National dental-care plan hits $1M patients, coverage to expand

Health Minister Mark Holland said on Thursday that more than a million Canadians received care in the first six months of the Canadian Dental Care Plan.

Launched in mid-December of 2023, the program was introduced to help make the cost of dental care more affordable for eligible residents.

Offering some perspective on the number of people helped so far, Holland says the program saves a person an average of $730 and “helps them be proud of their smile.”

“It’s a fundamental matter of dignity,” he said.

Nearly three million Canadians have been approved for coverage under the new dental care plan, who already undergo cleanings or oral cancer screenings.

Seniors over 65-years-old, children under 18 years old and adults with a disability tax credit are currently eligible, with more becoming eligible next year. The government intends to further extend eligibility for the program for all Canadians.

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Starting Friday more complex procedures, such as crowns and denture placement, will be covered.

“That means more complicated procedures are gonna be able to be embarked upon and we’ve worked very hard for that to work as seamlessly as the rest of the program,” said Holland.

The program will begin accepting paper claim submissions as well as through online submissions.

Guelph dentist and Ontario Dental Association president Maneesh Jain told CHCH News he hopes preauthorization for more complex dental work is simple and does not get in the way of getting people the care they need.

“We just want to make sure that these wait times are not too long that we’re waiting for approvals,” said Maneesh. “Dentists know what their patients require.”

Reports say that over 89 per cent of oral health providers across the nation are providing some form of care under the plan. Up to nine million Canadians are expected to be covered when the plan is fully implemented.

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