CDA's CDCP Report: Cost Confusion, Denials and Staff Gaps

Dek: The Canadian Dental Association’s first full assessment of the Canadian Dental Care Plan finds high patient satisfaction alongside gaps in affordability, approvals and workforce.

The Canadian Dental Association (CDA) released the first comprehensive assessment of the Canadian Dental Care Plan on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, finding that the program has brought millions of Canadians into dental care but is still held back by cost confusion, a high preauthorization denial rate and shortages of dental staff. The report, titled “From Coverage to Care,” makes more than 30 recommendations, and the federal health minister said she would work with the association on them.

Key facts

Report: “From Coverage to Care: An Evidence-informed Assessment of the Canadian Dental Care Plan,” released by the CDA on October 6, 2026.
Enrolment: 6.5 million people enrolled in 2025-26, and 3.9 million of them received care. For 2026-27, 4.7 million are enrolled so far.
Cost barriers: 37 per cent of patients who received care reported financial barriers.
Approvals: about half of complete preauthorization requests are denied.
Workforce: an estimated 7,200 vacancies for hygienists and assistants.
Provider support: more than 90 per cent of dentists participate and 70 per cent support the plan.

What the report found

The assessment draws on patient and dentist research, consultations with provincial and territorial dental associations, and an analysis of available CDCP and oral health data, according to the CDA’s own summary published on September 25. CTV News reported the main findings on the day of release.

The positive results are substantial. Among patients who accessed care, 88 per cent reported a positive experience and 57 per cent said their oral health had improved. The share of Canadians reporting no dental coverage fell from 35 per cent to 25 per cent. After early resistance, more than 90 per cent of dentists now participate, and 70 per cent say they support the program.

The gaps are just as clear. Of those who received care, 37 per cent reported financial barriers. The report links this to CDCP fees being set below the actual cost of care, which leaves part of the bill with patients. It also found that 59 per cent of patients expected care to be completely free, leaving dental offices to explain coverage appointment by appointment.

On approvals, the CDA reports that 50 per cent of complete preauthorization requests are denied, and that only 17 per cent of dentists say most of the care they recommend has been covered. The report concludes that patients face gaps in coverage for needed treatment.

The workforce picture compounds the problem. The report notes lingering administrative burdens and about 7,200 vacancies for hygienists and assistants.

The numbers behind enrolment

The enrolment data adds context. The federal government began accepting claims for seniors in May 2024 and extended eligibility to Canadians of all ages a year later. Federal statistics show 7.5 million people enrolled since launch. But CTV News notes that the breakdown by year tells a more complicated story.

Period	Enrolled	Received care or had a claim approved
2025-26	6.5 million	3.9 million received care
2026-27 (so far)	4.7 million	Just over 900,000 with an approved claim
Since launch	7.5 million enrolled	4.8 million with an approved claim

When the program was announced, the government estimated that up to nine million Canadians could eventually use it. Eligibility requires Canadian residency, no access to dental insurance, an adjusted family net income below $90,000 and a filed tax return for the previous year.

Why it matters for clinics

This is analysis rather than reporting, but several practical implications follow from the findings.

Preauthorization quality is a revenue issue. If half of complete requests are denied, a clinic with a careful submission process has a real advantage. Our guide to CDCP preauthorization sets out the documents the plan asks for. The report does not say clinic error causes the denials, but incomplete files are the easiest to deny.

The patient conversation is part of the service. When most patients expect free care, an unclear estimate becomes a complaint or a lost patient. Written estimates that separate the plan’s portion from the patient’s portion are now part of good practice. Our guide to CDCP claims and billing covers the co-payment tiers.

Staffing is the constraint. Even a clinic that wants to take more CDCP patients may be unable to staff another chair. That affects hiring, wages and, eventually, what a practice is worth to a buyer.

Fee gaps shape practice economics. If the plan pays below the cost of care, a high share of CDCP patients can pressure margins. Owners should track their payer mix and understand what each service earns under the plan.

What the CDA is asking for

The association’s more than 30 recommendations fall into three groups.

Patient care. Align the coverage available with patients’ needs and state clearly, before the patient is in the chair, which services are covered.
Program design. Make CDCP fees reflect the real cost of care, keep public coverage complementary to existing plans, and ease preauthorization and administrative barriers.
A national oral health strategy. Review the program and its effectiveness, strengthen the workforce, including by protecting dental student training, and improve oral health data.

What dentists said

CDA president Dr. Kirk Preston said the association is trying to convey the concerns of patients and dentists to MPs, and that overall the program has been quite successful but needs improvement. In the report’s foreword, he said coverage only helps a patient when a dental team is available to deliver the care, and he pointed to staffing pressure in regions like his own in New Brunswick.

Ottawa dentist Dr. Isha Moza told CTV News she is seeing many new patients who have never been to a dentist, which she called amazing, while noting that the workforce shortage predates the plan and that the extra administrative load makes it worse.

The government’s response

The federal health minister’s office was asked whether the government plans to act on the recommendations. A spokesperson for Health Minister Marjorie Michel said Canadians are saving an average of $1,000 a year on dental costs and that there is more work to do. Michel later thanked the CDA, said she would work with the association on the recommendations, and acknowledged that the program is not perfect and is being improved based on feedback.

The response does not commit to specific changes, such as higher fees or revised preauthorization criteria. Clinics should treat any adjustment as unannounced until Health Canada publishes it.

Context: a program still settling

The CDCP has changed repeatedly since launch. In July 2024 the government let providers bill claim by claim, which lifted participation. In October 2025, Health Canada said an income-calculation error had affected some members’ eligibility and reminded providers to validate coverage at each visit. Annual dental benefit grids are revised, and the 2026 grids took effect on April 1. Each change has affected what clinics must do at the front desk.

What happens next

Watch for federal follow-up. Health Canada may respond through updates to the Dental Benefits Guide or the benefit grids. Check the guide before assuming any rule has changed.
Plan for a busy renewal and enrolment cycle. Enrolment for 2026-27 stands at 4.7 million so far, and clinics should expect patients to ask about eligibility.
Review your own data. Count your CDCP share of patients, preauthorization approval rate and the time staff spend on administration.
Update your patient scripts so that the plan’s limits and co-payment tiers are explained consistently.

Sources

CTV News (Rachel Aiello), October 6, 2026; Canadian Dental Association summary, September 25, 2026; Health Canada statement, October 21, 2025. Figures are as reported on October 6-7, 2026 and may change.