How much does a dental bridge cost in Canada?
This will vary, based on factors like the type and size of dental bridge, any prep work that might be needed beforehand, and your individual dentist’s pricing.
This means that the cost may vary from the high hundreds to thousands of dollars depending on exactly what you’re having done. Having dental insurance or coverage through a workplace plan can help minimize the amount you have to pay out-of-pocket.
What is a dental bridge?
If you’re missing a tooth – or more than 1 in a row – your dentist may recommend you get a dental bridge.
As you might guess, the job of a dental bridge is to “bridge the gap” in your smile.
A dental bridge isn’t just aesthetic: It can also help restore function, like helping you to bite or chew.
Are there different types of dental bridges?
There are a few different kinds of dental bridges. The kind your dentist uses will depend on your situation.
Traditional dental bridge
If you’ve got natural, healthy teeth on either side of your gap, your dentist may recommend this most common kind of dental bridge. It’s created by placing crowns or one or two “abutments” (basically, caps) on the 2 teeth on either side of your missing tooth or teeth. The fake teeth, also called “pontics” are attached to these crowns, filling the gap while the crowns hold them in place.
A “cantilever” bridge is when your dentist secures the bridge at one end to two abutments and then has the replaced tooth “floating” at the other end.
Maryland bridge
If you’re missing a front tooth or teeth, your dentist might recommend this kind of bridge. Instead of crowns, they’ll place metal flaps on your healthy teeth on either side of the gap to hold your fake tooth or teeth in place.
Implant supported bridge
This is very similar to a traditional dental bridge, but your dentist is anchoring the fake tooth or teeth to an implant rather than your natural teeth. They’ll usually do this if you’re missing 3 or more teeth in a row.
Would health insurance cover a dental bridge in Canada?
Certain Canadians may be eligible for some coverage under federal or provincial dental programs.
If you have workplace benefits or personal health insurance that include Major Dental coverage, it may cover some of the cost.
For example, you can choose to add-on Major Dental coverage, which includes dental bridges, to many plans from Freedom to Choose health and dental insurance.
This will help cover some of the cost of a dental bridge for a tooth or teeth that are removed while your policy is in force. If you have this coverage, you are reimbursed for 50% of the cost, up to $750 per person per calendar year.
For example, let’s say that an approved dental bridge costs $1,000. If you have Major Dental coverage as part of your dental plan, and you haven’t made any other claims on it this calendar year, your policy will cover $500 based on the current dental fee guide. You’ll only pay $500 out-of-pocket in this case.
Pro tip: If you’re going to have a dental bridge, make sure you speak to your insurance company beforehand so they can give you an estimate of how much you’ll be covered so you’re not surprised when you go to make your claim. There may also be additional limitations on your policy.
This example is for illustrative purposes only, and you should check your specific policy for details of your coverage.