Quick answer
The Canadian Dental Association (CDA) has released its first full report card on the Canadian Dental Care Plan — and it’s a mixed review. The CDA gives the CDCP full marks for patient choice and care experience, but makes more than 30 recommendations to fix gaps in cost coverage, treatment approvals, and oral health data. The bottom line for patients: the plan is working for millions, but you should still confirm costs before treatment, because coverage doesn’t always mean free.
What happened
On October 6, 2026, the CDA unveiled From Coverage to Care: An Evidence-Informed Assessment of the Canadian Dental Care Plan at a breakfast event on Parliament Hill attended by parliamentarians and oral health leaders. It’s the first comprehensive assessment of the program, measured against recommendations the CDA made back in 2023. The report draws on surveys of 3,000 Canadians, more than 1,000 dentists, and 1,000 employers, plus Health Canada program statistics.
CDA president Dr. Kirk Preston called the CDCP “one of the most significant investments in the oral health of Canadians in our country’s history” — while cautioning that coverage hasn’t consistently translated into accessible, affordable care for everyone.
The scorecard: what got full marks
The CDA rated 19 measures as of June 2026. Five earned the top rating of “achieved”:
- Patient choice — you can see the dentist you want
- Care experience — 88% of CDCP patients reported a positive experience
- Eligibility rules — keeping the plan for people without private coverage
- Claims systems — using established billing infrastructure
- Consultation and collaboration with the dental profession
Two more measures were rated “mostly achieved.” And the headline numbers are strong: about 7.5 million Canadians had enrolled as of August 31, with more than 4.8 million receiving care. The share of Canadians with no dental insurance fell from 35% to 25%, and 57% of patients said their oral health improved.
Where the plan falls short
Three measures were rated “not achieved,” and nine showed only “limited progress.” The gaps that matter most to patients:
1. Out-of-pocket costs
37% of CDCP patients still report financial barriers. The CDA says program fees fall below the actual cost of delivering care, leaving patients to cover the difference. Worse, 59% of patients expected their care to be completely free — leaving dental offices to explain coverage limits chairside. Practical takeaway: always ask for a written estimate before treatment and confirm what the CDCP will pay versus what you’ll owe.
2. Treatment approvals
Half of complete preauthorization requests are denied, and only 17% of dentists say most of the care they recommend is covered. Coverage caps, co-payments, and preauthorization hurdles all shape what treatment patients actually get. The CDA wants clearer criteria, faster turnarounds, and published reasons for denials.
3. Workforce shortages
The report cites 7,200 vacancies among dental hygienists and assistants, limiting how many patients offices can take on — especially in rural and remote communities. Administrative burden and a reduced $250-million Oral Health Access Fund add to the strain.
4. Missing data
There’s no long-term strategy for using CDCP data to measure health outcomes, and researchers have limited access. Without good data, it’s hard to know whether the plan is reaching the people who need it most — about half of eligible respondents were already visiting a dentist regularly before the program began.
The 30+ recommendations in three buckets
- Patient care: align coverage with actual oral health needs; explain covered services and potential costs clearly before treatment.
- Program design: align fees with the cost of delivering care; cut preauthorization and paperwork barriers; keep the CDCP complementing — not replacing — private coverage.
- Oral health strategy: independently evaluate whether the program reaches underserved Canadians; strengthen the dental workforce; restore national oral health data collection.
The CDA names reducing preauthorization barriers, clearing up patient confusion about costs, and tackling workforce shortages as the most urgent priorities.
Dental hygienists want more prevention covered
The Canadian Dental Hygienists Association welcomed the report and pushed for broader preventive coverage. In its January 2026 survey, nearly 80% of hygienists reported increased patient access through the CDCP — and almost half said many of their CDCP patients had gone more than five years without oral health care. The CDHA wants fewer limits on scaling and root planing, separate recognition of hygienists’ exams, and more personalized prevention counselling.
What this means for you
- Confirm costs in writing before any treatment — the CDCP doesn’t cover everything, and 59% of patients were surprised by bills.
- Ask about preauthorization for anything beyond basic exams, cleanings, and fillings — half of requests are denied, so know where you stand first.
- Book early — with thousands of unfilled hygienist and assistant positions, popular offices have wait lists.
- New to the plan? Start with our Canadian Dental Care Plan guides on dentalcareplancanada.ca — eligibility, covered services, and how to apply — before your first visit.
Source: Canadian Dental Association, “From Coverage to Care: An Evidence-Informed Assessment of the Canadian Dental Care Plan,” released October 6, 2026; program statistics via Health Canada as of August 31, 2026, as reported by Oral Health Group.
Disclaimer: This article summarizes a third-party report for general information only. Program rules can change — confirm your coverage with the CDCP, Sun Life, or your oral health provider before booking treatment.
