JCDA Article Summary Initial Findings from the Canadian Dental Care Plan The following is a summary of a JCDA article published in July 2025. JCDA is Canada’s only peerreviewed dental journal—an open access publication that publishes original research articles indexed in Medline, Journal Citation Reports and Science Citation Index. Read the full article at: jcda.ca/p15 When the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) began its phased rollout with a commitment of roughly $13 billion from the federal government, the program promised to expand access to oral health care for millions of people in Canada. A recent JCDA article1 takes a critical look at the program’s first nine months, exploring patient eligibility and uptake based on filed income tax returns; provider enrollment and participation; the capacity of dental practices to meet increased demand; and the limitations of existing data, highlighting the need for ongoing evaluation as the program expands and evolves. The Oral Health Context The CDCP was launched into a landscape where oral disease remains one of the world’s most common health burdens. Caries and periodontitis affect billions globally, and, in Canada, 96% of adults have experienced caries, while more than 1 in 5 live with moderate to severe periodontitis. Poor oral health in Canada causes significant productivity deficits: each year, about 2.2 million school days and 4 million workdays are lost to oral disease. Low-income Canadians, those without insurance, people living with disabilities, and historically underserved communities are far more likely to go without care (often due to cost) and many lack a regular dental provider. Financial barriers are only part of the story: stigma, fear, discrimination, and lack of awareness all contribute to unmet needs. The Program Eligibility for the CDCP hinges on filing a Canadian income tax return—a requirement that may itself exclude some of the people the plan aims to reach. The Poor oral health in Canada causes significant productivity deficits: each year, about 2.2 million school days and 4 million workdays are lost to oral disease. JCDA article authors (L. to r.): Dr. Mario Brondani, Dr. Abbas Jessani, Dr. André Luis Faria-e-Silva, Dr. Diego Ardenghi 9 Issue 5 | 2025 |
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTE5MTI=