Northern Ontario dentist says he'll probably have to expand his practice thanks to Canada's dental care plan

A dentist from the northern Ontario town of Blind River says he'll probably have to expand his practice thanks to the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP).

As of May 1, about1.9 million seniors 65and older qualify for the dental plan. The CDCP will eventually cover the quarter of Canadians who don't have private plans, at a cost of $13 billion over the next five years.

"We're actually trying to work out where we might have to add some extra days now," said Dr. Steven Tannis, who is one of 9,000 dental professionals across Canada who have signed on to the program.

"We're kind of bursting at the seams as it is with our regular patients who are all, you know, taking very good care of their teeth."

Tannis saidhe was already helping people in the community who rely on income supplements like the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP). But they would often just come in for emergencies, as opposed to regular care.

"Their complaint is that they don't have the money to come in," he said.

The CDCPcovers a range of services, including dental cleanings, fillings, root canals and dentures.

The level of coverage depends on a person's household income.

People with a household income under $70,000 per year, for example, would have 100 per cent of eligible oral health care costs covered.

Those with a household income between $70,000 and $79,999 would have 60 per cent of those costs covered.

Tannis saidthere's a need in his community for expanded access to dental care.

He moved to Blind River from Toronto and saidhe appreciates the different pace.

"I felt appreciated and I just decided this is where I want to be."