The Provincial Government and the Newfoundland and Labrador Dental Association have reached a tentative agreement for the continued delivery of the province’s dental programs: the Children’s Dental Program, the Adult Dental Program, and the Surgical Dental Program.

In the coming days, new memorandums of agreement will be signed for the period April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2030. Highlights of the tentative agreement include:

• Introduction of a new rural retention bonus to support retention of 10 dentists already working under a return-in-service arrangement in under serviced areas at a cost of $250,000.
• Increasing the budget by $250,000 for the Rural Dental Bursary Program. This will allow an additional five recipients to be added annually, bringing the total to 15 dentists per year who will practice in under serviced areas in the province.
• Coverage for the surgical extraction of any tooth, including wisdom teeth, through the Adult Dental Program when the extraction is performed by a general dentist.
• Implementation of several new fee codes to better align with private insurance and increasing coverage to 90 per cent of the fees as outlined in the 2026 Newfoundland and Labrador Dental Association Fee Guide for general practitioners.

Specific details will be provided to the dental community in the coming days by the Newfoundland and Labrador Dental Association.

Quotes
“I would like to thank Dr. Smith and his negotiating team for working closely with officials from my department and Treasury Board these past few months to reach this agreement. We know good oral health habits start early and last a lifetime. Newfoundland and Labrador has the most comprehensive children’s dental plan in the country, and together with the new Canadian dental care plan, it is improving access to dental care for both children and adults. I encourage parents to help their children see a dentist early and for adults to continue prioritizing regular dental care.”
Honourable Lela Evans
Minister of Health and Community Services

“I am pleased that we have reached a tentative agreement that supports the continued delivery of high‑quality dental programs throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. This agreement reflects our government’s commitment to improving access to oral health services – for all of us. By investing in recruitment and retention and aligning our programs with current fee structures, we are ensuring that residents can continue to receive the care they need, close to home.”
Honourable Craig Pardy
Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board

“I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the officials from Health and Community Services and the Treasury Board for their efforts in negotiating a successful agreement. The Newfoundland and Labrador Dental Association, along with its members, is very pleased with the increased funding, as this will improve the administrative burden on the office staff. We also commend the Government for maintaining a strong focus on improving oral health. This agreement will enable dentists across Newfoundland and Labrador to continue delivering high-quality, world-class oral health care to the people of our province.”
Craig Smith
Newfoundland and Labrador Dental Association

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BACKGROUNDER

The Children’s Dental Health Program provides Universal access to eligible dental services for children up to their 13th birthday.  Eligible services include examinations every six months, cleanings once every twelve months, fluoride applications, sealants and routine fillings and extractions.

The Adult Dental Program provides basic and emergency dental services to those individuals who are enrolled in the Foundation Plan of the Newfoundland and Labrador Drug Program.  Eligible services include an examination and two x-rays every three years, routine fillings to an annual maximum on a three year cycle, extractions in addition to a Denture Component allowing the delivery of standard dentures once every eight years.

The Surgical Dental Program provides coverage for medically necessary insured services performed in a hospital or the office of an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon under the Medical Care and Hospital Insurance Act.