Canada’s national dental care program has expanded coverage to millions of people, but patients continue to face affordability and access barriers, according to a new assessment from the Canadian Dental Association.
The CDA’s report, released Tuesday, found that the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) has made progress since its launch but still faces significant challenges, including out-of-pocket costs, gaps in coverage and administrative hurdles.
The federal government began accepting claims for eligible seniors in May 2024 before expanding the program to Canadians of all ages the following year.
Federal figures show that 7.5 million Canadians have enrolled in the program since its launch. During the 2025-26 enrolment period, 6.5 million people were registered and 3.9 million received care. For 2026-27, enrolment has fallen to 4.7 million so far, with just over 900,000 people having an approved claim.
Overall, approximately 4.8 million people have had a claim approved since the program began. The federal government had initially estimated that as many as nine million Canadians could benefit once the program was fully implemented.
The CDA found that affordability remains a concern even among patients who successfully access care. About 37 per cent reported experiencing financial barriers. The association said CDCP reimbursement rates can fall below the actual cost of treatment, leaving patients responsible for part of the bill.
The report also found that half of completed preauthorization requests are denied, while only 17 per cent of dentists surveyed said most of the treatment they recommend is covered for their patients.
The CDCP does not necessarily cover the entire cost of dental treatment. Reimbursement varies according to household income, and some patients are required to pay a portion of their expenses.
Confusion about those rules remains widespread. According to the CDA, 59 per cent of patients expected their dental care to be completely free, leaving dental offices to explain coverage and potential costs.
Despite those concerns, the report highlighted several positive outcomes. Among patients who have accessed the program, 88 per cent reported a positive experience and 57 per cent said their oral health had improved.
The proportion of Canadians reporting that they have no dental coverage has also declined from 35 per cent to 25 per cent since the CDCP was introduced. More than 90 per cent of Canadian dentists now participate in the program, and 70 per cent of dentists surveyed said they support it.
The CDA issued more than 30 recommendations aimed at improving the program. They include making coverage clearer for patients, bringing reimbursement rates closer to the actual cost of dental care, simplifying preauthorization and administrative processes, and addressing shortages in the dental workforce.
The report estimates there are about 7,200 vacancies for dental hygienists and assistants across Canada.
The association is also calling for a broader national oral-health strategy that would evaluate the CDCP’s effectiveness, strengthen workforce capacity and improve oral-health data collection.
The federal government said it welcomes the recommendations and acknowledged that improvements can still be made. Health Minister Marjorie Michel’s office highlighted the program’s positive patient satisfaction figures and said Canadians using the CDCP are saving an average of $1,000 annually on dental costs.
The government said it plans to continue working with the CDA and oral-health providers to improve the program as it develops.
