Dentists in Alberta have voiced their concern over the number of applications that have been received for the new federal dental benefit in the province. After an initial strong uptake, applications have slowed recently. Therefore, many dentists across Alberta have questioned what is causing this, and have made some suggestions for the future.
The new Canadian Dental Benefit program was launched a few weeks ago following months of planning and anticipation.
Whilst there was a strong uptake to begin with, dentists in Alberta have become concerned at how applications for the benefit have somewhat stalled recently [1].
It is making dentists across Alberta question what is behind this recent lessening of interest, and how this can be turned around.
The Dental Benefit
The Canadian Dental Benefit was launched on 1st December 2022 [2]. It is open to middle and low-income families with a child under the age of 12.
Eligible families can claim up to $650 per qualifying child each year towards dental costs [2]. This is dependent on income.
Those who wish to apply can do so online, accessing: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/child-family-benefits/dental-benefit/how-apply.html. Completing an application is a requirement of the process.
Concern among Alberta’s dentists
As mentioned, the uptake has been lower than expected. But as Dr. Jeffrey Ma of the Friends and Family Dental Health in Calgary dental clinic note, “the response has been a little bit lacklustre” [1].
Ma has suggested that the lacklustre response could be due to a mixture of confusion and lack of awareness [1]. Ma says that it is “a fantastic program”, but that the “awareness just isn’t there yet” [1].
Moreover, Ma believes “people are a little bit confused” [1]. The eligibility requirements have proven to be confusing for some, with many unsure on if they qualify or not.
Ma has suggested that the Government should step in, with the advice that they should “simplify the program and have it extended to cover all children” [1]. This would certainly clear up any confusion.
The Future
Dr. Ma has also said that the program will help to save money in the long run – which is a benefit to not only the public but also the government. However, he has argued that the government should do more.
He cites the example of how he sees families “that really care about their children’s dental health, but their finances don’t necessarily allow it”, meaning that they are unable to afford dental care [1].
At the moment, due to the benefit being related to income, those just over the threshold, and potentially even bigger earners, may be struggling to pay for private dental insurance for their children, in the absence of the benefit.
This adds more weight to the suggestion that the government should make the program available to more people. In fact, Ma has said that this is a group that “sure would benefit from having what this program can offer” [1].
Recommendations
Bruce Yaholinitsky is spokesperson for the Alberta Dental Association. He has recommended that parents set up an account with the Canadian Revenue Agency. Then, after paying up front for the services, they will eventually have money transferred to their account [1].
But Yaholinitsky has warned that “the government will be checking randomly on these patients to make sure they’ve been using it for dental care” [1].
There have been other suggestions too. Calgary dentist Dr. Brad Krusky has called on the government to make changes to the approach of the benefit [1]. For example, Krusky has said that funds should be injected into the existing system, which could benefit a larger number of people, including “kids from families who have a little bit more income than the current level, but are still not able to afford the care” [1].
Krusky has said that while the program is a step in the right direction, preventative care is still important [1]. He says that “I would invest in prevention much more than I would invest billions of dollars that are going into this program” [1].
The National Plan
Eventually, the Canadian National Dental Healthcare plan will be implemented. This is due to take place over a three-year period, with a full rollout in 2025.
This will benefit more people than the current program does, although a strong start has been made. Hopefully, the oral health of Canadian citizens will greatly improve in the next few years as the full benefit of the plan is felt.
Thinking points…
1) The article above notes that the full rollout of the Canadian National Dental Plan will not happen until 2025. It can be tempting to try and wait until then to tackle any outstanding dental issues. But unfortunately, dental problems don’t get better on their own. Therefore, ensure that you make regular visits to your dentist, who can carry out check-ups to review the state of your oral health. We recommend booking an appointment now!
2) As we mentioned earlier, many eligible people are unsure if the dental benefit is relevant to them. We would recommend either speaking to us at our Calgary dental clinic Savanna Dental – as we can offer advice, or visiting the Canadian Revenue Agency’s website. While visiting us, we will also be happy to make you aware of the wide range of services we can provide! We would love to see you soon, visit our homepage for more https://savannadentalclinic.ca!
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 aimed at improving oral health.
It is crucial to brush your teeth at least twice a day and to floss regularly. Moreover, eating healthily and trying to avoid sugary foods and drink is important.
We advise our patients to attend our Calgary-based dental clinic twice a year for a regular dental check-up. When problems are detected, we have many treatments available. For instance, these include cavity fillings and root canals.
Here at Savanna Dental, we also have some cosmetic treatments available! These include dental implants, tooth whitening and Invisalign™! Many people find that these treatments have a positive impact on their appearance, confidence and self-esteem.
In addition, all of our services at our Calgary dental clinic Savanna Dental are 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] Kury de Castillo, C. (2022). Alberta dentists raise concerns about new federal dental benefit. Available: https://globalnews.ca/news/9370178/calgary-dentists-concerns-federal-dental-benefit/. Last accessed: 13th January 2023.
[2] Ontario Dental Association. (2022). Canadian Dental Care Plan. Available: https://www.oda.ca/visiting-the-dentist/government-dental-programs/canadian-dental-care-plan/. Last accessed: 13th January 2023.
