Scribe’s Musings: New Canadian Dental Care Plan is making a difference

Article content

The federal government recently launched the nationwide Canadian Dental Care Plan, described as: “Accessible. Affordable. Essential.”

Article content

The purpose of this sweeping program is to provide dental care to thousands of Canadians who are not, and have likely never been, able to afford even the most basic of dental care treatments. The plan does not cover all of the costs of dental treatment, but reduces the cost from 30 to 85 per cent, making the services much more affordable.

To start, the program targeted seniors, ages 65 and older, and then children younger than 18 and Canadians living with disabilities. Eventually, the plan will cover all Canadians to some extent, depending on income levels. Eligibility is based on annual tax returns, and eligible people will receive a notice in the mail. Applications must be completed online. If you or someone you know does not have internet access, they can go to the local library — book computer time ahead — and apply there.

Article content

Lack of proper and regular dental care can lead to a plethora of health issues, not only in the form of untreated cavities but also extractions, basic cleaning and gum care. Dental hygiene is an important cornerstone in an individual’s overall health care. Tooth decay, gingivitis, toothaches, chipped and impacted teeth, as well as myriad conditions, are treated in the plan. Many services are covered — from routine hygiene care through to extractions, root canals, and eventually, some crowns and braces. Orthodontics may eventually covered as well. Common orthodontic treatments include braces, clear aligners, and retainers.

Also provided will be instructions on proper tooth care, brushing and flossing, as well as rinsing and avoiding certain beverages or foods to which your teeth are susceptible. The patient will have to pay for a portion of their treatment, which must be paid up front before the treatment is undertaken. Patients who have private dental care will not be covered by the national program, nor will those who try to drop their private dental coverage to access the plan. It is intended only for those who truly cannot afford their own tooth and mouth care. There may be a waiting period, and recipients must have a household income less than $90,000.

Article content

I visited Rodney Dental to learn more about the program, and chatted with Joe, Pam and Dr. Lindsay. To date, about 100 new patients have joined their practices in Rodney, Glencoe and Aylmer under the new program to access care they weren’t able to afford before the plan was introduced.

“It’s also helped hundreds more of our patients be able to budget for their dental care more comfortably, or to accept treatment they were delaying or postponing due to the cost. Outside of our practices, we estimate that there are thousands of individuals in the areas we service that will qualify for the program. We are accepting new patients and are able to perform almost all covered procedures in house.”

While there were some missteps and delays in the full rollout of the plan, mostly owing to dentists concerned about a possible overload of paperwork on their part during implementation, more than 2.3-million Canadians have now been approved to receive coverage, with more than 75 per cent of dental-care providers participating.

Article content

In an Aug. 7 update, Health Minister Mark Holland reported that nearly 450,000 Canadians had already received care in this large social program.Implementation spiked after the government announced that citizens can now register directly with Sun Life, the provider chosen to operate the program. Providers can now submit claims and be reimbursed within 48 hours electronically, or by a monthly cheque. As of Aug. 7, 19,000 health providers are participating. Holland stated the government eventually wishes to have all Canadians who qualify registered and taking advantage of the access to benefits that so many thousands of Canadians could not previously afford.

In my view, the Canadian Dental Care Plan is a much-needed and long overdue development in our health-care system, and I eagerly await an increased awareness and action on the part of our federal and provincial governments to properly fund initiatives such as this one.

Funding for most rural programs is often terribly lacking, resulting in a negative impact on our caregivers and the excellent programs which they strive to deliver. The ultimate result of this government “frugality” can be worsening mental health, obesity, suicide, and serious illness that worsen the quality of life for all of us. The Canadian Dental Care Plan is a rare and welcome check mark in the Win column! Thanks to our dental carers for making the necessary adjustments to improve the access to and quality of care available to so many of our neighbours in need.

Article content