The New Brunswick Dental Society warns that patients are waiting months longer for routine care as clinics struggle with staff shortages.

Health Minister Marjorie Michel announced that close to six million Canadians are now covered under the Canadian Dental Care Plan.

The program is saving eligible families an average of $800 a year on oral health services.

Michel also announced more than $35 million over three years for 30 projects under the Oral Health Access Fund.

The federal government says the funding will expand training opportunities for dental students and improve access to care across the country.

Paul Blanchard, executive director of the New Brunswick Dental Society, said about 85 to 90 per cent of dentists in the province are participating in the plan.

But he emphasized that many offices cannot keep up with demand because they lack sufficient staff.

“We have about 400 dentists in the province, and ideally each would need two dental assistants,” Blanchard said. “Right now we have about 635 assistants, but we need closer to 800.”

Blanchard said the shortage is leading to longer waits for patients, with hygiene appointments being pushed out nine to 10 months instead of the usual three to four.

“It’s less than optimal,” he said, adding that the demand exceeds the system’s current capacity.

He said rural communities are feeling the strain most, though urban centres are also affected.

Blanchard welcomed new federal funds in dental training at Collège Communautaire du Nouveau‑Brunswick and Oulton College in Moncton.

He said those new funds are a step toward fixing the problem, but cautioned that it will take time before staffing levels improve enough to meet demand.