Nearly three quarters of dentists are accepting patients through the new Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) but dentist participation rates still vary widely from province to province.

Data obtained by CBC News shows the CDCP participation rate for dentists is lowest in the Maritimes, Nunavut, Yukon and the Northwest Territories. In New Brunswick, only 40 per cent of dentists are accepting CDCP patients. In the three territories, only 38 per cent of dentists take part in the program.

The provincial and territorial data was provided to CBC News after four weeks of repeated requests to Health Canada and Health Minister Mark Holland's office.