News Release

October 6, 2026 — Ottawa, ON: Today, the Canadian Dental Association (CDA) released From Coverage to Care, its first comprehensive assessment of the federal government’s Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) since the program launched. The paper was unveiled at a breakfast event on Parliament Hill, bringing together parliamentarians and oral health leaders from across the country.

In just two years, the CDCP has earned the confidence of patients, the public and dental professionals. Most patients report a positive experience and more affordable care, most Canadians support the program and the vast majority of dentists are participating. This is a generational achievement worth protecting, and CDA has proposed over 30 recommendations to further improve access to care and oral health outcomes for patients.

“The CDCP represents one of the most significant investments in the oral health of Canadians in our country’s history,” says Dr. Kirk Preston, president of CDA. “For many patients, care is finally within reach, and there is growing recognition that oral health is inseparable from overall health. That progress is real, and it is worth protecting. Our goal with this paper is to help make a strong program work even better for the patients who depend on it and the dental teams who provide their care.”

The paper builds on CDA’s 2023 paper, Bridging the Financial Gap in Dental Care, and draws on a broad evidence base, including national surveys of patients, dentists and employers, consultations with provincial and territorial dental associations and available program data to assess progress on CDA’s previous recommendations.

What is working

• An unprecedented expansion in access to care. Close to 4 million patients received care in 2025-26, and the share of Canadians who report having no dental insurance has fallen from 35% to 25% since the program began.
• Most patients report a positive experience, with 88% rating it positively and 75% saying their care is more affordable.
• More than 90% of dentists now participate in the program, and most Canadians and dentists support it.

Where it can be strengthened for patients

The paper identifies several areas for improvement related to patient access, such as:

• Some patients still face financial barriers even with CDCP support.
• Preauthorization denials and coverage limitations can keep patients from the care their dentist recommends.
• Patient confusion about coverage, together with workforce and data gaps, puts these gains to access to care at risk.

Reducing preauthorization barriers, addressing patient confusion and tackling oral health workforce challenges are the most pressing priorities. The paper points to practical steps the federal government can take quickly, such as making dental assistants eligible for federal loan forgiveness and the post-graduation work permit, streamlining the preauthorization process and publishing regular CDCP data.

“A program of this scale is bound to have areas that need refining, and what we have put forward is a constructive, evidence-informed set of recommendations to strengthen it,” says Dr. Aaron Burry, CEO of CDA. “Strengthening the program means helping ensure patients get the care their dentist recommends, when they need it. These are practical, achievable improvements, and we look forward to working with the federal government to deliver them.”

CDA has long advocated for enhanced access to oral health care for everyone in Canada. Through this policy paper, CDA aims to help ensure the program delivers in the long term for the patients who rely on it and the dental teams who provide care under it.

From Coverage to Care is available at: https://www.cda-adc.ca/policy-and-advocacy/government-relations/policy-papers/from-coverage-to-care

About the Canadian Dental Association
The Canadian Dental Association (CDA) serves as the national voice for dentistry in Canada, dedicated to improving the oral health of Canadians and supporting dental professionals. CDA, a non-regulatory authority, is a federally incorporated not-for-profit organization whose corporate members are Canada’s provincial and territorial dental associations (PTDAs). CDA represents over 21,000 practicing dentists from coast to coast to coast.

Media Contact:
Jeff D’Andrea
Canadian Dental Association
613-614-4798
media@cda-adc.ca