Does OHIP Cover the Dentist in Ontario? (2026 Guide)
Does your OHIP card cover a trip to the dentist? For routine dental care in a dental office, no. OHIP pays for medical care, and almost all dentistry sits outside it. The main ways Ontarians actually pay for the dentist are private or work insurance, the federal Canadian Dental Care Plan, and a few income-based provincial programs. I have practised on Annette Street in Bloor West Village for about 25 years, and this is the question I answer at the front desk more than any other. Here is the honest map.
Does OHIP cover going to the dentist?
Think your health card covers a checkup? Most people do, and that surprises them at the front desk. The short answer is no. OHIP does not cover dental services provided in a dentist's office (Government of Ontario). Cleanings, fillings, crowns, root canals, dentures, braces, and cosmetic work are all on you or your insurance.
There is one narrow exception. OHIP covers some dental surgery when it has to be done in a hospital, such as repairing a fractured jaw, removing a tumour or cyst, reconstructive surgery, and medically necessary tooth removal, with prior OHIP approval (Government of Ontario). Ontario also funds a hospital-based oral and maxillofacial program, and even that program does not cover routine cleanings or orthodontics (Government of Ontario). The rule of thumb is simple: if the work happens in a dental chair, OHIP is not paying.
If OHIP does not cover dental, who does?
So where does the money come from? Three places, mostly. Private or employer insurance is the big one. The federal Canadian Dental Care Plan covers many uninsured Canadians. And Ontario runs a handful of programs for kids, low-income seniors, and people on social assistance. Most patients fit one of these, and many do not realize they qualify for help.
| Coverage | What it is | Who it is for | Dental it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| OHIP | Ontario's health plan | All Ontarians | Only in-hospital dental and jaw surgery, not office dentistry |
| Private / work insurance | Employer or personal benefit | Anyone with a plan | Most routine and major dental, up to an annual maximum |
| CDCP | Federal dental plan | Uninsured, family income under $90,000 | Exams, cleanings, fillings, dentures and more, with income-based co-pays |
| Ontario programs | Income-based provincial plans | Low-income kids, seniors, OW and ODSP | Basic and preventive dental |
What government dental programs exist in Ontario?
Did you know Ontario has free dental programs that have nothing to do with OHIP? They are separate, and they are income-based.
Healthy Smiles Ontario covers children and youth 17 and under from lower-income households. It pays for checkups, x-rays, cleanings, fillings, and extractions, though not cosmetic work like whitening (Government of Ontario).
The Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program helps low-income seniors. To qualify you must be 65 or older, an Ontario resident, with annual net income of $25,000 or less if you are single, or combined income of $41,500 or less as a couple, and no other dental coverage (Government of Ontario). It covers exams, cleanings, fillings, extractions, and partial denture work.
People on Ontario Works and ODSP have dental access too. Children are enrolled in Healthy Smiles Ontario automatically, and adults on ODSP and their spouses can receive basic dental benefits (Government of Ontario).
What is the Canadian Dental Care Plan, and do I qualify?
Here is the program changing the picture for a lot of my patients. The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) is federal, not OHIP, and it is for Canadians without private dental insurance. You qualify if you have no dental coverage and your adjusted family net income is under $90,000 (Government of Canada).
Cost depends on income. Families under $70,000 pay no co-pay, the $70,000 to $79,999 band pays 40 percent, and the $80,000 to $89,999 band pays 60 percent of the CDCP fees (Government of Canada). In 2025 the plan opened to adults 18 to 64, so every age group can now apply. For full eligibility and renewal detail, our Canadian Dental Care Plan guide and our how to apply for CDCP in 2026 walkthrough cover it in plain language. One thing to know: CDCP does not cover everything, and cosmetic and some advanced work still come out of pocket.
How does private dental insurance work?
If you have benefits through work, how much do they really pay? Private and employer insurance is how most Canadians pay for the dentist, because public health care leaves routine and major dental out (Canada Life). Plans share the cost with you, and they cap it.
