“Starting today, Canadians aged 55 to 64 can apply.” Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Thursday that applications are now open for this age group under the federal Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP).
“Because of this plan, millions of people can now afford to see a dentist — some for the first time in decades. Soon, millions more will get that same care,” Carney said.
His remarks reaffirm Health Minister Kamal Khera’s March announcement that May would mark the start of applications for the CDCP’s largest eligible cohort to date.
While precise data for those aged 55 to 64 isn’t available, Statistics Canada figures for Canadians aged 50 to 64 from 2023-24 can shed light on the oral health status of this population — and why they might benefit from the new plan.
1. One in five avoids eating due to mouth pain
About 20 per cent of Canadians aged 50 to 64 avoid eating certain foods because of problems with their mouth — compared to the national average of 15.6 per cent.
Women in this group were more likely to report avoiding food, at 22.3 per cent, compared to 18 per cent of men.
As for toothlessness, or edentulism, it’s 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.
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2. Flossing more frequently than average
Roughly 30 per cent of Canadians overall floss five or more times a week, but that figure rises among those aged 50 to 64 — 38.3 per cent in total, including 33.4 per cent of men and 43.1 per cent of women.
Brushing is also slightly higher in this age group. About 74 per cent reported brushing daily, compared to the national average of around 70 per cent. Among them, 67.9 per cent of men and 79.9 per cent of women reported brushing.
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3. Nearly 28 per cent have no dental coverage
While about 65.6 per cent of Canadians overall have either private or public dental insurance, 27.8 per cent of those aged 50 to 64 reported having no coverage at all.
Only 1.9 per cent in this group rely on public insurance, suggesting many are left without adequate dental care options. Nationally (excluding territories), 2.9 per cent of Canadians have public coverage only.
4. Persistent pain affects one in four
Roughly 25.2 per cent of Canadians aged 50 to 64 report persistent or ongoing mouth pain — slightly higher than the national average of 21.6 per cent.
When it comes to self-perceived oral health, 16.5 per cent said their oral health was fair or poor, while 50.9 per cent rated it as very good or excellent.
5. Most are still seeing a dentist
A significant 76.7 per cent of Canadians aged 50 to 64 visited a dental professional in the past year. The rate was slightly higher for women, at 79.4 per cent, compared to 74 per cent of men.
However, cost remains a major barrier. According to the Canadian Oral Health Survey for 2024, about 24 per cent of Canadians aged 12 and older avoided dental visits due to cost in the past year — up from 22 per cent in 2018.
The CDCP is available to Canadians with household incomes under $90,000 who do not have access to private dental insurance. Coverage could begin as early as June 1 for those approved.
Applications open May 15 for those aged 18 to 34, and May 29 for those aged 35 to 54.
You can also read: Changes, challenges, opportunities and the CDCP