More than a third of Canadians reported not seeing a dentist in the past year, according to a new report by Statistics Canada.

Based on data from the 2022 Canadian Community Health Survey, it also found that roughly the same number of participants, or 35 percent, lack dental insurance coverage while nearly a quarter of them avoided dental care due to costs.

These findings come as the federal government works to establish a new national dental insurance plan that will cover up to nine million people in households earning less than $90,000. It is a key demand from the New Democratic Party in the confidence and supply agreement with the governing Liberals, with $13 billion allocated to the plan over the next five years, and coverage is expected to begin by the end of 2023.

Only 55 percent of Canadians have private dental insurance through an employer, university, or other means, according to Statistics Canada data, while four percent currently have coverage through a publicly funded government plan. Among those insured, 76 percent visited a dental specialist in the past 12 months, compared to 51 percent of those without coverage.

For those without coverage, 40 percent said they avoided dental care due to cost. Nearly half of Canadians in the lowest income bracket reported visiting a dentist in the past year, compared to nearly three-quarters of those in the highest bracket.

The Canadian Dental Association also suggests that most people undergo dental check-ups every six months.

Women were more likely to report receiving dental care than men over the past 12 months, at 68 versus 62 percent. Younger Canadians aged 12 to 17 were more likely to visit a dental specialist (79 percent) compared to those aged 65 and older (60 percent). People aged 65 and over were half as likely (33 percent) to have dental insurance compared to those aged 35 to 49 (69 percent).

A lower percentage of people in Quebec (62 percent), New Brunswick (62 percent), Saskatchewan (60 percent), and Newfoundland and Labrador (55 percent) also reported seeing a dental specialist compared to other provinces. Dental insurance was also more common in urban areas and outside Quebec.

The survey also indicated that cost was reported as a greater barrier for racialized and non-cisgender individuals.

The Canadian Community Health Survey was conducted from February to December 2022, covering Canadians aged 12 and over in the provinces. Statistics Canada says it provides “the latest insights on Canadians’ access to and use of dental care services.”