Dental Insurance in New Brunswick
New Brunswick has no provincial program that covers routine dental for the general population, so for most residents the choice is between the federal Canadian Dental Care Plan, if eligible, and a private dental plan. New Brunswick Medicare stops at doctors and hospitals, leaving the dentist’s chair to you unless you carry a dental plan. See the New Brunswick Medicare guide for the public side, and Canada Life, Manulife and Sun Life for the private plans sold to New Brunswick residents through Aeva.
Dental coverage context in New Brunswick
New Brunswick dentists follow the New Brunswick Dental Society fee guide. Individual dental plans reimburse a percentage of covered charges up to an annual maximum, so the value of a plan in the province depends on how often you go and whether you need major restorative work.
A large share of New Brunswick employment is with small businesses and in seasonal industries where group dental benefits are uncommon, which makes individual plans from Canada Life, Manulife and Sun Life a practical option for many households. Alberta Blue Cross does not sell in the province.
How dental coverage is structured in New Brunswick
Coverage is layered: preventive care pays the most, major work less and later, orthodontics last. What matters is each plan's annual maximum and waiting period, shown in the figures.
Top dental plans for New Brunswick residents
Ranked by dental-coverage strength from the plans sold in New Brunswick.
Sun Life
Sun Life - Personal Health Insurance - Enhanced (With Dental)
80% basic · 50% major · ortho to $1,500.
View plan detailsManulife
Manulife - FollowMe - Premiere
80% basic · 80% major · ortho included.
View plan detailsCanada Life
Canada Life - Freedom to Choose - Guaranteed Elite
85% basic · 50% major.
View plan detailsBrowse the full plans directory or run the dental coverage calculator.
Public dental coverage in New Brunswick
New Brunswick does not fund routine adult dental through Medicare, and the province’s dental support is limited to narrow programs tied to social assistance rather than a broad public dental plan. For most New Brunswickers the practical public option is the federal Canadian Dental Care Plan rather than a provincial scheme.
The Canadian Dental Care Plan now covers eligible New Brunswick residents under the $90,000 family-income line with no private coverage, across all ages. Private dental insurance is most useful above the income threshold or where residents want a higher annual maximum and orthodontic coverage the CDCP may not match.
See your New Brunswick price in 3 minutes
Your New Brunswick premium turns on age and who is on the policy, so a quote is the only real number. It takes a few minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Does New Brunswick Medicare cover dental?
No. New Brunswick Medicare covers medically necessary physician and hospital services but not routine dental care such as exams, cleanings, fillings or braces for most adults. Some hospital-based dental surgery for medical reasons can be covered, but everyday dentistry is paid out of pocket in New Brunswick unless you carry private dental insurance or qualify for the federal Canadian Dental Care Plan.
Does New Brunswick have a public dental program?
New Brunswick does not run a broad public dental plan for the general population. Its dental support is limited to narrow programs tied to social assistance, so most residents without workplace coverage rely on the federal Canadian Dental Care Plan if they are eligible, or on a private dental plan if their income is above the CDCP threshold or they want a higher annual maximum and orthodontic coverage.
Which carriers sell dental insurance in New Brunswick?
New Brunswick residents can buy individual dental plans from Canada Life, Manulife and Sun Life. Alberta Blue Cross does not sell here, so the comparison is among those three national insurers on reimbursement, annual maximum and orthodontics.
Are there waiting periods on New Brunswick dental plans?
Usually yes. Individual dental plans available in New Brunswick typically apply a waiting period of about three months for basic and preventive care, around a year for major restorative work such as crowns and dentures, and roughly two years before orthodontic coverage begins. If you expect major dental work soon, the length of these waiting periods should weigh heavily in which plan you choose.
How does the Canadian Dental Care Plan help New Brunswickers?
The Canadian Dental Care Plan now covers eligible New Brunswick residents under the $90,000 family-income line with no private coverage, across all ages. For qualifying residents it can cover most routine care. Those above the income threshold, or who want a higher annual maximum, orthodontic coverage or coverage that does not depend on income eligibility, generally still buy a private dental plan from a national carrier.