News Release

CDA’s “From Coverage to Care” assessment sets out more than 30 recommendations to improve access to oral health care for patients 

October 29, 2026 - Ottawa, ON: The Canadian Dental Association (CDA) acknowledges the report of the Auditor General of Canada on the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), tabled in Parliament today. 

Since the CDCP launched, millions of people in Canada have received oral health care through the program, including many for whom cost had been a barrier to care. 

Earlier this month, CDA released From Coverage to Care, an evidence-informed assessment of the federal government’s program’s first two years. Drawing on the experiences of patients, dentists and employers, it identified where the program is working for patients and where they still face barriers, including financial barriers, preauthorization denials and coverage limits that keep them from recommended care, and confusion about what is covered. The assessment puts forward more than 30 recommendations to improve access to care and oral health outcomes. 

The Auditor General’s report recognizes that the CDCP has made dental care more affordable for many Canadians while identifying areas for improvement. Most issues raised in the report align with findings and recommendations in CDA’s own assessment, including the need to improve the preauthorization processes, strengthen communication with patients and oral health care providers, and enhance the collection and availability of oral health data. Both the Auditor General’s and CDA’s reports underscore the importance of measuring oral health outcomes and evaluating the program’s effectiveness to guide future improvements and ensure it continues to meet patients’ needs over the long term. 

“Oral health is an essential part of overall health, and expanded access to dental care matters to patients across the country,” says Dr. Kirk Preston, President of the Canadian Dental Association. “It is important to make sure a program of this scale delivers for the people it is meant to serve. Our assessment sets out practical recommendations so that patients can get the care their dentist recommends, when they need it. We will continue to engage with the federal government and bring forward evidence to improve the CDCP for patients and for the dentists and dental teams who care for them.” 

CDA has long advocated for enhanced access to oral health care for everyone in Canada. Its focus remains on making sure the CDCP works for the patients who rely on it and the dental teams who provide their care. 

To learn more, read CDA’s From Coverage to Care.  

About the Canadian Dental Association 
The Canadian Dental Association (CDA) is a trusted national voice for dentists and leader working to improve the oral health of all people living in Canada. We promote oral health, support our members, and advance the dental profession. Founded in 1902, CDA has no regulatory role and is a federally incorporated not-for-profit organization whose corporate members are Canada’s provincial and territorial dental associations (PTDAs). We represent over 21,000 practising dentists nationwide and are a trusted brand and source of information about oral health and the dental profession on national and international issues.   

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