What is the best family dental insurance in 2024?

Family dental insurance in Canada is vital because provincial healthcare typically does not cover dental services comprehensively. While it covers some emergency dental care, routine check-ups, cleanings, and major treatments are often not included.

Dental insurance ensures that your family can maintain good oral health without incurring significant out-of-pocket expenses. Family dental insurance is often more cost-effective and practical than individual policies because it covers multiple family members under a single plan.

So, let's take you through the best family dental insurance plans, what they cover, and their pros, cons, and costs. You can also compare family dental insurance plans from Canada's best providers using our free comparator and get personalized quotes for your family right here in no time.

What is family dental insurance?

Family dental insurance in Canada is an important aspect of overall healthcare. It helps cover the costs associated with dental care for you and your family members. Dental insurance plans in Canada can be obtained through private insurance providers or may be included in some employee benefits packages.

Here are some key details about family dental insurance in Canada:

• Family dental insurance typically covers you, your spouse, and your dependent children. 
• It's a cost-effective way to ensure your entire family has access to dental care.
• Premiums are less than personal plans.
• It typically covers a range of dental services, including preventive care, basic procedures, and major procedures.
• Orthodontic coverage, such as braces, may or may not be included in your plan.
• Some plans cover orthodontics for children, while others offer it as an optional add-on.
• The extent of coverage can vary between plans.
• Some plans cover a percentage of the cost, while others have fixed maximum limits for each type of service.

The cost of family dental insurance in Canada varies depending on the provider, the level of coverage, and your location. You may pay premiums monthly, quarterly, or annually.

Before making any decision, don't forget to explore other options and compare costs. This will ensure that you get the best deal. If you want to compare dental insurance quotes from leading companies in Canada, you can use our comparator and get 20+ health and dental insurance quotes in minutes.

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How much is family dental insurance in Canada?

The cost of family dental insurance in Canada varies depending on a number of factors, including the province you live in, the age and number of dependents in your family, the type of coverage you choose, and the insurance company you go with.

That said, you can expect to pay around $100-$200 per month for family dental insurance in Canada.

If you need more comprehensive coverage, such as coverage for orthodontics or major dental work, you can expect to pay more.

Here are some cost estimates for the dental insurance plans we discussed above — for a family of 4 in Canada:

Insurance company	Plan name	Monthly cost for family of 4
Sun Life Canada	PHI plans	$100-$200
Green Shield Canada	Basic Comprehensive Major	$120 $150 $200
Group Medical Services (GMS)	Supplemental	$50-$100
Manulife	FlexCare FollowMe	$150 $200

Which factors can influence the cost?

The following factors can influence the cost of family dental insurance in Canada:

1. Province of residence: The cost of dental insurance varies from province to province. This is because the cost of living and the cost of dental care vary from province to province.
2. Age: It increases with age. This is because older people are more likely to need dental care.
3. Number of dependents: Increases with the number of dependents in your family. This is because you are paying to insure more people.
4. Type of coverage: The cost goes up with the level of coverage you choose. For example, a plan that covers orthodontics will be more expensive than a plan that does not.

The cost also varies from insurance company to insurance company. It is important to compare quotes from multiple insurance companies before you choose a plan.

Other factors include:

• Health history: If you or your family members have a history of dental problems, you may pay more for dental insurance.
• Occupation: If you work in a high-risk occupation, you may pay more for dental insurance.
• Tobacco use: If you or your family members use tobacco, you may pay more for dental insurance.

You can also ask about discounts that may be available, such as discounts for families with multiple children or discounts for employers who offer group dental insurance plans.

To get the best possible deal on family dental insurance, it is important to compare quotes from multiple insurance companies. You can use our comparator to compare the best health and dental plans and get free dental insurance quotes in minutes.

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What are the best family dental insurance plans in Canada? 

Sun Life Canada family dental insurance

Depending on your Sun Life Personal Health Insurance (PHI) plan — whether it's the Basic, Standard or Enhanced — you have access to various dental coverage options.

