On a cool October morning in the fall of 2025, while many Canadians were getting ready for the Thanksgiving long weekend, patients were already gathering outside Dr. Raj Khanuja’s dental clinics throughout southern Ontario, some arriving before dawn. They weren’t there for routine appointments or cosmetic consultations. They were waiting for something more rare: the opportunity to receive no-cost dental care as part of what has become known as National Dental Care Day (NDCD)—a small but growing movement founded by Dr. Khanuja.
What began years earlier as a community initiative called “Doing Positive in My Backyard”—a simple promise to offer one free day of care to those in need—has since grown into a nationwide movement. That local act of kindness eventually became known as National Dental Care Day, officially launched on October 10, 2025.
In the early years, patients would often line up long before sunrise, some as early as 2:00 a.m. After COVID, the clinics adopted a pre-booking system to make the process easier and ensure that no one had to wait in line.
For Dr. Khanuja, who owns and operates ten dental clinics across Ontario, this day represents far more than free dentistry. The idea began more than a decade ago with one patient, a single mother forced to choose between her own dental care and her son’s hockey dreams. “She told me she’d rather buy him used hockey equipment than fix her teeth,” recalls Dr. Khanuja. “That was the day I promised she wouldn’t have to choose.”
He treated her free of charge. That moment of kindness inspired what would become National Dental Care Day, now held each year on October 10. “We call it 10/10 because that’s what we aim for—10 out of 10 in compassion, community, and care.”
From those humble beginnings, the program has expanded to include Dr. Khanuja’s ten dental offices along with six additional clinics that have since joined the effort serving over 200 patients on the most recent National Dental Care Day. The care provided includes cleanings, fillings, and extractions—basic but vital treatments that can prevent pain and infection for those who might otherwise go without. Many of these clinics became involved after learning about the grassroots initiative through the National Dental Care Day website, by word of mouth among colleagues, and through local newspaper stories and social posts that highlighted its impact.
Oral health is frequently overlooked when discussing overall health and equity. But Dr. Khanuja understands that untreated cavities or missing teeth don’t just cause pain or infection—there is a ripple effect into self-esteem, employability, nutrition, and social inclusion. “Dentistry isn’t just about teeth – it’s about dignity, about giving people the confidence to smile again.”
A Day That Unites The Profession
To meet the growing demand, Dr. Khanuja’s clinics have adapted their approach over the years. “We have several associate dentists who volunteer their time and help out each year,” he explains. Since the onset of COVID, the clinics have shifted to a more organized system—patients are now pre-booked into reserved time slots so they don’t have to wait around. “That said, we always do our best to accommodate everyone who shows up. Our team often stays late to make sure every patient is seen. If someone arrives with a friend or family member, we simply schedule them for a later slot the same day rather than turning anyone away.” The initiative’s reach continues to grow through word of mouth, local newspaper coverage, postings on community event boards and now through social media, ensuring that those most in need hear about the opportunity.
While Dr. Khanuja’s own clinics remain the backbone of the initiative, what excites him most is seeing others take up the cause. “There are clinics now doing it on their own that I didn’t even know about,” he says. “That’s when I knew the message was spreading.”
His vision is ambitious but clear: one day, every dentist in Canada will dedicate a single day a year to providing free care to their community. “Imagine the strength it would show as a profession and as a nation,” he says. “Dentists already do incredible work across Canada and abroad. This is a way to unify that compassion, to share it with our community.”
The initiative is fully grassroots, driven by inspiration rather than obligation. Dentists are encouraged to participate in whatever way feels right for them. “Start small,” he advises. “You don’t need to have all the resources. Help one patient. One act of kindness is enough to begin.”
Bridging Gaps in Access to Care
The launch of the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) has filled some of the gaps in access to oral health, but Dr. Khanuja emphasizes that need remains. “Even with CDCP, there are people who fall through the cracks—those who don’t qualify or who avoid care for a multitude of reasons,” he says. “National Dental Care Day acts as a complement, not a competitor to the government program. It reaches those who might otherwise stay away from the dentist altogether.”
