Two different "fee guides" — don't mix them up
- Provincial fee guides: each provincial dental association publishes suggested fees. Many dentists price from these.
- CDCP established fees: the plan's own schedule of what it will pay for each covered service, set out in the Sun Life benefit grids and refreshed yearly. These are often lower than provincial guide fees.
Why the gap matters to your wallet
Your coverage tier (100%, 60%, or 40%) applies to the established fee, not to what your dentist actually charges. If the established fee for a filling is $100 and your dentist charges $130, the plan's share is a percentage of $100 — the $30 above the grid is yours, on top of any co-pay. Full example in the co-pay explainer.
Where to see the actual numbers
The official grids are published by Sun Life as the CDCP dental benefits grids (separate grids for general practitioners and specialists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, denturists, and independent dental hygienists, per province and territory). Your dentist works from them daily and can show you the covered amount for any planned service — ask for a written estimate that shows the CDCP portion and your portion.
The one question that saves you money
"Do you bill at the CDCP established fee, or will I owe a difference?" Some practices bill at the grid; some don't. We highlight dentists who do — run the eligibility check and we'll point you to them.