July 15, 2025

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P.E.I. dentists raise concerns about federal dental plan

P.E.I. dentists raise concerns about federal dental plan

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As the federal government continues its rollout of dental coverage to Canadians of all ages, the Dental Association of P.E.I. say many of the same problems that plagued the program early on remain.

Matt Gilchrist, president of the association, said administrative delays, patient confusion and questions about the program’s long-term sustainability continue to be major concerns, even though more Island dentists are now participating.

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“Administrative challenges would definitely be high on the list of something that might discourage a dentist from participating in the plan or wanting to have a lot more of their patient base on the plan,” Gilchrist said.

“Providers are getting a little bit frustrated with delays and issues associated with the approval and administrative processes of the plan. So, adding more patients to an office could make things worse and consume more resources for dental offices.”

Participation growing

The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) was first introduced in December 2023 and gradually expanded to include all Canadians with household incomes under $90,000 who do not have private dental insurance. As of June 2025, more than 3.4 million Canadians have been approved for the plan, and about half of them,1.7 million, have already received dental care.

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In P.E.I., 14,904 residents are enrolled, with 6,649 having access to services.

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Last year, the Dental Association of P.E.I. said 90 per cent of dentists surveyed did not plan to participate in the program, citing administrative burdens and concerns about the sign-up process. But Gilchrist said participation has since grown around 85 per cent of dentists in the province have now submitted claims under the plan, according to Health Canada data.

“So, what’s changed with the CDCP is that you no longer have to actually sign up. You just, just simply submit a claim that allows you to participate in the plan. It kind of made it less of a sign up, more of a little bit of how we deal with conventional insurances.”

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But Gilchrist said staff continue to spend hours a week helping patients navigate the system and the program, especially seniors who may not be tech-savvy enough to register on their own.

Approval delays

Joanne Campbell, area manager for several dental clinics on the Island, said approval delays are one of the most frustrating parts of the process, especially for patients who haven’t seen a dentist in years and now need major work such as dentures or crowns.

“We’re waiting months before we can get an approval, and we can’t move forward without that approval, because if we get too far in the process and then find out that’s not covered, and the patient can’t pay for it.”

She said clinics have had to resend paperwork for cases submitted in the fall that never received a response. In the meantime, clinic staff are left to absorb patients’ frustration.

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“In the patient’s eyes, it doesn’t look like that, because we’re the face of it. So, the frustration comes out on us because it’s taking so long, and we can’t move forward without the approval.”

While the program has improved since its implementation and paperwork can now be submitted electronically, both Campbell and Gilchrist said approval times remain too long, and patient expectations often don’t match what the plan actually covers.

“What we see is patients that are new on this plan, they’ll present to an office and with the thought that all their dental needs will be taken care of, including major treatment like implants and crowns, and they think it’ll be kind of fully covered,” Gilchrist said.

“So, we’re kind of left to sort of explain the shortcomings of the plan to the patient. And when patients find out that particular treatments aren’t covered, of course, their frustration is taken out on the dental office.”

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Overwhelmed clinics

He noted that only half of those enrolled in the CDCP nationwide have received care so far, and that the program may have underestimated how many people would use it. He said it could put a strain on the already overwhelmed clinics and raise serious sustainability issues.

Gilchrist also said this risk of “de-insurance” is one of the most serious long-term concerns. If private insurers scale back coverage, assuming workers qualify for CDCP, and the public program later changes or is cut, many could be left without any coverage at all.

“You’re just going to have a situation where there won’t be adequate funds available to keep this program going more sustainably.”



Vivian Ulinwa is a reporter for The Guardian in Prince Edward Island. She can be reached at [email protected] and followed on X @vivian_ulinwa.

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