Category: Dental Care

The Institute for Research on Public Policy have provided a series of recommendations to the Canadian Federal Government in regards to the National Dental Care Plan. They have some concerns with the current trajectory of the plan and have argued a universal care plan approach would be more beneficial.

The Institute for Research on Public Policy (IRPP) have voiced concerns over the current state of dental care in Canada, which involves reservations about the dental benefit [1].

These concerns have resulted in the IRPP calling for a universal dental care plan for Canadians, among other recommendations [1]. The IRPP have argued that adopting this approach would result in a bigger benefit to the oral health of Canadians.

What is the IRPP?

The IRPP is an organization that aims to combine research and public policy to improve the lives of Canadians [2]. They aim to provide insight and influence debate on some of the policy issues facing Canadians.

Their concerns over the state of dental care in Canada are based on research and insights, and takes into account all Canadians, including those with barriers to dental care.

IRPP’s comments on the dental plan

On their website, the IRPP have produced some findings in regards to their research into the state of dental care in Canada [2]. This research involved taking into account 75 studies, policies, court cases and other material, providing the organization with a wealth of information to draw their findings [1].

The IRPP have referred to Canada as a “laggard” when it comes to providing public funding for dental care [1]. By saying this, they are suggesting Canada is behind the times when it comes to dental care funding.

However, the IRPP have noted that the federal government’s proposed Canadian Dental Care Plan has the potential to change this [1]. Currently, the plan is in its early stages – taking the form of a benefit rather than a full plan.

The federal government pledged a $13billion contribution to implement the dental plan over a five-year period [1]. The plan will help families whose income is below $90,000 per year. Currently, children aged under 12 are benefiting from the plan. However, by 2025, all Canadians will have access to the dental plan [1].

The IRPP also note that the federal government has committed to spending a minimum of $250million over a three year period from 2025 in order to establish the Oral Health Access Fund [1]. Therefore, this will allow the government to invest in programs that would support the oral health of vulnerable populations.

The IRPP’s recommendations

The IRPP have pointed out that this is a “major step forward” in the federal government’s attempts to reform dental care in the country [1]. Therefore, they have acknowledged the existing efforts.

However, the IRPP have argued that there are many problems with the “payer of last resort model” that the government has opted to use [1]. Moreover, they argue that this will result in “inefficiencies” and a lack of “equitable access” to dental care.

The IRPP have suggested that there are alternative ways of achieving the reforms – including methods that don’t alienate certain members of society. Therefore, the IRPP have pointed to four factors that should help guide Canada’s dental care reform [1]:

• Universality

• Fairness

• Accessibility

• Accountability

The IRPP have argued that once these four factors are taken into account, that there are various options to take [1]. The IRPP have pointed out that the government opted to choose a cash payment at first. However, the IRPP have called for a move towards providing universal dental care coverage for essential dental services [1].

They have argued that a national agency – which would be funded by the federal government – should be launched which would provide universal dental coverage [1]. Furthermore, the IRPP have suggested that such a move would be in keeping with Canada’s constitutional division of powers and would be an effective way of broadening access to dental care for all across Canada.

The IRPP have suggested the national agency would be able to collect data to ensure accessibility is being achieved, along with quality of care [1].

What next?

It is clear that oral healthcare in Canada causes substantial debate across the nation. The IRPP have offered their opinions, backed by the large amount of research undertaken.

The federal government continue to work out ways of implementing the dental care plan and will surely note these recommendations when deciding the next stage of the rollout. But we do know that discussion over the dental plan is far from over.

Thinking points…

1) One of the leading causes of a dental plan being needed is that many people find the cost of oral healthcare too high. However, here at our Calgary-based dental clinic [clinic name], our fees are set in line with the Alberta Dental Fee Guide. Therefore, this makes our prices fully transparent, reliable, and competitive. If you wanted to find out more about us, why not visit our website https://savannadentalclinic.ca? We would love to see you at our Calgary dental clinic soon!

2) Whether you have dental coverage or not, remember it is very important to have at least two check-ups per year. Dental check-ups give a dentist a chance to have a thorough look at your oral health. Therefore, they can provide advice, information and treatment options if needed. We strongly recommend that you book your next appointment soon!

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] Flood, C. M., Allin, S., Lazin, S. J., Marchildon, G., Oliver, P., & Quinonez, C. (2023). Toward a Universal Dental Care Plan: Policy Options for Canada. Available: https://irpp.org/research-studies/toward-a-universal-dental-care-plan-policy-options-for-canada/. Last accessed: 30th June 2023.

[2] Institute for Research on Public Policy. (2023). About the IRPP. Available: https://irpp.org/about-the-irpp/. Last accessed: 30th June 2023.

Three students from Queen’s University, Canada, have launched a brand new Dental aid network that is designed to help vulnerable and marginalized members of society with their oral health. They aim to provide citizens with essential dental products. The three students have been praised for their efforts, which will hopefully have a very positive impact on society.

In an admirable effort, three students from Queen’s University have launched the Queen’s Dental Aid Network – with the aim of supplying essential dental products to vulnerable and marginalized members of society.

