About 70% of N.S. dentists participating in Canadian Dental Care Plan, but concerns remain

The number of dentists in Nova Scotia participating in the new Canadian Dental Care Plan has grown significantly since the program first launched in May.

Federal data shows 423 dentists and specialists in Nova Scotia are participating as of Sept. 19. The Nova Scotia Dental Association said there are 608 dentists in the province.

Dr. Claire Karst, president of the association, said the number of dentists providing care under the program has grown since July 8, when Ottawa began allowing providers to directly bill plan manager Sun Life without formally enrolling in the program.

This was something dental associations had said was a barrier. 

"I have to say generally the feedback that we have received so far has been positive," said Karst, who practises dentistry in Elmsdale, N.S., and is also providing care under the Canadian Dental Care Plan. 

In Nova Scotia, nearly 77,000 people have signed up and qualified for the plan. Among those people, more than 16,000 have received care. 

However, not everyone has been able to immediately access care. Thomas Ivanore, 76, has not yet been able to find a dentist who is providing care under the federal plan near Amherst, N.S., where he lives.

"There's nothing available," he said.

Ivanore said he spoke with a dental practice in Truro, N.S., which said it would not be taking on new patients for 10 years. 

"It's … misleading to suggest and put out that we got this great dental program and it's going to help seniors," Ivanore said. 

Karst said it's not that surprising to hear of difficulties finding providers in rural areas.

"The question of access to care in the rural communities … has always been a concern right from the inception of this program, because we have lower numbers of dentists that practise in rural areas." 

Even before the program began, there was a shortage of dental assistants and hygienists, Karst added. She said it can also be harder for rural dental practices to attract those auxiliary staff they need.

"We do have a current problem right now that's not going to be solved in the near future," Karst said, adding that the association has been advocating for the Department of Advanced Education to open more seats at the Nova Scotia Community College dental assisting program.

In a statement, the Department of Advanced Education said it "works closely with key partners to explore the labour market need across health-care professions, and dental assistants are part of this review."

Dr. Brandon Doucet, a dentist and founder of the advocacy group Coalition for Dentalcare, said the use of a type of practitioner called dental therapists in Canada could help improve access to care in rural areas.

"These are the equivalent of the nurse practitioners of dentistry, who can do a lot of routine care at the fraction of the cost of a dentist," Doucet said, pointing to New Zealand as a place where dental therapists have long been present.

In 2023, the University of Saskatchewan launched Canada's first dental therapy degree program in co-operation with Indigenous Services Canada.

The Department of Health and Wellness said in a statement it does not currently have incentive programs to encourage dental providers to practise in rural areas.