Dental costs can feel confusing. Fees vary between dental offices, and every insurance plan works a little differently. This guide explains what the Alberta dental fee guide is, how insurance plans use it and how to estimate your share before treatment.
What the Alberta dental fee guide is
Alberta does not set dental fees, and there is no fee schedule set by the province. Each dentist sets their own fees for the services they provide.
Each year, the Alberta Dental Association publishes a suggested fee guide for general dentists. It lists suggested fees for common procedures, from exams and cleanings to fillings, crowns and root canals, and gives patients and dentists a shared reference point. The 2026 guide applies from January 1 to December 31, 2026.
The guide is a reference, not a required price list, so the fee for a procedure can be higher or lower than the guide amount. The Alberta Dental Association publishes an abbreviated version for the public on its Understanding Dental Fees page.
How insurance plans use the fee guide
Many insurance plans use a fee guide as the basis for how much they pay for each procedure. Your plan pays its percentage of that amount, up to your annual maximum. If a fee is higher than the amount your plan uses, you pay the difference, even when the plan says it covers a procedure at 80 or 100 percent.
Plans can also differ in which year’s fee guide they use. This is why two people with the same treatment and different plans can have very different out-of-pocket costs. Your plan booklet or your insurer can tell you how your plan works out its share.
Understanding your dental insurance
Many workplace dental plans in Alberta follow a similar structure. When you read your plan, look for:
Coverage levels
Plans usually cover preventive care such as exams and cleanings at a higher percentage, and major work such as crowns and bridges at a lower percentage.
Annual maximum
The cap on what your plan will pay in a year. Once it is reached, you pay the rest.
Frequency limits
Many plans limit how often they cover certain services, such as one exam every six or nine months, or a set number of hygiene units per year.
Waiting periods and exclusions
Some procedures, especially major or cosmetic work, may not be covered, or only after you have been on the plan for a while.
Orthodontic coverage
Often separate, with its own lifetime maximum.
Ask for a predetermination
Before larger treatment, ask your dental office to send a predetermination to your insurer. The insurer replies with how much it will pay, so you know your share before you commit. It usually takes a few days to a couple of weeks.
The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)
The CDCP is a federal program for Canadian residents who do not have access to dental insurance. Vigée Dental does not accept the CDCP. If you are enrolled, the Government of Canada website lists how to find a participating dental office.
Provincial programs in Alberta
Alberta also offers dental support through some provincial programs for eligible low-income families, seniors and people receiving certain benefits. If you think you may qualify, check the Government of Alberta website or ask your caseworker.
Questions to ask your dental office
- Do you accept my insurance plan?
- Do you bill my insurer directly, or do I pay and claim it back?
- Can I have a written estimate before treatment?
- Can you send a predetermination for this treatment?
- What payment or financing options do you offer?
Insurance questions at Vigée Dental
Vigée Dental is a fee-for-service practice: you pay the practice directly, and our team helps you submit claims so your plan can reimburse you. Before treatment, you can ask for a written estimate, and for larger treatment our team can send a predetermination to your insurer. See payment and financing, contact us with questions about your plan, or book online.
Frequently asked questions
Why did my insurance not cover the full amount?
Plans usually pay a percentage of a fee guide amount, subject to your annual maximum and frequency limits. If the practice’s fee is higher than the amount your plan uses, or you have reached a limit, you pay the difference.
Is there a dental fee guide in Alberta?
Yes. The Alberta Dental Association publishes a suggested fee guide each year. Alberta does not set dental fees, so each dentist sets their own, and many insurers use a fee guide to decide what they reimburse.
Is the fee guide the price I will pay?
Not necessarily. The guide lists suggested fees, and each dentist sets their own fees, which can be higher or lower than the guide. Ask for a written estimate before treatment so you know your share.
Does Vigée Dental bill my insurance directly?
No. We are a fee-for-service practice. You pay the practice, and our team helps you get reimbursed by your insurance plan.
How do I know how much I will pay?
Ask for a written estimate, and for larger treatment, a predetermination from your insurer.