Do You Need Supplemental Dental Insurance in Canada?

You might need supplemental dental insurance in Canada if your current coverage doesn’t include major treatments, orthodontics, or specialized care. While provincial health care programs and workplace benefits can help cover some basic services, many plans have annual caps or exclude higher-cost procedures. Without additional coverage, even a single crown or root canal can leave you paying hundreds, even thousands, out of pocket.

Supplemental dental insurance can help fill those gaps, offering high coverage limits, broader service categories, and more predictable dental costs each year if you need dental care. Here’s how to decide whether it’s worth adding this extra protection to your life.

What is supplemental dental insurance?

Supplemental dental insurance is additional coverage that helps pay for dental services not fully covered by your primary health insurance plan. It’s a second plan that helps you secure more comprehensive coverage to fill gaps left by group insurance, the CDCP, or provincial benefits—especially if those plans have annual limits, waiting periods, or exclusions.

This type of dental care plan can help reduce out-of-pocket costs for services such as major restorative treatments, orthodontic treatment, periodontal care, and other procedures that can become expensive over time. It may also provide higher annual maximums or broader reimbursement categories, offering more predictable dental expenses throughout the year.

Supplemental dental insurance can be useful if you or a family member anticipates ongoing dental needs or if your existing plan doesn’t cover treatments for certain medical conditions.

What does supplemental dental insurance cover?

Supplemental dental insurance typically extends your health coverage beyond basic preventative care. While exact benefits vary by providers and plan type, these policies often include:

• Major restorative work: Crowns, bridges, inlays/onlays, oral surgery, and dentures
• Endodontic and periodontal services: Treatments for root canals, gum disease, and deep cleanings
• Orthodontics: Braces, clear aligners, and retainers (usually for children, but there’s sometimes adult coverage, as well)
• Prosthodontics: Devices that support or even replace damaged teeth, like dentures, implants
• Higher annual maximums: Increased reimbursement limits compared to provincial plans
• Expanded coverage categories: Specialist visits and surgical dental procedures

Many supplemental plans also reimburse a portion of common out-of-pocket costs such as fillings, extractions, and X-rays, especially if your primary plan caps these services at a lower rate.

Exclusions and limitations

Like all insurance products, supplemental dental plans do come with some restrictions. Common limitations are as follows:

• Waiting periods: You may need to hold the policy for several months before using coverage for major procedures.
• Annual maximums: Once you reach your yearly limit, any remaining costs are paid out of pocket.
• Frequency limits: There are caps on how often you can receive certain services (like one major restorative tooth procedure per tooth every 36 months).
• Orthodontic age restrictions: Some plans only cover braces and retainers for children.
• Cosmetic exclusions: Whitening and other aesthetic treatments aren’t normally covered.
• Pre-existing conditions: Some plans won’t cover work on teeth with prior issues, so it’s better to get coverage before you need it.

Review any existing coverage you have carefully and compare it against what you could have covered with supplemental coverage before you jump in, so you don’t pay for overlapping benefits.

How supplemental dental insurance works

Supplemental dental insurance is designed to work alongside your existing dental coverage, whether that’s through an employer, private plan, or a government program. Instead of replacing your current benefits outright, it adds another layer of reimbursement to help lower out-of-pocket expenses when you visit a dentist. In the insurance world, this is called the coordination of benefits.

Your primary plan is billed first. After it pays its portion, your supplemental plan can cover any additional costs, subject to eligibility and up to the plan’s limits and maximums. This coordination helps reduce what you have to pay directly, especially for costly procedures.

Every dental claim is processed in order:

1. Primary coverage: Your main plan pays first. This is usually your employer plan or any government dental benefits you have.
2. Secondary coverage: Your supplemental plan reviews what your primary plan didn’t cover and may reimburse part of the remaining balance.

It’s important to note that the two plans won’t stack past 100% of the dental fee, and maximums apply to each plan type, so you may still be left with some of the bill. 

Together, primary and supplemental coverage can help make dental costs lighter on the wallet, especially if you’re anticipating treatments that exceed basic plan limits.

When you might need supplemental dental insurance

Supplemental dental insurance isn’t necessary for everyone. Still, it may be worth considering if you anticipate higher-than-average dental costs or need treatments that aren’t fully covered by your primary plan.

Here are some scenarios of when supplemental coverage may (or may not) be a good idea.

Scenario 1: Group benefits with low dental coverage

Alex has group plan for dental benefits through work, but his plan only reimburses up to $750 per year. After a cleaning, an exam, and one filling, most of his allowance is gone. When Alex’s dentist recommends a crown, the remaining out-of-pocket costs are beyond his means.

Supplemental coverage that extends his annual maximums and provides higher reimbursement percentages could reduce his costs for such a major restorative treatment.

Is supplemental dental insurance needed? Yes, secondary coverage would be ideal for him.

Scenario 2: Coverage that excludes orthodontics

Fatima and Michael have two children. Their employer plan covers basic services, but it excludes orthodontics, and their oldest child may need braces soon. They know the cost will be thousands of dollars out of pocket.

A supplementary dental plan that includes orthodontic care for children could help offset their son’s treatment costs, which are rarely covered by federal or provincial plans, and usually only partially covered by workplace ones.

Is supplemental dental insurance needed? A plan that covers orthodontics would be helpful.

Scenario 3: Good dental coverage with routine care needs

Dan visits the dentist twice a year for check-ups and cleanings, and rarely has dental issues. His primary dental insurance fully covers preventive care and even part of minor fillings. Because he doesn’t need (or expect to need) extensive or specialized dental work, a supplemental plan could add extra cost without much benefit for him right now.

Is supplemental dental insurance needed? Probably not, but he can re-evaluate if his needs change.
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The bottom line

When your dental needs exceed what a basic plan typically covers, supplemental dental insurance is there to save the day. Reviewing your expected treatments and your primary plan’s limits can help you decide whether adding extra coverage is worth your while.

How much does supplemental dental insurance cost?

The cost of dental insurance in Canada varies based on your age, province, and the level of coverage you choose. Generally, premiums will increase as you get older due to higher expected dental needs.

Here’s an example from PolicyMe of what you can expect to pay for dental coverage based on your age:

Family plans, expanded orthodontic benefits, and higher annual maximums typically come with higher premiums. Other factors that impact the cost include:

• Coverage level
• Annual or lifetime maximums
• Deductibles and co-insurance
• Dental history (if a medical history is taken)

Coverage needs vary widely, so it’s a good idea to compare quotes, review what your primary plan already covers, and consider any upcoming dental work when deciding whether supplemental insurance is cost-effective for you.

How to choose the right supplemental dental insurance plan

The best supplemental dental insurance plan for you depends on your current coverage, expected dental needs, and budget. Before choosing a policy, it’s helpful to compare how different plans reimburse services and whether they fill the gaps left by your primary insurance.

Here’s what to consider:

1. What does your primary plan already cover?
2. What are your expected dental needs?
3. Compare annual maximums and reimbursement percentages. Can you afford to cover the rest?
4. Are you able to wait through a waiting period if your plan requires it, without delaying care and potentially worsening any dental issues?
5. Do you think you’ll need specialist coverage?

Choosing the right supplemental dental insurance ultimately comes down to matching the plan’s features to your anticipated dental needs. Review your primary coverage and compare maximums, percentages, and limitations to find the most cost-effective fit and get the care you need.

FAQ: Supplemental dental insurance

Prices listed on this page are based on information available as of October 2025. The prices shown are for general reference only and may vary based on factors like your age, location, and product selection.