Here's a breakdown of the offerings for each plan:

PHI Basic Plan: Sun Life’s most affordable plan

• Covers preventative dental care
• 60% reimbursement for preventative dental care
• $500 annual maximum
• Recall visits every 9 months

Standard Plan: Sun Life’s most popular choice

• Enhanced coverage for preventative dental care
• 70% reimbursement for preventative dental care
• $750 annual maximum
• Recall visits every 9 months

PHI Enhanced Plan: Sun Life’s comprehensive offering

• Extensive coverage for preventive dental care, restorative dental care, and orthodontics
• 80% reimbursement for preventative dental care
• $750 annual maximum for preventative care
• Recall visits every 9 months
• 50% reimbursement for restorative dental care, with a $500 annual maximum
• 60% reimbursement for orthodontics, with a $1,500 lifetime maximum

The specifics of your coverage may vary based on the plan you choose — review the details of each plan to select the one that best suits your dental care needs.

GreenShield Canada’s Group Insurance

GSC offers health plans that incorporate dental insurance.

• In their most basic form, these plans encompass coverage for accidental dental damage and a portion of regular check-ups.
• For the more extensive plans, they extend their coverage to encompass major dental reconstructions and surgical procedures.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the dental treatments covered by various GSC health insurance plans:

Plan	Dental coverage
Prism Continuum®	Basic: Preventative cleaning and polishing, routine exam, x-ray, filling, extractions, fluoride treatments, pit and fissure sealants, general anesthetics Coverage: 80% Comprehensive Basic: Periodontal treatment, endodontics, denture cleaning, repairs, rebasing, relining Coverage: 80% throughout Major Services: Dentures (full/partial), standard crowns, standard bridges Coverage: 50% starting in 3rd benefit year
PrismSpectra®	Basic: Preventative cleaning and polishing, routine exam, x-ray, filling, extractions, fluoride treatments, pit and fissure sealants, general anesthetics Coverage: 80% Comprehensive Basic: Periodontal treatment, endodontics, denture cleaning, repairs, rebasing, relining Coverage: 60% in the first 12 months, 70% in the next 12 months, 80% thereafter Major Services: Dentures (full/partial), standard crowns, standard bridges Coverage: 50% starting in the 3rd benefit year
Prism Precision®	Basic: Preventative cleaning and polishing, routine exams, x-ray, filling, extractions, fluoride treatments, pit and fissure sealants, general anesthetics. Coverage: 70% Comprehensive Basic: Periodontal treatment, endodontics, denture cleaning, repairs, rebasing, relining. Coverage: 60% in the first 12 months, 70% in the next 12 months, 80% thereafter Major Services: Dentures (full/partial), standard crowns, standard bridges. Coverage: 50% starting in the 3rd benefit year

You can use our comparator below to get personalized dental insurance quotes from GSC and other leading companies that offer dental insurance in Canada. Just fill in some basic details and get dental insurance quotes in minutes.

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GMS dental insurance

GMS is a popular option for individuals and families in Canada. The company offers a variety of supplemental dental insurance plans to choose from, so you can find a plan that fits your needs and budget.

GMS dental insurance plans typically cover the following services:

• Preventive care (cleanings, checkups, x-rays)
• Basic services (fillings, root canals, extractions)
• Major services (crowns, bridges, dentures)
• Orthodontics

Here is what a supplemental dental insurance plan from GMS offers:

Year	Basic service	Major services	Up to combined reimbursement
Year 1	75%		$500
Year 2	80%	50%	$750
Year 3	80%	50%	$1,000

Like many dental insurance plans, GMS dental insurance may have coverage limits and waiting periods for certain services — review the policy details to understand these limitations.

Manulife health and dental insurance

Manulife's FlexCare and FollowMe plans are two popular options for family dental insurance in Canada. Both plans offer a variety of coverage options, so you can choose a plan that fits your needs and budget.

FlexCare dental plans offer a variety of coverage options for families, including:

• Preventive care (cleanings, checkups, x-rays) at 100%
• Basic services (fillings, root canals, extractions) at 80%
• Major services (crowns, bridges, dentures) at 50%
• Orthodontics at 50% (up to a lifetime maximum of $2,500)

FlexCare dental plans also offer a variety of optional coverages, such as:

• Accidental dental coverage
• Periodontics
• Endodontics
• Prescription drugs
• Vision care
• Travel insurance

FollowMe dental plans are designed for people who are between jobs or who have lost their employee health coverage. They offer the same coverage as FlexCare plans, but with a few key differences:

• FollowMe plans have no medical underwriting, so you can be approved for coverage regardless of your health history.
• FollowMe plans have no waiting period for preventive care.
• FollowMe plans offer a special rate for families with three or more children.