Half of CDCP-Approved Canadians Still Haven’t Seen a Dentist
Canada’s Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) is facing a significant uptake challenge: nearly half of the 5.2 million people already approved under the program have not yet visited a dentist. Health Minister Marjorie Michel acknowledged this lag, calling the program “a work in progress” when pressed about how many eligible Canadians remain untreated.
The CDCP, which launched in December 2023, aims to expand access to publicly funded dental services for low and middle-income Canadians aged 18–64. While 3.6 million applicants have already been approved for the 2024–25 benefit year, the discrepancy between eligibility and actual usage highlights systemic obstacles. Many approved participants simply have not scheduled or attended appointments, suggesting that coverage alone is not sufficient if logistical or informational barriers remain.
One major challenge has been preauthorization delays. In August, only 41.7% of submitted requests were approved outright. When excluding incomplete applications, that rate improved to 52.2%, but issues remain: missing radiographs, inadequate treatment planning, and failure to meet clinical criteria frequently cause denials. Interestingly, most dental services covered under the CDCP do not require preauthorization — yet in provinces like Alberta, about 70% of claims are being rejected, even when they have been preauthorized, causing confusion and frustration among dentists and patients.
“Balance billing” is another point of tension. This practice — where dentists charge patients the difference between what CDCP reimburses and their usual fees — is under close scrutiny. The federal government indicates it is monitoring how often and why balance billing occurs, pledging to collaborate with dental providers to address cost discrepancies. Financial transparency and clarity on co-payments and eligibility thresholds remain important areas for refinement.
The rollout disparity between approval and actual care underscores a fundamental insight: coverage does not guarantee access. Barriers such as geography, clinic participation, patient awareness, administrative delays, and provider reimbursement all play critical roles. Minister Michel stressed that much work lies ahead. She emphasized that the government is committed to improving the system over time, recruiting more providers, and refining administrative processes to ensure that the CDCP lives up to its promise of equitable dental access for Canadians.
Original Article
Minister says CDCP ‘a work in progress’ as half of 5.2M approved patients haven’t seen a dentist — Oral Health Group, October 2, 2025.