Support Our Work
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
Emergency Visits
Hours Volunteered
Teeth Restored
Emergency Extractions
Dental Cleanings
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
I cannot express enough gratitude to Urban Dental Clinic for their exceptional service and remarkable expertise in restoring my smile. I visited them to fix my front teeth, and the results have been life-changing. They've truly brought my smile back to life! The team of doctors at Urban Dental Clinic is simply amazing. Not only are they highly skilled professionals...read more on Google
I am immensely grateful for the exceptional care I received during the removal of my wisdom tooth at your facility. Your kindness and professionalism turned what could have been a challenging experience into a manageable one. Thank you for your dedication to helping others; it is truly commendable. I appreciate your support and wish you all the best.
I think trust, love and altruism are the foundations to this organization, and I am deeply touched and impressed by the way how organization is operating and its efficiency. Many many thanks to the dentists and dental assistant who helped me removed two of my wisdom teeth. This place not only helped vulnerable people with dental issue but also transmit love and the faith of equity...read more on Google
I would like to express my sincere thanks to Dr Sukhjeevan, the dentist assistant and Manju for supporting me a lot during my wisdom tooth extraction treatment. I am extremely grateful to everyone at the Dental Clinic who has helped me so much with my toothache. Honestly, without you guys I think my life would be worse. Thank you for helping low-income people like us. Once again, thank you very much. Wishing you a lot of health! ^^
Our Partners
CCRIHC has been an indispensable partner to Filling the Gap since the inception of our charity in 2020. The CCRIHC was an original founder of the Urban Dental Clinic in 2007 and has been a constant supporter since that time, both financially and in many practical ways. We are very grateful to them for their support and could not function without them.
Rexdale Community Health Centre has been an indispensable partner to Filling the Gap by allowing us to use their dental clinic at no cost and by supporting our program both financially and in many practical ways. We are very grateful to them for their support and could not function without them.
Homeless Connect Toronto stands as a crucial ally of our charity, providing invaluable support through their dedicated efforts and joint events. Their partnership has significantly enhanced our ability to serve the community, fostering collaboration that is essential to our shared mission. We deeply appreciate their commitment and contributions, which play a pivotal role in our ongoing efforts to make a positive impact.
Our Proud Sponsors
GreenShield has generously donated $50,000 in both 2022 and 2023 toward our work at Filling the Gap. This has enabled us to hire part time dentists to work alongside our volunteer dentists to increase the number of vulnerable Torontonians that we are able to serve. We are incredibly grateful to GreenShield for their support.
Henry Schein was invaluable in donating both dental equipment and time to help us when installing our 3 new dental operatories in our Scarborough location. We are very grateful to them for all their support.
Toronto Public Health has been a long term supporter of our work since the inception of the Urban Dental Clinic in 2007 and now at the Rexdale Hub Community Health Centre. We are very grateful to TPH for all their support.
K-Dental has been instrumental in supplying critical equipment for our clinics. We and our patients greatly appreciate their generous support.
Think Property Finance has generously donated to our work at Filling the Gap, enabling us to expand our work and maximize the number of vulnerable individuals we can see. We are very grateful to them for their support.
We extend our deepest gratitude to Canadian Dental Labs for their generous contributions that play a pivotal role in enhancing the lives of our patients by providing dentures to those in need, restoring smiles, and boosting confidence. The impact of Canadian Dental Labs' contributions resonates profoundly with those we serve, as many patients have experienced a positive transformation, thanks to the dental care made possible through their support.
The Toronto Foundation has been fundamental in connecting us with sponsor organizations that have been willing to give is grants to help us achieve our goals at Filling the Gap. We are very grateful to them for their support.
We are immensely grateful to HDA Crown and Bridge Laboratory for their vital sponsorship, providing essential dental laboratory services that significantly enhance our outreach efforts and enable us to deliver crucial dental care to those in need.
Accerta generously donated $75,000 in 2024, significantly supporting our mission. We are very grateful for this contribution which has enabled us to hire part-time dentists and assistants, expanding the reach of our services.
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...
- Does not replace employer benefits and is not a free dental care plan.
- Restricts how often a dentist can perform certain treatments.
- Is not accepted by all dentists. Patients will still need to find a participating dentist and are advised to ask ahead of time about an office's policy on the CDCP.
- Could leave patients with significant, unexpected copays.
- Does not cover Students, Refugees, Work-Permit Holders, undocumented people, and Canadians who do not file with the CRA.