Dental Fee Guide

A dental fee guide is a provincially issued schedule that lists the standard or recommended prices for dental procedures. Each province and territory in Canada publishes its own guide annually, outlining suggested fees for everything from cleanings and fillings to crowns and dentures.

Insurance companies use these guides to determine how much they will reimburse for dental services. When a dentist charges more than the fee listed in the guide, the plan reimburses based on the guide’s rate, and the patient pays the difference.

While most insurers follow the guide from the province where the dental service is performed, some use their own internal pricing schedules or may reimburse based on a prior year’s guide. Understanding your plan’s reference guide helps you anticipate potential out-of-pocket costs before treatment.

Example:

If the Alberta Dental Fee Guide lists $210 for a filling and your dentist charges $240, your plan reimburses based on the $210 rate. You would pay the remaining $30 yourself.

What to Watch For:

Ask your dentist whether their fees align with your province’s current guide. Fee guides change annually, and some insurers take several months to update their reimbursement tables. When receiving treatment outside your home province, confirm which guide your plan uses for reimbursement.