Health Canada Provides $4 Million Boost to Support Dental Schools After CDCP Implementation
Health Canada has announced a funding package of over $4 million for eight of the country’s ten dental faculties to strengthen clinical training and maintain access to care for patients, following challenges brought by the rollout of the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP). The plan, while expanding dental coverage to millions of Canadians, has led to a noticeable drop in patient visits to university teaching clinics, prompting federal intervention to ensure that dental education programs remain adequately supported.
The funding is distributed through the Oral Health Access Fund (OHAF) — a federal initiative designed to complement the CDCP by improving access to oral health services, particularly for vulnerable and underserved populations. OHAF also supports programs that enhance dental workforce training, community outreach, and preventive oral health education. Established under the 2023 federal budget, the fund allocates $250 million over three years beginning in 2025–26, followed by $75 million annually to sustain its operations.
Among the recipients, the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry at the University of Manitoba confirmed it received approximately $336,000 in funding. The college plans to use this support to offer free dental care for CDCP-eligible and uninsured patients at its teaching clinics. Under this initiative, qualifying patients will receive 100% coverage for their treatment until March 31, 2026, or until the grant funds are fully used.
According to Health Canada, more than 5.5 million Canadians have now enrolled in the CDCP, and over 3 million have already accessed dental services through the program. The department estimates that patients have saved an average of $800 per person so far, reflecting the federal government’s ongoing commitment to improving national access to oral healthcare while maintaining quality training opportunities for dental students.
Original Article:
“Health Canada grants $4 M to eight dental faculties following CDCP rollout.”
Published by OralHealthGroup.com, October 23, 2025.