Dementia Education Program Newsletter
Expert: Canada's dental plan expands to cover children, people with disabilities
![](https://www.mcgill.ca/dementia/files/dementia/styles/fullwidth_breakpoints_theme_moriarty_small_1x/public/channels/image/dental_care.jpg?itok=GmwS_Z8A×tamp=1719340332)
Children under 18 and people with disabilities will be eligible for the federal government's dental plan starting June 27. The newly eligible group accounts for 1.2 million additional Canadians who will be able to access the program. (CBC News)
Here is an expert from McGill University who can comment on this topic:
Paul Allison, Full Professor, Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences
“The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) is an excellent initiative to reduce financial barriers to dental care across Canada, particularly as it expands to include children and individuals with disabilities. Dental decay is the leading cause of day surgery among young Canadian children. While the CDCP helps by making care more affordable, a lot more needs to be done to prevent dental decay at a population level and to ensure young children have access to preventive care.”
Paul Allison is a Full Professor in the Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences. His areas of expertise include access to dental care, inequalities in oral health care and health care policies.
paul.allison [at] mcgill.ca (English, French)