More than 3.8 million Canadians have received dental care under the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) as of Jan. 31 — an increase of about 100,000 people from the previous month — according to updated figures from the federal government.
As of Jan. 31, 6.27 million people have been approved for coverage under the federal plan, which launched in 2023 and expanded in May 2025 to eligible Canadians aged 18 to 64.
Of those approved, at least three million received care during the 2025–26 benefit year alone. By comparison, 3.7 million Canadians had accessed services as of Dec. 31, according to earlier federal data released through Statistics Canada.
Related: CDCP ends 2025 with a milestone — but challenges persist
Provider participation continues to grow
Health Canada reports 27,773 oral health professionals are now delivering care under the CDCP nationwide, including:
- 24,114 dentists and dental specialists
- 2,144 denturists
- 1,518 independent practising dental hygienists
That marks an increase from December, when 27,628 providers were enrolled, including 24,011 dentists and dental specialists, 2,133 denturists and 1,487 independent practising hygienists.
Related: The effect of the CDCP on dental school education
Preauthorization rates for complex procedures
New details provided by Health Canada shed light on approval rates for complex dental procedures requiring preauthorization.
As of Dec. 31, and counting only complete submissions:
- Crowns: 37 per cent approved
- Partial dentures: 76 per cent approved
- Root canal treatments: Most do not require preauthorization under the CDCP
The figures exclude incomplete applications and reflect approval rates among fully submitted requests.