The Canadian Dental Care Plan starts next month — but many dentists are reluctant to participate – Atin Ito News
April 8 2024
Health Canada says thousands of oral health care providers have signed up to start providing care to 1.6 million seniors this May — a number dental associations say is a low turnout. Some seniors are now learning their dentists won’t accept their claims under the new program.
Thousands out of 30,500 oral health-care professionals have signed up to provide care to 1.6 million seniors.
Health Canada would not provide CBC News with a figure for how many oral health care providers have registered for the CDCP since applications opened on March 11. The department will only say “thousands” have signed on.
According to their national associations, there are approximately 26,500 dentists, 1,700 independent hygienists and 2,400 denturists practising in Canada — 30,500 in total.
“I’m hearing that the sign-up is slow,” said Dr. Heather Carr, president of the Canadian Dental Association. “I do not think it’s as high as we would hope in order for this plan to be successful.”
