Orthodontic treatment, commonly known as braces, involves the correction of misaligned teeth and jaws to improve both function and aesthetics. This process resolves issues like overbites, underbites, and crowded teeth, often requiring a treatment period of one to three years. The total cost is substantial, frequently ranging into the thousands of dollars, making coverage options a primary concern for Canadian families. Determining if this expense is covered can be complex, as the Canadian healthcare system operates under federal guidelines but is administered provincially.
The Public Healthcare Stance on Orthodontics
In Canada, the public health system, often called Medicare, does not generally cover routine dental or orthodontic services. This exclusion stems from the Canada Health Act, which focuses on medically necessary services performed in hospitals and by physicians. Routine dental care, including most orthodontic procedures, is categorized separately, meaning they fall outside the standard scope of public health insurance across the provinces.
Provincial health insurance plans, such as the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP), do not fund the cost of braces. The public system typically only covers dental procedures when they are performed in a hospital setting and deemed medically necessary due to an accident or severe medical condition. Even when treatment is recommended for significant misalignment, the public system will not cover the cost for the vast majority of patients. The federal government’s new Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) will begin covering limited orthodontic services in 2025, but this is restricted to severe medical cases based on strict criteria, not routine treatment.
Provincial Programs for Low-Income Families
While general public coverage is absent, provinces offer targeted programs designed to assist low-income households, particularly for children. Programs like Healthy Smiles Ontario (HSO) provide free preventive, routine, and emergency dental care for eligible youth aged 17 and under. However, these programs typically focus on basic dental needs such as cleanings, fillings, and extractions, and specifically exclude standard orthodontic treatment.
Exceptions exist, often tied to severe maxillo-facial deformities that impact a child’s ability to eat or speak correctly. In provinces like British Columbia, children receiving income or disability assistance may be eligible for orthodontic services, but only if the case involves a severe deformity that meets specific medical criteria. These specialized programs are strictly income-tested and require a pre-approval process to confirm the medical necessity of the treatment. Non-profit initiatives like Smiles4Canada also partner with volunteer orthodontists to provide treatment to deserving young Canadians from low-income families, requiring only a small administrative fee.
Understanding Private and Employer Dental Plans
For most Canadians, the primary source of financial assistance for orthodontic treatment is private insurance, typically accessed through an employer-sponsored benefit plan. These plans include a specific category for orthodontic coverage that is separate from basic and major restorative dental coverage. The coverage provided is rarely 100% and comes with significant financial limitations.
Private plans commonly reimburse a percentage of the orthodontic expense, often between 50% and 80%, meaning the patient is responsible for a substantial co-payment. This coverage is almost always subject to a lifetime maximum benefit—a total dollar amount the plan will pay out over the course of a person’s life. These lifetime maximums are typically modest compared to the total treatment cost, frequently falling in the range of $1,500 to $5,000 per person. Many plans also impose age restrictions, limiting coverage only to children under the age of 18 or 19.
Typical Cost Ranges for Treatment
The total price for orthodontic treatment in Canada varies widely based on the complexity of the case, the duration, and the type of appliance used. For traditional metal braces, the average total cost generally ranges from $3,000 to $7,000. More aesthetically conscious options, such as ceramic braces, usually cost between $4,000 and $8,000.
Clear aligners, like Invisalign, can cost anywhere from $4,000 up to $10,000, depending on the number of aligners required and the treatment length. Geographic location also plays a role, with costs generally being higher in major metropolitan areas. To manage this significant expense, most orthodontic practices offer in-house payment plans. These plans allow patients to spread the total cost over the treatment period, typically 12 to 36 months, after any insurance maximums have been applied.