More than 2.3 million Canadians have been approved for coverage, and now more than 75 percent of dental care providers are participating in the federal government's dental care program.

Health Minister Mark Holland provided an update on the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) at a dental clinic in Ottawa today, Wednesday.

Holland said: "What you need to know before applying for the new Canadian Dental Care Plan, this definitely exceeds what I hoped would be accomplished in the first three months, to have this level of participation. We will not stop until we reach 100 percent."

So far, nearly 450,000 eligible Canadians have received care under what the Liberals have described as one of the largest social programs in Canada's history.

As part of a phased rollout, the government began accepting claims for dental coverage for seniors in May and expanded eligibility for children under 18 and Canadians holding a valid disability tax credit certificate in June.

Eligible remaining Canadians are scheduled to gain access in 2025.

While the uptake has been swift for Canadians seeking help to cover dental care costs, the federal government has faced challenges in persuading dentists and dental hygienists to enroll.

Some cited reservations about the program, the administrative burden, and the reimbursement structure; concerns echoed by federal Conservatives.

Last month, in an effort to boost enrollment among providers, Holland announced that they would be able to bill Sun Life directly – the company chosen by the government to administer the program – for services provided on a claim-by-claim basis, without needing to officially enroll in the CDCP.

This adjustment allows providers to submit claims directly and receive reimbursement via electronic transfer within 48 hours of approval, or by check monthly.

This also means that patients seeking care can more easily see the dentist of their choice instead of trying to find an appointment with a registered dental clinic.

As of Wednesday, nearly 19,000 oral health service providers are participating, a significant increase from the number before this amendment was introduced.

According to the government, there are currently 16,612 dentists and dental specialists, 1,746 dental prosthetists, and 857 dental hygienists within the program.

Holland stated: "We have seen an explosion in the number of providers. More than 6,500 new providers have participated in the program using each claim individually... breaking it down to dentists specifically, that number is over 70 percent, so this is huge news."

The program, which the Canadian Ministry of Health has sought to emphasize is not a formal insurance plan, covers a range of oral health services, such as cleanings, X-rays, cavity fillings, dentures, and root canal treatments.

To be eligible, you must be a Canadian resident without access to dental insurance; have an adjusted family net income of less than $90,000; and have filed your tax return for the previous year.

It is worth noting that not all applicants are eligible for 100 percent coverage. The program reimburses a percentage of eligible expenses, depending on the income level of the applicants, with the remainder being patient cost-sharing.

This has led to confusion or surprise for some patients – or "a mess and misleading information," according to Conservatives. Holland acknowledged this, but stated that the CDCP makes dental visits "very affordable" for most patients.

The minister said: "There are some instances where there is a difference between our fee guide and the fees charged by the professional, so there can be a difference there... it's called balance billing, and it's important for people to understand that."

In a statement, the Canadian Dental Association – which had previously raised concerns and offered recommendations on how to improve the program – said the federal government had addressed some of the issues it pointed out with the CDCP.

The association's spokesperson, Obi Okwelume, said: "The changes through our ongoing advocacy have increased the comfort level for many dentists to participate in the plan. Every dentist has the autonomy and will decide whether or not to participate in the CDCP based on what is best for their patients and their clinic's capacity."

Building on the commitment of the offer and trust between the Liberals and New Democrats, the government estimates that once fully implemented, up to nine million uninsured low-income Canadians of all ages will have access to more affordable dental care.

To implement this public program, the federal government has pledged to allocate $13 billion over five years, starting in 2023-2024, and has earmarked $4.4 billion annually to move forward.