We don’t want to look this gift horse in the mouth.
Canada’s dental care plan has been a huge benefit to our country’s residents. More than 3.4 million Canadians were approved to be part of the plan in its first year, and 1.7 million have received care.
As of June 2025, all Canadian residents who don’t have access to dental insurance and whose family makes less than $90,000 a year will be able to apply for coverage.
The plan significantly lowers dental care costs for those using it, reducing bills that would be thousands upon thousands of dollars to a more manageable number. Services covered include cleanings, fillings and dentures, as well as other more complex levels of care. Many who have taken advantage of the program so far had years of dental care to catch up on. Many had been enduring oral pain for decades, unable to afford even the most basic services.
Of course, dental problems affect overall health significantly, which is one of the reasons why it was always absurd that there was no coverage for it through our universal health care. Rotting teeth, infections, and chronic pain can’t help but affect the whole body. Having teeth in need of care can also affect people’s mental health — think of the person who’s too self-conscious to smile, or who has trouble speaking clearly.
So overall, the implementation of the dental care system is a huge accomplishment that has improved Canadians’ lives to an almost immeasurable degree.
But it’s not perfect. At least one cavity, so to speak, has seen a chunk of seniors left out and still struggling to afford care.
We brought you the story of former Telus employee Evan Begbie and his wife Patty. The Cowichan Bay retirees do not have dental care, as Evan opted out of the coverage offered through his pension plan, as the premiums he would be charged were too expensive. But because he technically does have access to coverage for the two of them, they cannot qualify for the federal plan — no matter how out of reach financially the coverage offered is.
They are far from the only ones. Many others have made the same choice, unable to afford regular premiums in their retirement years.
This is not the way it should be. The whole point of the plan is to make sure that all Canadians can afford dental care. Just because some have access to an unaffordable option doesn’t mean they should be disqualified. In that sense, all Canadians can get private insurance. It’s just not a realistic solution for many.
Right now, people just have to hope that their employer doesn’t offer dental as part of their pension plan.
The system needs a quick filling. Let’s get on it before it becomes a root canal.
link