Oral Health Report

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Report Highlights

Oral Health as a Cornerstone of Overall Health

Oral health is a fundamental component of overall health.

Untreated oral disease is linked to pain, infection, chronic illness, and avoidable strain on Canada’s provincial and federal healthcare systems.

Building A Sustainable Oral Healthcare System

A sustainable oral healthcare system in BC depends on coordinated action across regulation, education, funding, and workforce planning.

The five recommendations in this report provide practical, evidence‑based steps to protect access to care, support vulnerable populations, and respond to rising demand.

A Rapidly Changing System Under Pressure

BC’s oral healthcare system faces immediate and growing challenges, including access to care, workforce shortages, an evolving policy environment, and rising demand.

Dentists across the province see these challenges firsthand and understand their implications for patients and the broader healthcare system.

Sustainability & Access Challenges in Dental Care

The 2026 report explores interconnected challenges, including the implementation of the Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA), workforce shortages, reductions in training capacity, rising patient demand under the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) and the combined impact of outdated ministry dental programs and ongoing pressures on Not-for-Profit dental clinics that support access to care for BC’s most vulnerable populations.

The Path Forward: Recommendations

Recommendation #1: Ensuring Public Protection Through Responsive & Effective HPOA Implementation

Dentists are the largest employers of oral health professionals in BC and provide the infrastructure that delivers dental care across the province. As such, the HPOA will have far‑reaching implications for healthcare workers, employers, and, most importantly, patients.
With the HPOA now in force, the Government of BC should commit to regular partner engagement and a formal post‑implementation review to identify and address unintended consequences.
This will help ensure the HPOA strengthens public protection without compromising workforce stability or patient access.

Recommendation #2: Preserve & Expand Dental Education Programs

Rising demand for dental care under the CDCP underscores the need to protect and expand dental education programs, including LDA and dental hygiene training.
The Province should support innovative delivery models, such as Work‑Integrated Learning, and secure stable provincial and federal funding to increase training capacity, particularly for rural learners.
Strong education pipelines are essential to sustaining access to care.

Recommendation #3: Integrate & Modernize Ministry Dental Programs

NFP dental clinics are critical access points for community‑based care serving BC’s most vulnerable populations.
Integrating MSDPR dental plans into the Ministry of Health and modernizing fee schedules through inflationary adjustments would improve program sustainability, accountability, and coherence.
These changes would help stabilize BC’s 25 NFP dental clinics—nearly half in rural and remote communities—and protect equitable access to essential care.

Recommendation #4: Appoint a Full-Time Provincial Dental Officer

As oral health policies and programs grow in scope and complexity, BC would benefit from dedicated provincial oral health leadership.
As seen in other jurisdictions, a full‑time Provincial Dental Officer would strengthen coordination, accountability, and system planning, working with federal counterparts to integrate oral health into broader health strategies, address workforce challenges, and improve equitable access across the province.

Recommendation #5: Partner with Dentists to Build a Sustainable Oral Healthcare System

Dentists are trusted, front‑line health professionals with first‑hand insight into patient needs, workforce challenges, and barriers to access.
Partnering with BC dentists as system leaders and advisors will help ensure reforms are practical, responsive, and grounded in patient realities—strengthening quality, safety, and access as demand continues to grow while protecting quality, safety, and access for all British Columbians.

Questions?

Get in Touch!

advocacy@bcdental.org