“Starting today, Canadians aged 55 to 64 can apply.” Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Thursday that the federal Canada Dental Care Program (CDCP) is now open for people in that age group.
“Thanks to this program, millions of people can now afford to see a dentist – some for the first time in decades. Soon, millions more will have access to the same care,” Carney said.
His remarks reiterate plans announced by Health Minister Kamal Khera in March to begin accepting the largest pool of eligible applications to date for the CDCP in May.
While precise data for people aged 55 to 64 is not yet available, Statistics Canada’s 2023-24 data on Canadians aged 50 to 64 can shed light on the oral health of this group and why they may benefit from the new program.
About 20 per cent of Canadians aged 50 to 64 avoid certain foods due to oral problems, compared to a national average of 15.6 per cent.
Women were more likely to avoid eating, at 22.3 per cent, compared to just 18 per cent of men.
As for edentulism, it was highest among those aged 65 and older, at 13.8 per cent. But 2.3 per cent of Canadians aged 50 to 64 also reported having no natural teeth.
About 30 per cent of Canadians floss five or more times a week, but that number rises among those aged 50 to 64, totalling 38.3 per cent, including 33.4 per cent of men and 43.1 per cent of women.
Toothbrushing rates were also slightly higher in this age group. About 74 per cent of respondents reported brushing their teeth daily, compared to a national average of about 70 per cent. Of these, 67.9 per cent of men and 79.9 per cent of women reported brushing their teeth.
While about 65.6 per cent of Canadians have private or public dental insurance, 27.8 per cent of those aged 50 to 64 reported having no insurance at all.
Only 1.9% of this group rely on public insurance, meaning many lack adequate dental care options. Nationwide (excluding territories), 2.9% of Canadians have only public insurance.
About 25.2% of Canadians aged 50 to 64 reported having persistent or ongoing oral pain – slightly higher than the national average of 21.6%.
When it comes to self-perceived oral health, 16.5% said their oral health was fair or poor, while 50.9% rated their oral health as very good or excellent.
76.7% of Canadians aged 50 to 64 have visited a dentist in the past year. This percentage was slightly higher for women at 79.4%, compared to 74% for men.
However, cost remains a major barrier. According to the 2024 Canadian Oral Health Survey, about 24% of Canadians aged 12 and older avoided a dental visit in the past year due to cost, up from 22% in 2018.
The CDCP is available to Canadians with a household income of less than $90,000 and without private dental insurance. Those who are approved can begin coverage as early as June 1.
Applications opened on May 15 for those aged 18 to 34 and on May 29 for those aged 35 to 54.
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