Ottawa Valley dentists applaud new national dental care plan for children
As of Thursday, eligible Canadians can apply for funding for the first federal dental care program.
The Canada Dental Benefit will be offered to children 12 and under in families that do not have private dental insurance, and have an annual income of less than $90,000.
Depending on income and circumstances, the program could see parents claim $260 to $650 per child, per year tax free.
"It's a great benefit and the dentists are very excited about it because it gives us the ability to see patients," says Lisa Bentley, president of the Ontario Dental Association.
"There's not any limitations on what services we can provide for patients."
At Dentistry at Arnprior, owner and dentist Neeraj Bansal says just five to seven per cent of his clients are children 12 and under.
"Families will come and say we just don't have the money to afford it," Bansal tells CTV News Ottawa. "We see children with so many cavities."
It is recommended you visit the dentist twice a year. Bansal says this benefit should cover the full cost of a routine appointment.
"It would cover a good cleaning for a year, fluoride application, and maybe a couple of fillings."
"There are 30 per cent of Ontarians that don't have access to dental coverage," says Bentley. "And these are the people that we hope this plan will focus on and help."
Canadians can apply for the benefit online through the Canada Revenue Agency's "My Account" portal or through their Service Canada account. The CRA has also set up a phone line to receive dental applications. More details can be found here.
The federal government says the new national benefit is expected to help half a million Canadian children receive dental care.
"There's a lot of changes that happen from three years to 12 years," says Bansal, on the importance of regular dentist visits. "There are a lot of baby teeth they will loose and new teeth are coming in."
The Canada Dental Benefit is seen as unexpected relief by patients and practitioners, as every day living costs soar, leaving expenses like dental appointments as unaffordable luxuries.
"We actually kind of never anticipated that this was going to happen," added Bansal.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
RCMP uncovers alleged plot by 2 Montreal men to illegally sell drones, equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a plot by two men in Montreal to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Demonstrators kicked out of Ontario legislature for disruption after failed keffiyeh vote
A group of demonstrators were kicked out of the legislature after a second NDP motion calling for unanimous consent to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh failed to pass.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Government agrees to US$138.7M settlement over FBI's botching of Larry Nassar assault allegations
The U.S. Justice Department announced a US$138.7 million settlement Tuesday with more than 100 people who accused the FBI of grossly mishandling allegations of sexual assault against Larry Nassar in 2015 and 2016, a critical time gap that allowed the sports doctor to continue to prey on victims before his arrest.
Man wanted in connection with deadly shooting in Toronto tops list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
A 35-year-old man wanted in connection with the murder of Toronto resident 29-year-old Sharmar Powell-Flowers nine months ago has topped the list of the BOLO program’s 25 most wanted fugitives across Canada, police announced Tuesday.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.
Keeping these exotic pets is 'cruel' and 'dangerous,' Canadian animal advocates say
Canadian pet owners are finding companionship beyond dogs and cats. Tigers, alligators, scorpions and tarantulas are among some of the exotic pets they are keeping in private homes, which pose risks to public safety and animal welfare, advocates say.
Thieves use stolen forklift to rip cash machine out of U.K. bank
Police in the U.K. are searching for a group of suspects seen on video using a forklift to steal a cash machine from a bank.
'There was a lot of black smoke': Crane operator sounds alarm while trapped during highrise fire in Halifax
A tower crane operator alerted emergency crews after noticing a fire on a construction site in Halifax Tuesday morning.