Dental services
Certain services provided by dentists and denturists are paid by the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec.
For everyone
In hospitals, every insured person is entitled to certain oral surgery services in the event of trauma or an illness. These services are provided free of charge. Related examinations, local or general anesthesia and X-rays are also covered.
Examples of covered services:
- bone graft;
- drainage of an abscess;
- removal of a cyst or tumour;
- reduction of a fracture;
- repair of a laceration;
- repositioning of the jaw;
- treatment of bone inflammation;
- treatment of jaw articulation;
- treatment of salivary glands.
The costs related to tooth and root extractions are not covered by the Régie.
For children under age 10
They receive the following services free of charge (some in dental clinics, others in hospitals and certain services in both places):
- one examination per year;
- emergency examinations;
- X-rays;
- local or general anesthesia;
- amalgam (grey) fillings for the posterior teeth;
- fillings using esthetic materials (white) for the anterior teeth;
- prefabricated crowns;
- sedative dressings, i.e. temporary fillings intended to reduce pain;
- endodontics (including, in their case, root canal treatment, apexification, pulpectomy, pulpotomy and emergency opening of the pulp canal);
- tooth and root extractions;
- the oral surgery services covered for all.
The costs related to cleaning and applying fluoride are not covered by the Régie for children under age 10.
For recipients of last-resort financial assistance and their dependants
The Ministère de l'Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale determines the conditions for entitlement to covered services. For further information, please contact your local employment centre.
Recipients of last-resort financial assistance for at least 12 consecutive months
These persons and their dependants are entitled (in dental clinics or hospitals) to the following services:
- one examination per year;
- emergency examinations;
- X-rays;
- local or general anesthesia;
- amalgam (grey) fillings for the posterior teeth;
- fillings using esthetic materials (white) for the anterior teeth;
- prefabricated crowns;
- sedative dressings, i.e. temporary fillings intended to reduce pain;
- certain root canal treatments, such as pulpectomy, pulpotomy and emergency opening of the pulp canal;
- tooth and root extractions;
- the oral surgery services covered for all (see list of examples)
- root canal and apexification treatments, before age 13;
- cleaning of teeth and teaching hygiene procedures, from age 12;
- application of fluoride, age 12 to 15 inclusive;
- scaling, from age 16.
In emergencies only, the following services may be provided free of charge (in dental clinics or hospitals) to persons who have been recipients of last-resort financial assistance for less than 12 months:
- tooth and root extractions;
- opening of the pulp chamber;
- drainage of an abscess;
- hemorrhage control;
- repair of a laceration;
- reduction of a fracture;
- immobilization of a tooth loosened by trauma;
- re-implantation of a tooth.
Recipients of last-resort financial assistance for at least 24 consecutive months
In addition to the other services, coverage includes one lower dental prosthesis and one upper acrylic dental prosthesis every 8 years. The Régie also pays for:
- one re-coating every 5 years;
- half the cost of replacing lost or damaged dental prostheses;
- replacement of prostheses following surgery.
Written authorization from a local employment centre is required to obtain coverage for the above services. The authorization must then be presented to the dentist or denturist.
The following services are also provided free of charge:
- repair of prostheses;
- addition of a structure.
The cost of removable partial dentures with a metal framework is not covered by the Régie.
Dentists who provide covered services
Several dentists participate in the Health Insurance Plan, i.e. they accept the Health Insurance Card. Insured persons entitled to covered services do not have to pay these dentists for the services received. Instead, the Régie pays the dentists.
Certain dentists, known as non participants, do not participate in the Health Insurance Plan, i.e. they do not accept the Health Insurance Card. These dentists charge their patients. Therefore, the Régie cannot reimburse the cost of the services provided by these non-participating dentists. Nevertheless, they are obliged make their situation known to the persons consulting them.
Procedure to follow
Persons entitled to covered dental services must present their valid Health Insurance Card to receive the services free of charge.
Recipients of last-resort financial assistance and their dependants must also present their personal or family claim slip. In certain cases, for
services provided by a denturist, authorization from a local employment centre is also needed.
Services not covered
Patients must pay the cost of the following services, regardless of their age, situation and the place where the service is provided:
- orthodontics (e.g. installation of braces);
- apicoectomies;
- periodontics, i.e. gum treatments and grafts;
- crowns other than prefabricated;
- bleaching;
- veneers;
- dental implants.