A new grant is making it possible for the University of Manitoba dental school to offer free oral health care to eligible Manitobans. On Tuesday, the university announced that the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry received a $336,000 grant from Health Canada, allowing the school to cover up to 100% of eligible dental costs for patients enrolled in the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) or for non-insured patients. This means patients who are eligible for 40 or 60 per cent coverage under the CDCP will have their coverage topped up, while non-insured patients will receive full coverage. “Funding like this is important because we know through surveys that have been done that many individuals are not able to access oral health-care services,” said Anastasia Kelekis-Cholakis, dean of the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry. “Oral health care is very important in overall health care.” Kelekis-Cholakis noted that this funding is a win-win situation, as it provides dental services to Manitobans who may face socio-economic barriers to care and will also help students to improve their clinical and interpersonal skills by delivering care to patients with diverse backgrounds. “Dental students also need a certain amount of diverse experiences and treatments in order to become better prepared for private practice,” Kelakis-Cholakis said. The program will run from now until March 31, 2026, or until the grant runs out at the U of M clinic, located at 790 Bannatyne Ave. Those who wish to become a patient at the clinic can find more information online.
