Wisdom teeth surgery is out of reach for young Sask. Mother who hopes national plan can help
The 23-year-old single mother from Prince Albert says she has been suffering from wisdom tooth pain for more than three years.
Recently, the pain has become unbearable, but Alexis Wintonic cannot afford dental care.
“I was able to get one out but my others are complicated, so I’ll need surgery to get the others out. And (for the surgery) I’m expecting $3,000,” she said.
She was recently fired from her job as a server. After paying her and her three-year-old daughter’s living expenses, she said she didn’t have the money to pay for the down payment on the extraction – let alone the surgery.
“It was devastating. I was really upset. I’m in a lot of pain and oral gels, and over the counter things, can only do so much – so finding out it felt like a sentence,” she said.
Because she was employed, Wintonic is not eligible for provincial social assistance dental care programs. She is now applying online for the Canadian Dental Care Plan and said she is curious to see what procedures are covered and whether the plan pays for wisdom teeth removal.
Earlier this year, the plan It has been significantly expanded to cover people aged 18 to 64, in addition to children and senior citizens who were previously eligible for coverage.
According to the federal government, all Canadians with an adjusted household net income of less than $90,000 are eligible to apply. Applicants must have filed a 2024 tax return in Canada and must not have access to dental insurance. Forms can be found online here canada.ca/dental,
oral surgery is listed Under core services that may be “covered” if recommended by an oral health provider.
The program is estimated to save eligible Canadians an average of $800 per year on dental care services. It pays different percentages based on income for basic oral health care like teeth cleanings, fillings and extractions.
“And then it can really be extended to major dentistry like crowns and root canals and dentures,” said Dr. Raju Bhargava, president-elect of the College of Dental Surgeons of Saskatchewan.
Dentists in the province have seen an overall increase in the number of patients, he said, and are crediting it to the Canadian Dental Care Plan, with some patients who may not have visited a dentist in years now getting benefits.
A survey conducted by the college found that nearly 100 percent of dentists in the province provided care to patients.
But dentists report that the plan has added “administrative burden” to their practices. Dentists said in the survey that “Informing patients about the CDCP program” alone has added approximately an hour of additional work per day to their staff.
Dentists must send proof to obtain pre-authorization for major dental work.
“It’s a necessary evil,” what dentists do on behalf of patients to meet their oral health needs, Bhargava said.
Poor oral health causes lost days at work and school every year, he said, and is linked to overall health.
“If you’ve neglected your oral health it can really have a significant impact on the onset and progression of various systemic conditions like heart disease, cerebrovascular accidents like stroke. One of the main preventive measures for stroke is actually to keep your teeth cleaned,” Bhargava said.
More people are receiving dental care in Saskatchewan than a year ago. Dentists in the province say the increase is partly due to the Canadian Dental Care Plan.
Student-run clinics are seeing a decline in the number of patients
The University of Saskatchewan College of Dentistry reports that since the national plan was implemented, the college has seen a 36 per cent decline in the number of patients at its student-run discounted clinics compared to a year earlier. In 2024 – 2025, the college clinic saw 19,581 patient visits.
“This is going to impact the training of our students and the training of the next generation of oral health care providers,” said the dean of the College of Dentistry. Dr. Walter Siqueira,
This impacts the training of dentists, dental hygienists, dental hygienists and dental assistants.
Sequeira Said college is engaging with the federal government and other colleges and universities across Canada to find solutions.
According to Health Canada, 95,903 people have been accepted into the program in Saskatchewan, among nearly six million people nationwide.
In November, the federal ministry announced funding of more than $35 million over three years 30 projects Under the Oral Health Access Fund to improve training for dental students.
The Canadian Dental Care Plan is helping to reduce pressure on emergency rooms and the health-care system, the ministry said.
The University of Saskatchewan has launched its own initiative to improve access to dental care and now runs student clinics in La Ronge, Big River, Prince Albert, Red Earth Cree Nation, Shoal Lake Cree Nation, Nipawin, Saskatoon and Regina.
Saskatchewan provides some dental coverage for people enrolled in income support, employment incentives, Saskatchewan Assured Income for disability, the Senior Income Plan, government wards and inmates in provincial correctional institutions.