Coverage is usually tiered. Preventive and basic care like exams, cleanings, and fillings is typically covered at a high percentage. Major work like crowns, bridges, and dentures is often covered around half. Orthodontics, if it is included at all, usually carries a separate lifetime maximum and is often limited to children. On top of that sit a deductible, an annual maximum (frequently in the one to two thousand dollar range), and limits on how often you can claim a cleaning. Read your own booklet, because two plans with the same premium can pay very differently. The number that matters most is your annual maximum, since that is the ceiling for the year.
One more wrinkle: most plans pay to a set fee guide, so if your dentist charges above it, you cover the gap. Ask for an itemized estimate and a pre-determination before any big treatment, so your insurer tells you in writing what it will pay.
What if I have no coverage at all?
Plenty of people have none, and you are not alone. In 2022, about 35 percent of Canadians reported having no dental insurance, public or private (Statistics Canada). Cost keeps people away. Roughly 1 in 4 Canadians aged 12 and up avoided dental care because of cost in 2023, and among the uninsured it was about 47 percent, compared with 15 percent of those with insurance (Statistics Canada).
If that is you, start with CDCP eligibility, because it was built for exactly this gap. Some days a patient comes in having put off care for years over money, and we sort out their coverage before we ever pick up an instrument. We will tell you what you qualify for and what a visit will cost.
Getting dental care in Bloor West Village
New to the area, or just unsure about your coverage? Bring your insurance details or your CDCP letter to your first visit, and we will read them with you. We are at 750 Annette Street in Bloor West Village, near the Junction, serving High Park and Baby Point Gates. In 25 years I have learned that the coverage conversation is half the worry. Have no fear: we give you a written estimate before any treatment, so the only surprises are good ones.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does OHIP cover dental checkups and cleanings? No. OHIP does not cover dental services provided in a dentist's office, including checkups, cleanings, fillings, and most other routine care (Government of Ontario). You pay through private insurance, the CDCP, an Ontario program, or out of pocket.
Q: Does OHIP ever cover any dental work? Yes, in narrow cases. OHIP covers some medically necessary dental and jaw surgery performed in a hospital, such as fracture repair, tumour removal, and reconstructive surgery, with prior approval (Government of Ontario). Office-based dentistry is not covered.
Q: What is the difference between OHIP and the CDCP? OHIP is Ontario's health plan, and it excludes office dentistry. The Canadian Dental Care Plan is a separate federal program that helps uninsured Canadians with adjusted family net income under $90,000 pay for dental care (Government of Canada).
Q: Who qualifies for the Canadian Dental Care Plan? Canadian residents with no private dental insurance and an adjusted family net income under $90,000 qualify, with no co-pay under $70,000 and partial co-pays up to $89,999 (Government of Canada). As of 2025, all age groups, including adults 18 to 64, can apply.
Q: How does private dental insurance pay out? Most plans cover preventive and basic care at a high percentage and major work at a lower one, with a deductible and an annual maximum that caps what they pay each year (Canada Life). Check your own plan booklet for the exact percentages.
Q: I have no dental coverage. What are my options? About 35 percent of Canadians had no dental insurance in 2022 (Statistics Canada). Start by checking CDCP eligibility, ask about provincial programs if you are a senior or on social assistance, and ask your dentist for a written estimate and payment options.
Q: Are dental fees in Ontario set by the government? No. Ontario dentists set their own fees, using the Ontario Dental Association Suggested Fee Guide as a reference, so prices vary between offices (Ontario Dental Association). Ask for an itemized estimate so you can compare.
Reviewed by Dr. Abinaash Kaur, B.Sc., DDS (University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry), who has practised general and family dentistry on Annette Street in Bloor West Village for about 25 years. This article is general information about coverage in Ontario, not financial advice or a diagnosis for your specific situation. Bring your coverage details to a consult and we will walk through them with you.
