Canada Dental Benefit impacts access to oral health care

The proposed Canada Dental Benefit (CDB), introduced in Bill C-31: An Act respecting cost of living relief measures related to dental care and rental housing, would provide eligible recipients from uninsured low- and middle-income families with direct payments to cover dental expenses for their children under 12. Once implemented, the CDB is expected to provide dental care to 500,000 children across Canada.

As the regulatory body for dentists in Ontario, the College looks forward to working with our federal and provincial partners and other key stakeholders to monitor the impact of this expanded access to oral health care in the province. Access to care is an important part of the College’s new 2023-2025 Strategic Plan recently passed by the RCDSO Council. Expanded access through the CDB will result in dentists treating and interacting with more patients. This is a good thing for the profession and the public.

Visit this website to learn more about the CDB. The target implementation date is December 1, 2022, dependent on the legislation receiving Royal Assent.

We also encourage you to review the following resources to help develop, maintain and foster successful relationship with your patients.

• Practice Advisory on Informed Consent Issues Including Communication with Minors and with Other Patients Who May Be Incapable of Providing Consent
• RCDSO News articles on informed consent
• Maintaining a Professional Patient-Dentist Relationship
• Prevention of Sexual Abuse and Boundary Violations

We will continue to offer guidance and advice to help you navigate the impact of the CDB and the resulting influx of new patients that can receive much-needed oral health care.