A new report has found that Canadians largely feel positive towards oral healthcare in Canada. Positives included the number of Canadians attending a dental clinic, strong frequency of visits and improvements in many areas compared to results from 2020. However, there were some negative findings which will provide policy makers with areas to improve upon going forward.
A new report conducted by the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA) has looked into how Canadians feel about the current oral healthcare situation across the nation.
This is a particularly relevant report, given how there has been a lot of change in oral healthcare within the last year. For example, the loosening of Covid-19 restrictions and the new Canadian Dental Benefit have changed the landscape of dentistry.
There are plenty of positive findings in the report. However, there are also some areas of concern which the CDHA and policy makers will aim to remedy in order to improve attitudes and opinions towards oral healthcare in the future.
The Report
The report was carried out with Abacus Data. It questioned 2,000 Canadians aged 18 and over on a variety of topics within oral healthcare in Canada.
Respondents were selected from across a wide range of ages, genders, demographics and regions in order to try and simulate a picture that represented the entirety of the Canadian population [1].
The positives
Arguably the main positive was the finding that 9 in 10 Canadians feel comfortable in attending a dental appointment [1]. This is despite lingering concerns about Covid-19.
As mentioned above, there have been several changes in oral healthcare in recent times, making this report important. For example, the Canadian Dental Benefit was launched under six months ago. Moreover, a larger National Dental Plan is gradually being implemented. In positive news, 80% of those surveyed supported the plan [1].
Frequency of visits was positive too. When respondents were asked when the last time was that they had accessed dental care, 49% responded “within the last 6 months” [1]. This suggests that almost half of Canadians are attending the dentist at least twice a year.
The report found that 7 in 10 Canadians visit an oral health professional at least once a year [1]. This was mainly for routine check-ups and exams. While this is somewhat low and isn’t an entirely positive finding, this still represents a good amount. It shows that the majority of Canadians do recognize the importance of oral health.
Moreover, 1 in 3 Canadians under the age of 30 have booked an appointment with a dental hygienist in the last year [1]. Dental hygienists can perform more specialized care and a deeper look at oral health. Additionally, 85% of Canadians that visited a dental hygienist say that they discussed oral health techniques – a 15% rise since 2020 [1]. Therefore, dental hygienist-related findings are very positive.
There are also signs that Canadians are feeling very positive about the future of oral healthcare in the country. For instance, the report found that 87% of Canadians believe the upcoming National Dental Care Plan will improve access to dental care services in Canada [1].
Another finding that was positive concerned sources of dental news. The report found that 70% of Canadians learn about oral health news from their dentist [1]. In an age where the internet is full of sensationalized articles and fake news, it is promising to see that many are using the most reliable source of all – a dental professional.
The negatives
However, while there are plenty of positives, there were some negatives. The report found that the number of Canadians with dental health benefits has actually decreased since 2020, with 32% of Canadians reporting having coverage [1]. This is a reduction from 40% in 2020 [1].
Moreover, the majority of Canadians feel that access to dental care in Canada is a severe problem for seniors [1]. This is a vulnerable population and it is critical that their needs are taken into account. Perceived problems included financial constraints, restricted mobility and a lack of awareness of the importance of oral health among this population [1].
There is also clearly a legacy being left behind by Covid-19. Despite the restrictions imposed as a result of the global pandemic being loosened in recent times, 1 in 4 Canadians report that their access to dental care continues to be different compared to pre-pandemic [1].
Then there was the finding that 3% of the respondents said that they were “not at all comfortable” in attending a dental appointment for reasons that had nothing to do with Covid-19 [1]. This shows that some people have strong reasons for not wanting to attend a dental clinic.
The future
The CDHA hope that the widening of the dental benefit and creation of the eventual National Dental Plan will result in more people benefiting from improved access to oral healthcare.
The CDHA, Canadian Dental Association and relevant policy makers will also surely attempt to implement changes based on the findings in this report.
They will hope that by doing so, future reports and surveys will produce an increased number of positive findings. Ensuring that Canadians are happy with oral healthcare is very important, with continuous improvements being made in recent years aiding this.
Anne Caissie, the President of the CDHA, was pleased with the findings, but highlighted that improvements are still needed [2]. Caissie said that the findings “show that Canadians acknowledge the need for improved access to oral health care services in this country” [2].
Furthermore, acknowledging the costs involved, Caissie mentioned that “access to care, especially for vulnerable populations, should not come down to the ability to pay” [2]. There is room for improvement, but there are many positives to take away from this report.
Thinking points…
1) The report found that some people believe there are financial constraints when trying to access dental care. With this in mind, it is useful for you to know that here at our Calgary-based dental clinic Savanna Dental, our fees are set in line with the Alberta Dental Fee Guide. Therefore, our prices are fully transparent, competitive and reliable. You can find out more about us by looking on our website https://savannadentalclinic.ca. We would love to see you at our Calgary dental clinic soon!
2) An important finding was the frequency in which Canadians are visiting their dentist. We recommend that you attend a dental clinic for a check-up at least twice a year. This ensures that your dentist can get a thorough understanding of your oral health, provide advice, and identify problems if they exist. We strongly recommend that you book an appointment right away!
What we offer at Savanna Dental
Savanna Dental is a Calgary dental clinic that provide its patients with a wide range of dental treatment options and advice aimed at improving their oral health.
It is crucial to brush your teeth at least twice a day and to floss regularly. Moreover, eating healthily and trying to avoid sugary foods and drink is important.
We advise our patients to attend our Calgary-based dental clinic twice a year for a regular dental check-up. When problems are detected, we have many treatments available. For instance, these include cavity fillings and root canals.
Here at Savanna Dental, we also have some cosmetic treatments available! These include dental implants, tooth whitening and Invisalign™! Many people find that these treatments have a positive impact on their appearance, confidence and self-esteem.
In addition, all of our services at our Calgary dental clinic Savanna Dental are in line with the Alberta Dental Fee Guide.
We would love you to visit our Savanna Dental clinic in Calgary! You can find out more about us by visiting our website https://savannadentalclinic.ca.
References
[1] The Canadian Dental Hygienists Association. (2023). Public Perceptions of State of Oral Health in Canada. Available: https://files.cdha.ca/profession/policy/public_opinion_survey_results_2023.pdf. Last accessed: 14th April 2023.
[2] The Canadian Dental Hygienists Association. (2023). New Study Reveals Canadians’ Views on Strengths and Gaps in Oral Health Care Access. Available: https://www.oralhealthgroup.com/news/new-study-reveals-canadians-views-on-strengths-and-gaps-in-oral-health-care-access-1003972901/. Last accessed: 14th April 2023.
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