For CDCP rollout to work for patients, government needs to act urgently, say Ontario’s dentists 

MARCH 22, 2025 – The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) can potentially improve millions of Canadians’ oral health. In order to fulfill the CDCP’s promise, the federal government needs to act urgently to:  

• Protect Canadians’ dental benefits. The risk to the insurance system that provides dental coverage for most Canadians must be addressed. Two-thirds of Canadian residents have third-party dental benefits, primarily through their workplaces. Dentists are concerned that if employers drop this coverage, the cost of the CDCP will increase tremendously and may jeopardize the plan. It also could lead to many people having less access to care.

• Address staff shortages. Like the rest of the country, Ontario has a severe shortage of oral health care staff: dental assistants and dental hygienists. We need all levels of government to work urgently to reduce unnecessary restrictions and increase the number of oral health professionals trained and certified to care for patients. If this is not done, Canadians could experience increased wait times for care. There is not an adequate workforce to care for the sudden influx of patients with CDCP coverage under the government’s announced timeline.  

• Clear backlogs and barriers to treatment. Administrative problems with the CDCP that delay treatment and frustrate patients and providers must be resolved before expanding the program. Significant backlogs and barriers exist to getting treatment approval, leaving patients suffering too long and taking up valuable staff time that should be used caring for patients. Adding millions of patients to the plan in a short period will add to this administrative burden and lengthen wait times for care.

The Ontario Dental Association advocates for improved access to oral health care. Dentists have previously recommended that the rollout be phased in so that the CDCP actually works for patients who need care, and providers who are expected to deliver on the government’s promises. Ontario’s dentists want the best for all our patients, and we urge all levels of government to act quickly to resolve these issues so that patients can get the care they need.