The announcement of the Canadian Federal Government’s National Dental Care Plan was hailed as an exciting and transformative moment for healthcare in Canada. However, various provinces have raised concerns over how existing dental programs will co-exist with the government’s plan. This has resulted in concerns that many Canadians will see a change in their dental care, while costs of the federal plan could also rise significantly.
The National Dental Care Plan has received a rather lukewarm reaction from Canadian provinces, with questions raised over how existing programs can co-exist with the federal government’s plan.
As a result, some provinces are reviewing their own dental plans [1]. Therefore, many Canadians may see a change in the dental care they receive, following the outcome of these reviews.
Background
In December 2023, the Canadian Government finalized the details of the national dental plan [2]. The plan aims to provide financial assistance towards dental care to those from low- and middle-income families.
The plan will be rolled out using a phased approach – with seniors and children among those to first receive access to the plan [1]. The current plan suggests that the full rollout will be complete from 2025.
The plan has been met with excitement from many dentists and dental professionals. Moreover, the plan is expected to have a very positive impact on the oral health of Canadians.
However, one of the main issues with the plan involves the concern regarding the co-existence between current provincial programs and the new plan [1].
Problems of co-existing
Following the announcement of the plan, Health Minister Mark Holland said that the program was intended to “fill the gaps”, rather than replace existing provincial dental programs [1].
However, this has proven to be problematic. Amidst concerns that provincial programs will change their approach, Holland has since said the provinces shouldn’t “shove” dental costs onto the government [1].
For the provinces, they are in a position now where they feel they can change their existing programs in a way that offsets many residents towards the federal government’s plan.
If provincial programs do change, or even entirely shut down, the price of the national dental plan could rise significantly. Already, the cost has risen substantially, with the cost expected to be $4.4billion per year. This is on top of the initial $13billion budget.
Different approaches
One such example comes from the province of Prince Edward Island (PEI). PEI has an existing dental plan, although it provides far more limited provisions compared to those seen in the federal program.
Therefore, in PEI, there is a belief that there will be a change in how dental bills are covered in the province, once the federal program is up and running [1]. For example, the federal plan will be open to far more PEI residents compared to the existing plan.
Furthermore, Alberta is another province that has an existing dental program. This program is aimed at children and seniors. However, as with PEI, the program is not as comprehensive as the federal program. Therefore, this will reduce the need for Alberta to run their own dental program.
Spokesperson Charlotte Taillon has said that Alberta wanted to see the federal government invest in existing programs, rather than start “an entirely new insurance-based plan” [1].
Moreover, Taillon said that Alberta “urged the federal government to work with the provinces and territories” to improve existing coverage [1]. However, this didn’t happen. Instead, the government opted to introduce their own program.
Taillon went on to say that Alberta is “currently reviewing the federal announcement” – suggesting that changes are likely to be made after the review [1].
The province of Nova Scotia is also said to be “currently reviewing the federal dental program details to better understand the impacts it will have on dental programs” within the province [1].
In the province of Ontario, they launched a senior’s dental program in 2019 [1]. A spokesperson for the province has said they aren’t expecting any immediate changes based on the federal plan. However, changes in the future cannot be ruled out.
What will happen next?
Each individual province will have their own decision to make in terms of altering their existing plans. Each province will have their own circumstances to consider, including the size of the population and their needs.
Once reviews have taken place, it is likely that we will see changes in existing provincial programs. Therefore, some people may need to access services in a different way, or some may lose some access altogether.
The federal government is hoping that the provincial programs will remain in place after these reviews. This would help to keep the costs down, and keep existing infrastructure in place. There is no timeline on how long these reviews will take.
The aim of the dental plan was to see a vast improvement in the oral health of Canadians around the nation. But we now run the risk of seeing little improvement due to the problems in co-existence between provincial and federal dental plans.
Thinking points…
1) Many people appear to be planning on waiting for the dental plan to be rolled out before next attending the dentist. However, we strongly recommend that you do not change the timing of your regular dental check-ups, especially as the full rollout of the plan is probably around a year away. Attending a check-up at least twice per year is crucial. Therefore, remember to attend appointments regularly! We recommend that you make an appointment soon!
2) One of the leading reasons for the dental plan is concerns over the cost of dental care in Canada. For many people, cost is a big barrier. However, here at our Calgary-based dental clinic Savanna Dental, our fees are set in line with the Alberta Dental Fee Guide. This means that our prices are fully transparent, competitive and reliable. You can find out more about us on our website Savanna Dental. We would love to see you at our Calgary dental clinic soon!
What we offer at Savanna Dental
Savanna Dental is a Calgary dental clinic that provide its 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] Tasker, J. P. (2023). Provinces are reviewing their own dental care programs as Ottawa announces federal plan. Available: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/provincial-dental-programs-reviewing-1.7059399. Last accessed: 6th January 2024.
[2] Government of Canada. (2023). The Canadian Dental Care Plan. Available: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/news/2023/12/the-canadian-dental-care-plan.html. Last accessed: 6th January 2024.
