The CBC article points out that preventive care, such as scaling, is limited: adults receive just one hour annually, while teens receive just 15 minutes. Requests for additional scaling are often rejected, which can be problematic for patients who have not seen a dentist in many years. These limitations are not just administrative; they result in unequal outcomes. CDA is also concerned that some employers may be incentivized to drop their existing dental plans because of the CDCP, particularly for low-income workers who would qualify for the public program. In a worst-case scenario, CDA estimates enrollment could nearly double from 9 million to 17 million people. “We want CDCP to add to Canadians’ care options, not replace what’s already working,” says Dr. Ward. “Without safeguards, we risk overwhelming the program and short-changing everyone.” CDA is calling on the federal government to introduce policies that preserve existing employer-based benefits. One of the core academic requirements in dental education is for students to complete hands-on clinical procedures under supervision. These often include restorative work, prosthodontics, periodontics, and other complex procedures, many of which now fall under the CDCP’s preauthorization requirements. The lengthy and unpredictable delays in getting preauthorization for treatments (like crowns or partial dentures) make it difficult for these dental students to treat eligible patients in a timely manner. Academic programs run on tight semester timelines; if approvals take weeks or months, patients may not return for their treatments. Many patients who once went to teaching clinics at universities, especially those aged 55–64 who became eligible under the CDCP this year, are opting to seek treatment in private dental practices. This has led to a decline in patient flow at dental schools, particularly among adults needing more complex care. That reduction impacts students’ ability to gain exposure to a broad spectrum of clinical cases, which is essential for developing diagnostic and procedural proficiency. This poses a long-term risk to education quality. “If we don’t invest now in the people who deliver care, we risk trading short-term access for long-term decline,” says Dr. Ward. CDA continues to work constructively with the federal government to improve the CDCP. We are encouraged by recent steps to streamline the preauthorization process and reduce technical issues. But more must be done to protect the oral health care system that makes providing high-quality care to people in Canada possible. “It’s been beneficial to a lot of people who wouldn’t have been able to have their mouths taken care of,” Dr. Ward notes. “But programs of this scale must evolve, or risk failing the very people they aim to help.” See: bit.ly/4kIw3AZ 10 | 2025 | Issue 4
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