Nova Scotians will soon have access to a suggested price list for dental procedures.

The Nova Scotia Dental Association says it will post its fee schedule in the interest of transparency, after a CBC News investigation found a wide variation in prices.

A checkup and cleaning by dentists in the Halifax area can cost from $90 to $240, with a filling anywhere between $70 and $400.

"There was a discrepancy between office and office, and it was difficult for patients to know the fee that they were quoted and compare it to the actual fee guide," said Dr. Dean Miller, association president.

"This way they will be able to go directly to this site and compare apples and apples."

The price list will cover about 90 per cent of dental procedures, Miller said.

He said there's nothing wrong with dentists charging above or below the fee guide. The fees depend on factors such as office and equipment costs, and the procedures each dentist chooses, he added.

Dentists may set their own prices, but the health minister is responsible for the quality and safety of dental care in the province.

Chris d'Entremont said he supports the decision to publicize the fee list.

"If you call around, sometimes you can get a better price on it," the minister said. "So what we can urge Nova Scotians to do is to question them on their pricing."

Miller hopes the website is ready by the end of next week.