The Provincial Government is pleased to announce the signing of three new agreement following successful negotiations with the Newfoundland and Labrador Dental Association for a four-year term (2026-2030).
With the new agreements, Newfoundland and Labrador’s Children’s Dental Health Plan will be one of the most comprehensive in Canada.
These agreements will ensure funding for improved access to the province’s dental programs: the Children’s Dental Health Plan, the Adult Dental Program, and the Surgical Dental Program.
The Children’s Dental Health Plan provides all children and youth 12 and under with universal access to eligible dental services including examinations, cleanings, routine fillings and extractions. It also provides vulnerable youth aged 13-17 with access to examinations, fillings and extractions. The Adult Dental Program provides basic and emergency services to those 18 years or older who are enrolled in the Foundation Plan of the Newfoundland and Labrador Prescription Drug Program. The Surgical Dental Program provides coverage for medically necessary insured surgical services.
Highlights of the new agreement include:
- A new rural retention bonus to support retention of 10 dentists already working under a return-in-service arrangement in underserved 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 underserved 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.
The expanded dental care coverage delivers on key commitments in Budget 2026 to ensure better health care, lower taxes and safer communities. More detailed information on Budget 2026 is available here.
Quotes
“Good dental health is essential to our overall health and well-being, and our government is pleased to ensure funding for important dental services for children and adults in our province. We appreciate the efforts of the Newfoundland and Labrador Dental Association on negotiating these agreements which will help improve access to dental care for residents, as well as support dental care professionals in our province in their vital work.”
Honourable Lela Evans
Minister of Health and Community Services
“We are pleased to reach new agreements with the Newfoundland and Labrador Dental Association to strengthen access to dental care across our province. These investments support recruitment and retention of dentists, including in rural areas, while expanding coverage and aligning fees with current standards. Together, these measures will help ensure Newfoundlanders and Labradorians can access high‑quality oral health services when and where they need them.”
Honourable Craig Pardy
Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board
“I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the Minister of Health and Community Services for her effort in negotiating successful agreements. The Newfoundland and Labrador Dental Association, along with its members, is very pleased with the increased funding, as this will reduce 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.”
Dr. Craig Smith
Newfoundland and Labrador Dental Association
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Learn more
Children’s Dental Health Program
Tentative Agreement Reached with Newfoundland and Labrador Dental Association
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BACKGROUNDER
The Children’s Dental Health Plan 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.