felt able to take on the additional patients CDCP would bring. Practices planning to expand were the most confident in accommodating more patients, while those experiencing longer wait times or planning to scale back were less likely to accept new ones. Promise and Pressure Points The JCDA authors see early signs of success: rapid uptake by patients, growing awareness, and strong provider participation. Yet several challenges remain. Awareness of the CDCP remains incomplete, especially among those most in need. The income tax filing requirement may exclude 10–12% of Canadians—many living in poverty or in marginalized groups—who would benefit most but face barriers such as language, awareness, or lack of support. Without adequate claims data, the program’s impact on types of care, oral health outcomes, and frequency of visits is unknown, and patient experiences around affordability, stigma, and satisfaction have yet to be measured. As well, dental training programs face risks as patients find care closer to home, reducing visits to university clinics and limiting student experience. Policy Implications The JCDA authors recommend targeted awareness campaigns, program navigation support for applicants, and close monitoring of billing practices. Once available, claims data should be analyzed for patterns in utilization, outcomes, and equity impacts. Cost-effectiveness studies will help determine whether the public investment delivers lasting value. The authors also stress the need to sustain training opportunities for dental students through grants and patient recruitment, and to track variations in access between urban and rural areas. Looking Ahead In less than a year, the CDCP has scaled up both enrollment and provider participation at a high pace. Yet, without complete data, the fundamental question—whether it will reduce oral health inequities—remains unanswered. plan offers three tiers of coverage (additional fees may be charged by providers): z Full coverage (0% copayment): family incomes under $70,000 z 40% copayment: family income between $70,000–$79,999 z 60% copayment: family income between $80,000–$89,999 Coverage spans diagnostics, hygiene, restorative care, endodontics, and dentures, although certain procedures require preauthorization. CDCP’s payment rates are lower than many provincial or territorial dental association fee guides. In British Columbia, the example cited in the JCDA article, CDCP rates cover about 70% of the suggested fee, which may lead to “balance billing” where patients pay the difference. The plan is administered federally by Sun Life and delivered through the private sector. To support training for future providers, Health Canada has introduced the Oral Health Access Fund, which offers grants to dental schools to address competency gaps in the knowledge and skills of students and adapt to provide students with sufficient hands-on training opportunities. The Data So Far The JCDA article’s analysis draws on two main sources: Health Canada’s CDCP Summative Data, which tracks approved applicants, those receiving care, and participating providers; and Statistics Canada’s Survey of Oral Health Care Providers (SOHCP), conducted in mid-2024 with around 5,100 randomly selected dental professionals. The study focuses on descriptive data— totals, percentages, and averages—since claims data and patient perspectives are not yet available. Between August 31, 2024, and May 23, 2025, the program grew substantially: z Approved applications: from 2.3 million to 4.075 million (up 77.2%) z Applicants receiving care: from 450,000 to over 2 million (up 344.6%) z Participating providers: from 19,150 to 25,668 (up 34.0%) By late May 2025, Ontario (792,689 patients) and Quebec (627,707) had the highest patient volumes, reflecting their relative population size in the country. The SOHCP survey found over 60% of dental practices Reference 1. Brondani MA, Jessani A, Faria-e-Silva AL, Ardenghi DM. Initial findings from the Canadian Dental Care Plan: Policy in Action. J Can Dent Assoc 2025;91:p15. The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or official policies of the Canadian Dental Association. 10 | 2025 | Issue 5 News and Events
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