Healthcare in Canada
Oral health
### Oral health

Among the OECD countries, Canada ranks second to last in the public funding of [oral healthcare](/wiki/Oral_health "Oral health"). Those who need dental care are usually responsible for the finances and some may benefit from the coverage available through employment, under provincial plans, or private dental care plans. "As opposed to its national system of public health insurance, dental care in Canada is almost wholly privately financed, with approximately 60% of dental care paid through employment\-based insurance, and 35% through out\-of\-pocket expenditures. Of the approximately 5% of publicly financed care that remains, most has focused on socially marginalized groups (e.g., low\-income children and adults), and is supported by different levels of government depending on the group insured." It is true that compared to primary care checkups, dental care checkups depend on the ability of people being able to pay those fees.

Studies in Quebec and Ontario provide data on the extent of dental health care. For example, studies in Quebec showed that there was a strong relation among dental services and the socioeconomic factors of income and education whereas in Ontario older adults heavily relied on dental insurance with visits to the dentist. "According to the National Public Health Service in 1996/1997, it showed a whopping difference of people who were in different classes. About half of Canadians aged 15 or older (53%) reported having dental insurance. Coverage tended to be highest among middle\-aged people. At older ages, the rate dropped, and only one\-fifth of the 65\-or\-older age group (21%) was covered." Attributes that can contribute to these outcomes is household income, employment, as well as education. Those individuals who are in the middle class may be covered through the benefits of their employment whereas older individuals may not due to the fact of retirement.

Under the government healthcare system in Canada, routine dental care is not covered. There are a couple of provinces that offer child prevention programs such as Nova Scotia and Quebec. Other provinces make patients pay for medical dental procedures that are performed in the hospital. Some dental services that are possibly not covered by Medicare may include cavity fillings, routine dental check\-ups, restorative dental care, and preventive care, dentures, dental implants, bridges, crowns, veneers, and in\-lays, X\-rays, and orthodontic procedures.

In 2022, however, the federal government announced the creation of a new Canada Dental Benefit which reimburses low\- to middle\-income parents up to $650 of dental fees per child. This was a transitional policy on the way to universal, public coverage of dental care. In 2023, the government established the [Canadian Dental Care Plan](/wiki/Canadian_Dental_Care_Plan "Canadian Dental Care Plan"), which began a staggered enrolment rollout in December 2023, to pay costs for covered dental services of eligible residents.


How much can low- to middle-income parents be reimbursed for dental fees per child through the Canada Dental Benefit?