Eligibility, he stresses, is never a question. “We don’t ask about income, immigration status, or insurance. There are no forms, no financial thresholds, just compassion. If you walk in that day and your health allows you to sit in the chair, we treat you. No questions, no judgment.” In this way, National Dental Care Day not only restores smiles but also restores dignity; a value Dr. Khanuja holds close.
In 2024, Dr. Khanuja received the Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship from the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario—an honour he views not as personal recognition, but as encouragement to continue growing the movement. “It meant the message was reaching people,” he says. “Now the goal is to make sure it keeps spreading.”
That same year, the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario featured his work in an article highlighting how one dentist’s initiative can inspire a collective movement. “When I talk to other dentists, I see that compassion in them,” he says. “They’ve always wanted to do something like this—they just didn’t know how to start.”
As National Dental Care Day continues to grow, Dr. Khanuja hopes more clinics across Canada will join in. He’s developing materials and resources to help interested dentists navigate logistics, from patient consent to clinical workflow. “There’s no red tape,” he says. “You already have the license, the insurance, and the heart. All that’s left is to act.”
A Family Built on Service
Service, for the Khanuja family, is not just a professional duty—it’s a way of life. Dr. Khanuja’s son, Rajvir, now a biomedical sciences student at York University, founded the “100 Kilometres Walk Club” while in high school. He was inspired to raise money for health care after his grandfather was in the hospital during the COVID19 lockdown. Thankfully, his grandfather made a full recovery and in honour of the exemplary care he received Rajvir committed to walking 10km every long weekend (10 long weekends each year=100 km) since 2022 and has raised over $11,000 for local hospitals. Dr. Khanuja’s daughter, Rajsi, a Grade 11 student, is planning her own initiative to support women with breast cancer.
They grew up in a home where giving back was part of daily life,” says Dr. Khanuja. “We’re an intergenerational extended family—my parents, my children, and I all live together—and we believe the best way to teach compassion is to model it. Service has always been a shared language in our home.
Dentistry at the Leading Edge
When he’s not organizing National Dental Care Day, Dr. Khanuja is equally dedicated to advancing clinical excellence. A recognized expert in implant and orthodontic dentistry, he has published numerous professional articles, covering everything from guided implant placement to gum surgeries and braces. “If I’m going to do something,” he says, “I want to do it at the highest level. That’s how I honour the profession.”
He brings that same sense of purpose to volunteerism. “Dentistry gives us a skill that can change lives instantly,” he says. “You can relieve someone’s pain or give them back their smile. That’s a great privilege and a responsibility I never take lightly.”
The Heart of Work
One of the stories that stays with him is of a woman named Flo who had been coming to his free dental days for a decade. Wheelchair-bound after a failed spinal surgery, she had only one wish: to smile in her daughter’s wedding photos. “To give her that smile was the greatest satisfaction of my 20-year career,” says Dr. Khanuja. “My soul smiles when I think about it.”
Flo’s husband, Ed later spoke at the official launch of National Dental Care Day, recalling how a simple act of kindness gave his wife the confidence to smile in her daughter’s wedding photos. “Now I can be in the pictures,” she had said—a moment he described as one that “restored her dignity and reminded us that compassion originates from the heart.”
Stories like this remind him and his staff why they do what they do. “My team looks forward to National Dental Care Day every year,” he says. “It’s the most rewarding kind of work. You see the impact immediately, and you feel proud to be part of something meaningful.”
Looking Ahead
In October 2025, National Dental Care Day was formally recognized in Canada’s Hansard record after Senator Mohamed-Iqbal Ravalia shared its story in the Senate of Canada. The acknowledgement marked a milestone—demonstrating that compassion in dentistry has not only reached communities across the country but has also found a place in our nation’s parliamentary history.
For a man who balances cutting-edge dentistry with tireless community service, time management may seem like an art form. But Dr. Khanuja shrugs it off. “It’s all about management and allocation of time,” he says with a smile. “If something enhances the profession or helps even one person, I’ll find a way to do it.”