The Canadian Dental Care Plan continues to grow in popularity, with claims continuing to surge. Seniors across Canada have been accessing the plan, whilst eligibility is also due to increase soon. Therefore, more people will soon be receiving help with the cost of oral healthcare. The recent surge in claims has led to positive reaction from many.
The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) opened up for seniors a few weeks ago, and since then, the number of claims have surged, with the plan enjoying significant support [1].
Now, two million seniors have been approved to receive coverage under the CDCP, allowing them to access the dental care that they badly need [1].
Reaching this figure is another milestone for the plan, which is helping a range of people across Canada, and will continue to do so as more people become eligible for the plan.
Background
The CDCP aims to help low- and medium-income families with dental costs. The cost of dental care is a common barrier to receiving oral healthcare in Canada. Therefore, the CDCP aims to change this.
There are currently almost 10,000 oral health providers that offer services under the CDCP in Canada [1]. This number is expected to grow further.
The CDCP remains open for registration. Eligibility criteria applies, although those that are eligible can apply at: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/dental/dental-care-plan/apply.html [2].
Two million claims
As mentioned, two million Canadian seniors have now been approved to receive coverage under the CDCP [1]. Amongst these, more than 90,000 seniors have already received care under the plan.
This has been badly needed for many seniors, with some having avoided the dentist for months, years, or in some cases – even decades.
Some patients will have made a co-payment, along with additional charges, depending on the services they have received under the plan. Meanwhile, other patients will have had their claims paid in full [1].
The exact services that are available under the plan vary from area-to-area, so patients are encouraged to contact providers before seeking treatment.
When will eligibility increase further?
In exciting news, eligibility for the CDCP is set to increase in June. Applications will open for adults with a valid disability tax credit, as well as children aged under 18 [1].
This will be very important, as children need strong oral health. By getting suitable oral healthcare in their formative years, they will be able to get into strong habits that can benefit them throughout their life.
Moreover, those with disabilities also are worthy recipients, as research shows that people with disabilities are more at risk of poor oral health [3].
As the months go by, eligibility will increase further. Eventually, everyone who fits the relevant criteria will be able to receive care under the CDCP, irrespective of age, gender, or health.
Reactions
There has been a very positive reaction to this milestone moment. Many politicians and health professionals have recorded their pleasure.
The Honourable Mark Holland, Canada’s Minister of Health, has said that today “marks new milestones in oral healthcare” [1]. Holland has said that as the plan and the number of participating providers grows, “more Canadians will benefit from improved oral and overall health” [1].
The reaction to the phased approach has also been praised by the Honourable Terry Beech – Minister of Citizens’ Services – who has thanked Canadians for “embracing” this approach [1].
The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos has said that this milestone is another step towards the “objective of helping Canadians access affordable oral health” [1].
As for those that have actually been recipients of the CDCP, there has been very positive feedback. Therefore, many people are receiving desperately needed care, which is aiding their oral health and wider overall health.
Thinking points…
1) As mentioned earlier, cost can be a factor in stopping some people receiving dental care. Therefore, it is useful to know that here at our Calgary dental clinic Savanna Dental, our fees are set in line with the Alberta Dental Fee Guide, which ensures that our prices remain fair and competitive. We’d love to see you at Savanna Dental soon, you can read more about us here: www.savannadental.ca!
2) Children are due to be the next benefactors of the CDCP. With this in mind, if you have children, take this as a chance to remind them of the importance of oral health. But you shouldn’t delay taking children to a dentist, as the longer you wait, the more likely that problems will arise. You could book an appointment together! We recommend that you book an appointment now!
What we offer at Savanna Dental
Savanna Dental is a dental clinic based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. We provide our patients with a range of treatment options and advice, with the aim of improving oral health and boosting overall wellbeing!
We advise our patients to attend our Calgary-based dental clinic twice a year for a dental check-up. If any problems are detected, we have many treatments available. For instance, these include cavity fillings and root canals. To try and prevent problems, it is important to brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss regularly.
Here at Savanna Dental, we also have some cosmetic treatments available! These include dental implants, tooth whitening and Invisalign™! Our patients find that these treatments have a positive impact on their appearance, confidence and self-esteem.
In addition, the fees of our services at our Calgary dental clinic Savanna Dental are set in line with the Alberta Dental Fee Guide.
We would love you to visit our Savanna Dental clinic in Calgary! You can find out more about us by visiting our website https://savannadentalclinic.ca/!
References
[1] Health Canada. (2024). Two million Canadian seniors approved for the Canadian Dental Care Plan. Available: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/news/2024/05/two-million-canadian-seniors-approved-for-the-canadian-dental-care-plan.html. Last accessed: 1st June 2024.
[2] Government of Canada. (2024). Canadian Dental Care Plan. Available: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/dental/dental-care-plan/apply.html. Last accessed: 1st June 2024.
[3] Wilson, N. J., Lin, Z., Villarosa, A., Lewis, P., Philip P., Sumar, B., & George, A. (2019). Countering the poor oral health of people with intellectual and developmental disability: a scoping literature review. BMC Public Health. 19 (1530). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-7863-1.
