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You can Help Us Change Lives

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How Can You Help?

Monetary contributions go towards staff, outreach, supplies, and many other necessities to running our clinics.

If you are a dentist or hygienist in Ontario, please consider volunteering just four hours a month with us.

Much of our equipment and supplies are donated. We welcome any donated equipment in working condition.

Our 2023 Impact

1594

Emergency Visits

2401

Hours Volunteered

604

Teeth Restored

402

Emergency Extractions

210

Dental Cleanings

392294

Saved Toronto Public Health

Who Does Filling the Gap Provide Services To?

10 to 12% of Canadians don’t file tax returns, many due to barriers such as language and financial literacy. These non-filers are frequently not eligible for government plans and likewise will not be eligible to receive funding through the CDCP.

The number of undocumented workers living in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is estimated to range from 200,000 to 500,000. These individuals are not eligible for government plans.

An estimated 18,000 Torontonians are homeless. Some are living in shelters or hotels as temporary accommodation but many sleep on the streets. 97% of people surveyed in Toronto shelters needed dental treatment and 40% needed emergency dental treatment. 35% had avoided eating due to mouth problems.

Many refugees are not registered under the Interim Federal Healthcare Plan (IFHP). Not all refugees who enter Canada are eligible for the IFHP due to strict eligibility criteria.

Even if eligible, barriers in accessing care through Government plans are frequent issues faced by both adults and children in the GTA. Many low income families encounter long waitlists or long travel times to public health clinics, and it can be difficult to find a private dentist to accept patients on government plans. “Won’t the CDCP Fill the Gap?”

Filling the Gap helps these and other Canadians navigate their options and achieve their best oral health.

What Our Patients Say

Our Partners

Our Proud Sponsors

How Ontarians Access Dental Care

Patients pay “out of pocket” at a private dental office.

Often obtained through an employer. However, availability, coverage limits and rates vary significantly.

  • Ontario works (OW) –low income or unemployed Ontarians
  • Healthy Smiles Ontario (HSO)- Children from low-income families
  • Ontario Seniors program (OSP) – Low-income seniors
  • Ontario Disability support Program (ODSP)- Ontarians with disabilities
  • Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) – for refugees
  • Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) – for eligible First Nations members. Provides more extensive benefits through private dentists or public health clinics.
  • Canadian Dental Care Plan

Our patients represent the thousands of Canadians with nowhere else to turn due to the many financial and non-financial barriers to care.

"Won't the Canadian Dental Care Plan Fill the Gap?"

We still need your help.

Groups that will not be covered under public dental programs including the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) are:

 

  • Low-income Canadians who do not file their taxes with the CRA
  • Undocumented Individuals
  • People experiencing Homelessness
  • Displaced Persons & Refugees
  • People who cannot access public dental programs due to long wait lists, accessibility barriers, limited dental services offered, or challenges finding a dental office that accepts public dental programs.

Did you know The CDCP...