Le dentiste au Québec — peu couvert par la RAMQ, prévoyez un budget.
1. What RAMQ covers (very little)
RAMQ covers little:
- Children under 10 — exam, X-rays, fillings, simple extractions. Cleaning, scaling and fluoride application are NOT covered, even for children
- Last-resort social assistance recipients — expanded access
- Adults in general — only hospital-based emergencies
- Everything else — at your expense or via private insurance
RAMQ also covers certain specific acts — for example some oral surgeries at a hospital, care for people on last-resort social assistance for at least 12 consecutive months, and dentures after 24 months. The rules are detailed and change: don't assume, check the RAMQ site or ask the clinic.
2. The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)
Rolled out in stages since 2023, the CDCP has been open to all ages since 2025 and covers households with:
- Family net income < 90,000 $ per year
- No access to private dental insurance (including employer, union, student)
- Reimbursed share: 100 % under 70,000 $, 60 % between 70 and 80,000 $, 40 % between 80 and 90,000 $
- Enrolment via the Government of Canada website
3. Typical costs without insurance
Typical costs without insurance:
- Exam + cleaning — 150 $ to 250 $
- Filling — 200 $ to 400 $
- Root canal — 800 $ to 1,500 $
- Crown — 1,000 $ to 1,800 $
- Simple extraction — 150 $ to 300 $
4. Reduced-cost options
If you have no insurance, reduced-cost options exist:
- University dental clinics — the dental faculties of Université de Montréal and McGill treat patients with students supervised by licensed dentists. Care usually costs 30–60 % less. Université de Montréal offers an emergency service by appointment during the academic year (514 343-6750); McGill runs community clinics and a free mobile dental clinic for vulnerable people.
- The CLSC may offer some services for children and can steer you; community organizations and the 211 service sometimes know of solidarity clinics or low-income programs.
- Some dentists accept payment plans: ask. And shop around — prices vary a lot between clinics. Ask for a written estimate before any non-urgent treatment.
| Option | Approximate cost | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| University dental clinic | Reduced (30–60 % cheaper) | Everyone |
| Federal Dental Care Plan (CDCP) | Free or near-free | Net income < $90,000 (no private insurance) |
| Social assistance (dental services program) | Free (basic care) | Social assistance recipients |
| Community clinic or CLSC | Variable | Based on local resources |
| Private dental emergency | $100–500+ | Everyone |
5. Compare your coverage options
Here are the main dental coverage options, with their scope, reimbursed share and target audience.
Group insurance offered by employers is almost always the best option. The premium is shared between you and the employer, and coverage often starts from the first month of employment. Ask your HR department for a copy of the insurance certificate at hiring.
| Option | Target audience | Preventive | Major | Annual cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAMQ | Children < 10 | ✅ Covered | ✅ Basic fillings | None |
| RAMQ — adults | Hospital emergencies | ❌ | ❌ | n/a |
| Federal CDCP | Income < 90,000 $, no private | 40-100 % by income | 40-100 % by income | No strict cap |
| Group insurance | Employees (employer) | ~80 % | ~50 % | 1,500-2,000 $ |
| Individual private insurance | Self-employed | Variable | Variable | Variable |
| No coverage at all | Adults not eligible | 0 % | 0 % | You pay everything |
6. Private dental insurance
Typical group insurance covers:
- 80 % of preventive care (exam, cleaning, fillings)
- 50 % of major care (crowns, bridges, dentures)
- Annual maximum: 1,500 $ to 2,000 $
- Adult orthodontics: often excluded
- Child orthodontics: sometimes 50 % up to 1,500-2,500 $ lifetime
7. Finding a dentist
To find a dentist:
- Recommendations from colleagues, friends or neighbours
- Ordre des dentistes du Québec — official online directory
- Geographic proximity — convenient for recurring appointments
- University clinics — Université de Montréal and Université Laval, reduced prices, supervised students
8. Recommended frequency
Recommended frequency:
- Exam + cleaning: every 6 to 12 months
- Routine X-rays: every 2 to 3 years (healthy adults)
- Children: annual follow-up
9. Frequently asked questions
The most-asked questions from newcomers about Quebec dentists: how the CDCP works, what to do in a dental emergency, whether dentists speak English, and what a first visit costs.
Am I eligible for the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)?
Three conditions:
- Family net income < 90,000 $
- No access to private dental insurance (employer, union, student)
- Canadian tax resident with previous-year tax return filed
The reimbursed share: 100 % under 70,000 $, 60 % between 70 and 80,000 $, 40 % between 80 and 90,000 $. Sign up at canada.ca/dental. Having access to employer insurance without using it = not eligible.
What to do in a dental emergency?
Three options:
- Call your usual dentist — emergency slots often available
- Info-Santé at 811 for a triage by a nurse
- Hospital ER for fracture or infection with fever — RAMQ covers these cases
Avoid the regular ER for a simple toothache — you'll wait hours without definitive care.
Do Quebec dentists speak English?
In Montreal, the West Island, the Laurentians and the downtown clinics, most dentists are bilingual.
In Quebec City and the regions, French is the working language and not all are comfortable in English. Ask when booking. Westmount, NDG, Pointe-Claire explicitly advertise English-language service.
How much does a first dentist visit cost?
A first complete visit — exam, 4 to 18 X-rays, full cleaning — costs 200 to 400 $ without insurance.
With group insurance covering 80 % of preventive care, your share drops to 40 to 80 $. Ask for a pre-determination from your insurer — answer in 1-2 weeks.
Are there cheaper options for dental care?
Yes. University dental clinics (Université de Montréal, McGill) offer care by supervised students at significantly reduced rates — longer wait times. CLSCs and community organizations can direct very low-income people to local dental aid. Quebec's social-assistance dental program gives partial coverage to recipients. And university hospitals treat serious dental emergencies regardless of ability to pay.
Are university clinics safe?
Yes. Students treat you, but always under the supervision of licensed dentists and faculty, with the same hygiene and safety standards. The main trade-off is time — appointments are longer because each step is checked. For routine and many emergency needs, it's a solid, affordable choice.
My child has tooth pain — is it covered?
Possibly. RAMQ covers some dental care for children under 10 (exam, X-rays, fillings — but not cleaning), so start by checking eligibility before paying. The CLSC can also guide you. Don't delay care for a child in pain — call your dentist, a university clinic, or 811 for guidance.
What about at night or on weekends?
For pain control, a pharmacist can advise on over-the-counter relief. Call 811 if you're unsure whether it's serious — a swelling that spreads or affects breathing or swallowing is a real emergency for the ER. Otherwise, contact a dental clinic as soon as it opens; some keep emergency slots.
10. See also
Related guides that may be useful:
- Get your RAMQ health insurance card — to understand what is and isn't covered in healthcare.
- Seeing a doctor in Quebec — access to medical care, parallel to the dental system.
- Pharmacies and prescriptions — how the drug insurance plan works, complementary to dental care.
- Emergency help in Quebec — if you're going through a hard stretch.
11. Official sources
For official information:
- Health resource directory — Québec.ca
- The other official sources (RAMQ, CDCP, ODQ, 211) are linked in the text of the relevant sections.
Phone: Info-Santé at 811 for emergency guidance.
Author's Note: Never skip the yearly cleaning. A cavity treated early = 300 $; ignored = 1,500 $ root canal. Prevention is by far the best dental investment in Quebec. If your family income is < 90,000 $ without private insurance, take 30 minutes to check your eligibility for the CDCP — it reimburses up to 100 % of basic care.