental insurance for seniors
Prices listed on this page are based on information available as of January 2026. The prices shown are for general reference only and may vary based on factors like your age, location, and product selection.