News release
December 11, 2024 | Ottawa, Ontario | Government of Canada
One year ago, the Government of Canada launched one of Canada’s largest social programs to date, the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP). Since its launch, the CDCP has improved the lives of millions of Canadians by expanding access to affordable dental care. Today, the Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Health, announced that more than 3 million Canadians have been approved for coverage through the CDCP. Since access to services began in May about six months ago, more than 1.2 million Canadians have already received care.
As we mark this important milestone, Canadians and oral health providers are highlighting how the CDCP is helping patients regain their self-confidence and sense of dignity, and life free from oral health pain. The CDCP is also providing them financial relief, saving eligible Canadians on average $791 by providing coverage for a wide range of oral health care services.
A key factor in the success of this first year has been the dedication of the oral health providers who are offering care to patients across the country. To date, more than 90% (23,567) of active dentists, denturists, dental hygienists and dental specialists in Canada, including those in educational institutions, are caring for patients covered under the CDCP. The Government of Canada is committed to continue to work with providers across the country to ensure the effective implementation of the CDCP.
The CDCP is currently open for seniors aged 65 and above, adults with a valid federal Disability Tax Credit certificate for 2023, and children under the age of 18. Additional details on the application process for all remaining eligible Canadian residents will be communicated in 2025.
For more information, visit Canada.ca/dental.
📊 By Numbers:
You can access the latest data, including provincial and territorial data, on our website at Canada.ca – CDCP Statistics
- More than 3 Million Canadians have been approved for Dental care
- 1.24 Million Canadians have accessed care
- On average, patients have saved $780 thanks to the CDCP!
🦷 Providers Powering Our Success:
- 23.5k Providers Nationwide
- That’s 93% of active oral health providers on board!
✨ Milestones We Hit:
- May: 1M seniors gained access to care, supported by 6,500 providers.
- July: 2.1M approved; 250,000 accessed care. Claim-by-claim billing introduced.
- October: 1M received care, with an 89% provider participation rate.
- November Enhanced services rolled out. Now over 3M approved and 1.2M accessing care!
🗣 Spotlight on Impact:
Real lives are being transformed thanks to the CDCP:
“Thanks to the CDCP, I detected early signs of oral cancer in my patients. Early treatment can save lives and significantly improve health outcomes.”– Dr. Redmond, Gander, NL
“An 80-year-old woman was in tears after being approved. She shared that she hadn’t had dental coverage since she was 11 years old.” – Agent at the SunLife Call Centre
