Dr. Janet Leith took office as the Ontario Dental Association's 153rd President on June 1, 2026, inheriting a complex mandate: managing the profession's relationship with the expanding Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), addressing workforce shortages across the province, and rebuilding internal trust after a turbulent year at the ODA. Here is what her presidency means for Ontario dentists.
As of June 2026, the Ontario Dental Association (ODA) has a new leader. Dr. Janet Leith, a general practitioner based in Ottawa with decades of experience in organized dentistry, assumed the presidency on June 1, succeeding Dr. David A. Brown. She becomes the ODA's 153rd president and takes the chair of the Board of Directors during one of the most consequential periods in Ontario dental history.
Who Is Dr. Janet Leith?
Dr. Leith holds a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree from the University of Manitoba's Faculty of Dentistry and a Bachelor of Science. She brings extensive governance experience to the role, holding a Chartered Director (C.Dir.) designation — a credential in corporate governance that is relatively uncommon among dental leaders. She previously served as president of the Ottawa Dental Society and has held multiple positions within the ODA's governance structure over the years.
Her practice background is rooted in community-based general dentistry. As the owner of The Dental Health Practice in the Ottawa area, she has direct experience with the operational realities that Ontario dentists face daily — from staffing challenges to insurance claim complexities.
In a May 2026 ODA profile titled "A woman in leadership," the association highlighted Dr. Leith's focus on strengthening connections and support among Ontario dentists during her tenure.
The Landscape She Inherits
Dr. Leith's presidency arrives at a moment when several major forces are reshaping dental practice in Ontario simultaneously:
The CDCP's Growing Footprint
The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) now covers more than 6.3 million Canadians nationally, with Ontario representing the largest share of enrolled patients. The program's June 1 renewal deadline for the 2026–2027 benefit year has passed, and more than 3.4 million renewal applications were received. The program is saving eligible participants approximately $900 CAD per year on average in oral health costs.
However, the CDCP remains a source of tension within the profession. Pre-authorization denial rates have drawn significant criticism, with reports indicating that approximately 52% of pre-authorization requests for complex dental work were denied during a recent review period. Dentists across Ontario have reported administrative burdens, delayed payments, and confusion around billing codes and fee schedules.
Dr. Leith's predecessor, Dr. Brown, was vocal about these issues, and the expectation within the profession is that the new president will continue advocating for administrative simplifications and fairer reimbursement structures under the CDCP.
Workforce Challenges Across Ontario
Ontario continues to face dental workforce pressures that directly affect patient access. National survey data shows that more than 82% of dental offices across Canada report staffing challenges, with approximately 50% citing difficulty recruiting dental hygienists. In Ontario specifically, the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO) has noted that retirement rates among baby-boomer-generation dentists are accelerating while dental school graduation rates remain largely flat.
Simultaneously, the Ontario government has proposed scope-of-practice expansions for dental hygienists and denturists, legislation that could alter the professional landscape significantly if enacted. The ODA has historically approached scope expansion cautiously, emphasizing patient safety and appropriate supervision. How Dr. Leith navigates this politically charged file will be closely watched.
Pro Tip: Ontario dentists concerned about scope-of-practice changes should monitor the RCDSO's Standards, Guidelines and Resources page for consultation notices and proposed regulatory amendments. Participation in public comment periods is one of the most direct ways to influence outcomes on issues that affect your practice.
Internal Governance Questions
Dr. Leith also inherits the aftermath of a challenging year for ODA governance. Earlier in 2026, the association commissioned an independent task force review related to social media activity by a member of leadership. Dr. Jonathan Mayer, the current President-Elect, was the subject of the review and accepted the findings and recommendations in April 2026.
The sequence of events — documented through a series of official ODA statements from Dr. Brown between February and April 2026 — required careful navigation. Dr. Leith's emphasis on "strengthening connections and support among dentists" may be partly a response to the internal friction this episode generated. Rebuilding unity within the membership is a governance priority that, while less visible than policy advocacy, affects the association's effectiveness on every other front.
