The Ontario Dental Association (ODA) has released its 2026-2027 Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) benefit grids, giving dental practices the updated fee guidance they need for treating CDCP-enrolled patients. Simultaneously, Dr. Janet Leith has assumed the role of ODA's 153rd President, bringing a focus on member support, workforce development, and stronger advocacy for Ontario dentists navigating an evolving regulatory and reimbursement landscape.
As of July 2026, these two developments — one administrative, one structural — together signal the direction Ontario dentistry is heading for the remainder of the year. Practices that understand the updated CDCP grids and anticipate the ODA's new leadership priorities will be better positioned to manage patient volume, staffing, and profitability through Q3 and Q4.
2026-2027 CDCP Benefit Grids: What Changed
The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), administered federally by Health Canada and Sun Life, renewed its benefit year for 2026-2027 with updated coverage parameters. The ODA's benefit grids serve as the practical reference document Ontario dentists use to determine which procedures are covered, at what reimbursement level, and with what preauthorization requirements.
The 2026-2027 renewal has brought several notable updates for Ontario practices to track:
- Expanded preauthorization requirements: Certain restorative and prosthodontic procedures that previously required only a claim submission now require preauthorization. Practices need to build this additional step into their treatment coordination workflows to avoid claim delays.
- Renewed eligibility for 3.4 million Canadians: The benefit year renewal automatically re-enrolled eligible patients, meaning practices can expect continued CDCP patient volume without a gap in coverage.
- Reimbursement rates: The CDCP continues to reimburse based on provincial fee guides rather than a national flat rate, which means Ontario practitioners are reimbursed according to the Ontario Dental Association's suggested fee guide — a more favourable structure than some provinces experience.
Pro Tip: Download the updated ODA CDCP benefit grids from the ODA member portal at oda.ca and share them with your treatment coordinators and front desk team. Knowing which procedures require preauthorization before presenting treatment plans saves your practice the administrative headache of retroactive submissions and prevents patient frustration with unexpected coverage denials.
Dr. Janet Leith Becomes ODA's 153rd President
Dr. Janet Leith officially took over as President of the Ontario Dental Association on June 1, 2026, succeeding Dr. David Brown. Her appointment comes at a pivotal moment for Ontario dentistry, with practices navigating CDCP integration, workforce shortages, rising overhead, and increasing regulatory complexity from the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO).
Dr. Leith's stated priorities include:
- Strengthening member connection: The ODA has acknowledged that many Ontario dentists — particularly solo practitioners and those in smaller communities — feel disconnected from the association's advocacy work. Dr. Leith has indicated that improving direct communication with members and demonstrating tangible value from ODA membership is a core objective.
- Workforce development: Ontario continues to face dental staffing shortages, particularly for certified dental assistants and dental hygienists. The ODA's workforce initiatives aim to address pipeline issues at the education and training level while supporting practices with retention strategies.
- Advocacy clarity: With the CDCP now in its second full year of operation, the ODA's advocacy role in representing dentists' interests to the federal government on reimbursement adequacy and administrative burden has become increasingly important.
CDCP Patient Volume: Managing the Operational Impact
Ontario dental practices that opted into the CDCP have seen varying impacts on their daily operations. Some practices in the GTA report that CDCP patients now represent 10 to 20% of their total patient volume, which has created both opportunities and challenges.
The opportunities are straightforward: CDCP fills appointment slots that might otherwise go unused, particularly for hygiene visits and basic restorative care. For practices in Scarborough, North York, Brampton, and other GTA communities with large populations of CDCP-eligible residents, the program has been a meaningful source of new patients.
The challenges are primarily administrative. CDCP claims processing through Sun Life involves additional documentation requirements compared to private insurance. Treatment coordinators report spending 15 to 25 minutes more per CDCP patient on paperwork than on a comparable privately insured patient. Preauthorization turnaround times vary, and practices have reported inconsistencies in approval decisions for similar procedures.
Pro Tip: Designate one team member as your CDCP specialist — a single point person who handles all preauthorization submissions, tracks approval timelines, and manages patient communication about coverage. Practices that distribute CDCP administration across the entire front desk tend to see more errors and longer processing times than those with a dedicated coordinator.
RCDSO Council Meeting: June 2026 Highlights
The Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO) held its 456th Council meeting on June 18, 2026, at Vantage Venues in Toronto. While detailed minutes are published on the RCDSO website at rcdso.org, several items on the agenda carry implications for Ontario practitioners.
The RCDSO continues its review of infection prevention and control (IPAC) standards, with updated guidelines expected later in 2026. Ontario practices should begin preparing by auditing their current IPAC protocols against the RCDSO's existing standards and identifying any areas where equipment, training, or documentation may need updating.
The College's ongoing work on teledentistry guidelines — which permit Ontario-licensed dentists to provide virtual care under specific conditions — is also expected to produce updated guidance this year. The current framework requires dentists to meet the same standard of care for virtual consultations as in-person appointments, obtain teledentistry-specific informed consent, and comply with both the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA).
ODA Annual Scientific Meeting 2026
The ODA's Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM26) is featuring a Live Dentistry Stage this year, where attendees can observe live patient procedures and earn continuing education points. For Ontario dentists, the ASM remains one of the most practical CE opportunities available, combining hands-on workshops with industry exhibits and networking with colleagues from across the province.
The ODA has also been promoting the completion of its 2026 member survey, which provides the data the association uses to advocate on behalf of dentists at the provincial and federal level. Member participation directly influences the ODA's policy positions on issues like CDCP reimbursement, scope-of-practice discussions, and regulatory burden.
What Ontario Practices Should Do Now
Given these developments, Ontario dental practices should prioritize the following actions in Q3 2026:
- Review the 2026-2027 CDCP benefit grids and update your practice management software's insurance profiles accordingly.
- Audit your CDCP administrative workflow to ensure preauthorization steps are built into treatment presentation for affected procedure codes.
- Monitor RCDSO communications for updated IPAC and teledentistry guidelines expected later in 2026.
- Complete the ODA member survey if you haven't already — the data informs advocacy on issues that directly affect your practice's bottom line.
- Review your staffing plan in light of continued workforce shortages, and consider whether expanded hygienist scheduling or cross-training could ease capacity constraints.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Where can Ontario dentists access the 2026-2027 CDCP benefit grids?
The updated CDCP benefit grids are available through the Ontario Dental Association (ODA) member portal at oda.ca. ODA members can log in and download the current grid documents, which detail covered procedures, reimbursement levels, and preauthorization requirements for the 2026-2027 benefit year.
Q: How does CDCP reimbursement compare to private insurance rates in Ontario?
The CDCP reimburses Ontario dental practices based on the Ontario Dental Association's suggested fee guide, which is generally comparable to the rates used by most private insurers in the province. However, the administrative burden associated with CDCP claims — particularly preauthorization requirements — adds indirect costs that reduce the effective per-patient revenue compared to straightforward private insurance claims.
Q: What are Dr. Janet Leith's priorities as ODA President?
Dr. Janet Leith, the ODA's 153rd President, has identified three key priorities: strengthening direct communication with ODA members (particularly solo practitioners who may feel disconnected from the association), advancing workforce development initiatives to address ongoing dental staffing shortages in Ontario, and providing clearer advocacy on reimbursement adequacy and administrative burden related to the CDCP.
EBIKO Dental will continue monitoring Ontario dental policy developments and their impact on GTA practices. Visit ebiko.ca for the latest Canadian dental industry updates.