Dental Insurance in Ontario
Ontario layers two public dental programs, one for low-income seniors and one for low-income children, on top of the federal plan, but neither helps most working-age adults, who rely on workplace or private coverage. OHIP covers physician and hospital care but does not pay for routine dental services for most adults, which is why private dental insurance is so widely used in Ontario. See the OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Plan) guide for the public side, and Canada Life, Manulife and Sun Life for the private plans sold to Ontario residents through Aeva.
Dental coverage context in Ontario
Ontario publishes one of the most closely watched provincial dental fee guides through the Ontario Dental Association, and dentists are free to set their own fees. Because individual plans reimburse a percentage up to an annual maximum, the dollar value of dental coverage in Ontario tracks both the fee guide and how heavily you use care.
Ontario has the largest concentration of self-employed workers, contractors and small-business employees in the country, many without group dental benefits. That makes individual dental plans from Canada Life, Manulife and Sun Life a mainstream purchase for Ontario households rather than a niche product; Alberta Blue Cross does not sell here.
How dental coverage is structured in Ontario
Coverage is layered: preventive care pays the most, major work less and later, orthodontics last. What matters is each plan's annual maximum and waiting period, shown in the figures.
Top dental plans for Ontario residents
Ranked by dental-coverage strength from the plans sold in Ontario.
Sun Life
Sun Life - Personal Health Insurance - Enhanced (With Dental)
80% basic · 50% major · ortho to $1,500.
View plan detailsManulife
Manulife - FollowMe - Premiere
80% basic · 80% major · ortho included.
View plan detailsCanada Life
Canada Life - Freedom to Choose - Guaranteed Elite
85% basic · 50% major.
View plan detailsBrowse the full plans directory or run the dental coverage calculator.
Public dental programs in Ontario
Ontario runs two of the better-known provincial dental programs. The Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program covers eligible low-income residents aged 65 and over, with income limits well below an average salary, for services such as cleanings, x-rays, fillings, dentures and extractions. Healthy Smiles Ontario provides free dental care for eligible children and youth aged 17 and under from lower-income households. Both are income-tested, so most working-age adults fall outside them.
The federal Canadian Dental Care Plan now covers eligible Ontario residents under the $90,000 family-income line with no private coverage, across all ages. Private dental insurance is most useful for residents above these programs’ thresholds who want a higher annual maximum and orthodontic coverage.
See your Ontario price in 3 minutes
Your Ontario premium turns on age and who is on the policy, so a quote is the only real number. It takes a few minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Does OHIP cover dental in Ontario?
No. The Ontario Health Insurance Plan covers physician and hospital services but not routine dental care such as checkups, cleanings, fillings or orthodontics for most adults. Some dental surgery performed in hospital for a medical reason can be covered, but everyday dentistry in Ontario is paid out of pocket unless you carry private dental insurance, qualify for the federal Canadian Dental Care Plan, or use a provincial program such as Ontario Seniors Dental Care or Healthy Smiles Ontario.
What public dental programs does Ontario offer?
Ontario funds the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program for eligible low-income residents aged 65 and over, covering services such as cleanings, fillings, dentures and extractions, and Healthy Smiles Ontario for eligible children and youth aged 17 and under from lower-income households. Both are income-tested. Ontarians above the thresholds, or working-age adults who fall between the two programs, generally use the federal Canadian Dental Care Plan if eligible or buy private dental coverage.
Which carriers sell individual dental insurance in Ontario?
Ontario residents can choose individual dental plans from Canada Life, Manulife and Sun Life, the three national carriers available in the province. Alberta Blue Cross is regional and does not sell to Ontarians, so the comparison is among the national insurers. They differ in basic and major reimbursement percentages, annual maximums and whether orthodontics is included, which are the points to weigh when ranking dental plans for your household.
Is private dental insurance worth it in Ontario?
For the many Ontarians without group benefits it usually is. Ontario has the largest self-employed and small-business workforce in Canada, and dentists set fees individually, so a single crown or root canal can cost more than a year of premiums. A plan reimbursing most preventive care and a share of major work up to an annual maximum makes dental costs predictable, which is most valuable for families and regular dental users.
Do Ontario dental plans cover orthodontics?
Some do. Among the carriers available in Ontario, higher tiers such as Sun Life’s with-dental plans and Manulife’s top FollowMe tier include orthodontic reimbursement, at roughly half the cost with a lifetime cap and a long wait. Lower-tier plans usually exclude orthodontics. If braces for a child are a priority, compare the lifetime orthodontic maximum across the Ontario plans before choosing.