Nearly half those covered by Canada's new public insurance haven't seen a dentist

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Health Canada’s new public dental insurance program is seeing an increase in the number of people being approved for coverage, but data shows that nearly half of the 5.2 million eligible patients have yet to see a dentist. Of the Canadians approved for coverage, 2.8 million have been to a dental clinic, Health Canada says. "It's still a new program," Health Minister Marjorie Michel said at a news conference at a community centre in Ottawa. "To have people enrolled in the program is key for them to have the opportunity to go . . . It's like, you can go to your doctor, and you don't feel the need to go tomorrow morning, but you still can go to the doctor. It's just the same." The program helps pay for dental work including cleanings, fillings and dentures. Health Canada says that, on average, each patient has had $800 in expenses covered per year.