A 23-year-old single mother from Prince Albert says she has been living in pain from her wisdom teeth for more than three years.
Recently, the pain has become unbearable, but Alexis Wintonyk can’t afford dental care.
“I was able to get one pulled but my others are complicated, so I’ll need surgery to get the other ones out. And [for] surgery, I’m looking at $3,000,” she said.
She was recently laid off from her job as a server. After paying for living expenses for herself and her three-year-old daughter, she said she doesn’t have the money for the down payment on the extraction — let alone the surgery.
“It was devastating. I was like really upset. I’m in a lot of pain and oral gel, and over the counter stuff, can only do so much — so finding that out felt like a sentence,” she said.
Because she was employed, Wintonyk isn’t eligible for provincial social assistance dental care programs. She is now applying online for the Canadian Dental Care Plan and said she is anxious to see what procedures are covered and if the plan pays for wisdom teeth removal.
Earlier this year, the plan expanded significantly to cover 18 to 64-year-olds, in addition to the children and seniors who were previously eligible for coverage.
According to the federal government, all Canadians with an adjusted family net income of less than $90,000 are eligible to apply. Applicants need to have filed a 2024 tax return in Canada and not have access to dental insurance. The forms can be accessed online at canada.ca/dental.
Oral surgery is listed under major services that “could be covered” when they’re recommended by an oral health provider.
The program is estimated to save eligible Canadians an average of $800 per year on dental care services. It pays varying percentages, based on income, for basic oral health care such as dental cleaning, fillings and extractions.
“And then it can actually be elevated to even major dentistry, like crowns and root canals and dentures,” said College of Dental Surgeons of Saskatchewan president-elect Dr. Raju Bhargava.
Dentists in the province have seen an overall increase in patient volume and are attributing it to the Canadian Dental Care Plan, he said, with some patients who haven’t been to a dentist in years coming in, due to having the benefits now.
A survey conducted by the college found nearly 100 per cent of dentists in the province have provided care to patients.
But dentists report that the plan has added “administrative burden” to their practices. Dentists said in the survey that “communicating to patients about the CDCP program “ alone has added about one hour of extra work to their staff per day.
Dentists have to send in proof to get preauthorization for major dentistry.
“It’s a necessary evil,” that dentists do on the patient’s behalf to meet their oral health needs, said Bhargava.
Every year, poor oral health causes lost days at work and school and it’s linked to overall health, he said.
“If you have neglected your oral health it can actually have a significant influence on the onset and the progression of different systemic conditions like cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular accidents like strokes. One of the main preventative measures for strokes is actually getting your teeth cleaned,” Bhargava said.
More people in Saskatchewan are receiving dental care compared to one year ago. Dentists in the province say the increase is due in part to the Canadian Dental Care Plan.
Student-run clinics see drop in patients
The University of Saskatchewan college of dentistry reports since the national plan came into effect, the college has seen a 36 per cent drop in patients at the student-run discounted clinics, compared to a year ago. In 2024 – 2025, the college clinics recorded 19,581 patient visits.
“This is going to affect the training of our students and the training of the next generation of oral health care providers,” said dentistry college dean Dr. Walter Siqueira.
This affects training for dentists, dental hygienists, dental therapists and dental assistants.
Siqueira said the college is engaging with the federal government and other colleges and universities across Canada to come up with a solution.
According to Health Canada, 95,903 people in Saskatchewan have been accepted into the program, among close to six million people nationwide.
In November, the federal ministry announced more than $35 million over three years in funding for 30 projects under the Oral Health Access Fund to improve training for dental students.
The Canadian Dental Care Plan is helping to ease pressure on emergency rooms and the health care system, said the ministry.
The University of Saskatchewan has launched its own initiatives to improve access to dental care and now runs student clinics in La Ronge, Big River, Prince Albert, Red Earth Cree Nation, Shoal Lake Cree Nation, Nipawin, Saskatoon and Regina.
Saskatchewan provides some dental coverage for people enrolled in income supports, employment incentives, Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability, Senior’s Income Plan, government wards and inmates in the provincial correctional institutions.
