It’s been a year since the federal government improved access to needed dental procedures for low-income Canadians and County denturist Steve Kerr said his Minden practice has never been busier.
Last March, the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) was expanded to people with a household net income under $90,000 – subsidizing treatments including cleanings, fillings, extractions and dentures. According to Health Canada, around 5.2 million people are eligible for support through the program.
“It’s gotten to the point now where more than half of my patients [qualify]. We’ve seen a big, big increase in demand, a lot more people coming through the door,” Kerr told The Highlander.
While the program was initially rolled out for seniors aged 70 and above, it’s now open to all adults, Kerr said.
One common misconception, he noted, is that people consider dentures to be cosmetic but Kerr said they can play a vital role in helping those with missing teeth chew, speak and smile more confidently. They can also prevent remaining teeth from shifting and are considered less invasive than dental implants.
Without CDCP assistance, Kerr said a set of full dentures – both top and bottom – costs around $3,100. Now, those who qualify for support pay significantly less, at $200-250 per denture. “It’s not a free program – patients do still have to co-pay, but it’s nothing like it was before,” Kerr said. “In our area there are a lot of people living on fixed incomes… so it makes a huge difference.
“I’m seeing a lot of patients come in who have dentures that are 30 or 40 years old. Talking to them, they never thought replacing was something they could afford. So, instead of being something that’s completely out of reach, the cost is doable now for most,” he added.
Kerr said his office can run direct billing with Sun Life Canada – the insurance firm that administers CDCP. “From the patients’ perspective, it’s just like they’ve got pretty good dental benefits now.”
He estimates his business has seen a 30 per cent increase in patients over the past year. Open three days a week, Kerr said he typically sees 15-20 patients per day.
To keep up with increased demand, Kerr has invested in new technology to make the process for making dentures easier and quicker for patients.
In 2021, he transitioned from sculpting denture molds by hand, using wax, to doing them through a computer and 3D printer. That enabled patients to take test versions of their dentures home to try out.
“With the wax version, people got to try them for a few minutes, but if they tried to eat anything they would get destroyed instantly. Now I tell patients they have the chance to test drive before they buy,” Kerr said.
Last year, he upgraded his digital scanner that he said takes thousands of pictures to help enhance design. He says that investment has paid off – both for him and his patients.
“I’ve decreased the amount of time it takes to create each denture by more than 50 per cent. That frees me up to see more people and also means fewer appointments per patient.
“Doing it the old school way, people would be in my chair for a minimum of five appointments, sometimes as many as seven. Now, we’re cutting three appointments off on average,” Kerr said. “The quality of the product is just as good, if not better, and it can all be done much more efficiently.”