Key Files on the ODA President's Desk
Beyond the CDCP and workforce, several additional issues will demand Dr. Leith's attention during her 2026–2027 term:
Ontario's Proposed Electronic Medical Record System
The Ontario government announced plans for a new province-wide Primary Care Medical Record system designed to integrate patient records across healthcare providers. While the initial scope focuses on physicians, dental professionals in Ontario are watching to see whether the system will eventually include oral health data. An integrated system could improve care coordination but would also raise questions about data standards, costs of adoption, and PHIPA compliance for dental practices.
US-Canada Tariff Impacts on Dental Supplies
Ongoing US-Canada trade tensions have increased costs for imported dental supplies, including composite resins, metal alloys, and digital equipment. Approximately 41% of Canada's dental-related imports come from the US, and tariff-driven cost increases are squeezing practice margins — particularly for smaller independent practices in Ontario. The ODA's ability to advocate for its members on supply cost issues, potentially through group purchasing or policy interventions, could be a differentiating factor in Dr. Leith's tenure.
RCDSO Regulatory Updates
The RCDSO has an active regulatory agenda, including a public consultation on a proposed Standard for Managing New Patient Requests that closes June 21, 2026, and ongoing work on the Standard for Ending Dentist-Patient Relationships. These standards directly affect how Ontario dentists manage patient access and practice capacity — both critical issues as CDCP enrollment increases patient demand.
Pro Tip: The RCDSO's public consultation on the Managing New Patient Requests standard closes June 21, 2026. If you have not yet submitted feedback, visit the RCDSO website to review the proposed standard and submit your comments. These consultations shape the rules your practice operates under — participation takes 15 to 20 minutes and has a real impact.
What Ontario Dentists Should Watch For
Dr. Leith's presidency will be judged on several fronts over the coming year:
- CDCP advocacy results: Whether the ODA can secure administrative improvements, faster payment processing, and clearer pre-authorization guidelines from the federal program.
- Scope-of-practice positioning: How the association balances collaborative healthcare delivery with professional boundaries as Ontario considers regulatory changes.
- Member unity: Whether the association can move past the governance turbulence of early 2026 and present a cohesive voice on issues that matter to frontline practitioners.
- Access-to-care leadership: The ODA's role in addressing workforce shortages and ensuring that patients across Ontario — not just in the GTA — have adequate access to dental care.
For the roughly 11,000 dentists practising in Ontario, the ODA presidency is not a symbolic position. The association's advocacy directly affects fee guides, regulatory standards, insurance frameworks, and the profession's relationship with government. Dr. Leith's governance experience, practice-level perspective, and stated commitment to connection and support suggest a presidency focused on pragmatic coalition-building rather than confrontation.
Pro Tip: If you are not currently an ODA member, this leadership transition is a practical moment to evaluate the value of membership. The ODA provides access to the Suggested Fee Guide, practice management resources, and — critically — a collective voice in policy discussions that directly affect your income and scope of practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who is the new ODA President for 2026?
Dr. Janet Leith became the Ontario Dental Association's 153rd President on June 1, 2026. She holds a DMD from the University of Manitoba, a Chartered Director designation, and previously served as president of the Ottawa Dental Society. She succeeds Dr. David A. Brown.
Q: What are the main issues facing Ontario dentists in 2026?
The three largest issues facing Ontario dentists in 2026 are the ongoing expansion of the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) and its administrative challenges, workforce shortages particularly affecting dental hygienist recruitment, and proposed scope-of-practice changes for dental hygienists and denturists that could alter the professional landscape in Ontario.
Q: How does the CDCP affect dental practices in Ontario?
The Canadian Dental Care Plan now covers over 6.3 million Canadians, with Ontario having the largest enrollment. While the program improves patient access and saves eligible participants approximately $900 CAD annually, dental practices face challenges including high pre-authorization denial rates (approximately 52% for complex work), administrative burdens, and reimbursement rates that may not cover actual practice costs.
EBIKO Dental will continue monitoring ODA leadership developments and their impact on Ontario dental professionals. For the latest Canadian dental news and supplies, visit ebiko.ca.