The three students are aiming to assist those in Kingston and surrounding areas to begin with. However, they have high hopes for the future and may look to expand to more areas.

Queen’s Dental Aid Network

The three students behind the project are Connor Hamlyn, Kianna Niaki and Peter Hwang [1]. All three are studying Health Sciences at Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada.

The network will aim to help improve the oral health of vulnerable citizens in Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington.

To achieve this they plan on supplying products like toothbrushes, toothpaste, and dental floss to vulnerable citizens [1]. These are all essential items, but ones that not everyone can afford or can access.

Hamlyn says that some vulnerable people “walk around with a toothbrush that’s been hanging off their bag, thrown on the ground, getting in the dirt”, making them largely ineffective.

The trio will be partnering with local dental clinics and retailers [1]. Furthermore, many clinics and retailers have committed to donate any expired products or excess stock to the organization. Then, they will be delivered to shelters and charitable organizations [1].

Hamlyn has spoken about the resources they have available. He says “we do have a lot of food, and the food is coming in” [1]. However, Hamlyn notes that while vulnerable people receive hot meals, oral health is neglected.

The group are specifically focusing on oral health, as in the words of Niaki, they realized that many conditions can be impacted by having poor oral hygiene [1]. Therefore, their actions can help prevent further conditions.

Niaki said that when they learned “how important oral hygiene is” that they were “really determined to make a difference” [1].

Oral health in Kingston

Niaki pointed out that for marginalized and vulnerable people, oral health isn’t something they treat as a priority. She says that “food and shelter is top priority” for such people [1]. But they “wish to address the importance of oral hygiene” as it is “crucial to one’s health and adequate functioning” [1].

Kingston is a good place to target. There is a large homelessness problem in the area, with homeless shelters struggling to cope with demand [2]. Moreover, the harsh winter is causing even more people to seek shelter [2].

In fact, one recent high-profile case involved a person that had coped with a gum infection for almost a decade [3]. The man was unable to afford treatment over this time period. Therefore, the new initiative outlined above will look to tackle such issues.

Looking forward

The three people behind the initiative have earned praise for their efforts. If it proves to be successful, they may look to expand further in the future.

The trio are aiming to raise awareness of their efforts to dental offices, drugstores and the community to try and achieve further support or donations.

As Hwang says, their purpose is to “mix marginalized communities in our community while raising awareness for oral hygiene and oral health by giving out these semi-frequent care packages for those in need” [1].

This purpose should have a very positive impact on vulnerable and marginalized populations. The aim is for them to have improved oral hygiene which should hopefully have a positive impact on their overall health and quality of life.

Thinking points…

1) This article talks about oral hygiene. Most people clean their teeth, but oral hygiene is so much more than this! It includes flossing, eating healthily and very importantly – getting regular dental check-ups. Check-ups allow a dentist to have a thorough look at your oral health and provide advice. We recommend booking an appointment now!

2) Homelessness is a big problem in many places. While many people kindly provide food and hot drinks to the homeless, it is important to also remember that practical things like toothbrushes and toothpaste can also help. The next time you think about donating, consider donating something oral hygiene related – it could help a lot.

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] MacAlpine, I. (2023). Queen’s student initiative hopes to provide oral care supplies to those in need. Available: https://www.thewhig.com/news/queens-student-initiative-hopes-to-provide-oral-care-supplies-to-those-in-need. Last accessed: 27th April 2023.

[2] Davis, D. (2023). Kingston homeless population vulnerable as temperature plummets. Available: https://globalnews.ca/news/9453132/kingston-homeless-population-vulnerable-cold/. Last accessed: 27th April 2023.

[3] Muhammad-Yusuf, F. (2023). Cost of dental care proving to be a roadblock for unhoused individuals in Kingston, Ont.. Available: https://globalnews.ca/news/9613726/dental-care-cost-roadblock-kingston-ont-unhoused/. Last accessed: 27th April 2023.

Social media app TikTok has a large amount of content that promotes the practice of “do-it-yourself dentistry”, causing concern among dental professionals. Impressionable youngsters and teenagers are unwittingly putting their oral health in danger by following some of the trends on the app. These trends typically promise excellent results for their oral appearance at little-to-no cost.

TikTok is one of the most popular social media apps currently. While the app is full of comedic content, famous speakers and interesting media, there is also a darker side to it.

One of the most harmful sides of TikTok is the rise of “do-it-yourself dentistry”, also known as DIY dentistry [1]. You could be forgiven for thinking that DIY dentistry refers to us all brushing our teeth and flossing them – as we should.

But actually, it refers to DIY methods that are supposed hacks and techniques that people can use to improve the look of their smile, teeth, gums and more.

These techniques fool impressionable children and teenagers, and risks serious damage and long-term problems for oral health. Therefore, it is important for parents and children alike to know the danger.

Background

TikTok is a social media app where users upload short videos, The app is expected to have almost 2billion accounts by the end of 2022 – showing the scale of how many people use the app [2].

A large percentage of TikTok’s users are children, teenagers and young adults. This represents a group that is still maturing, and are therefore very impressionable.

Moreover, it is common to have self-esteem issues at this age. This fuels the desire to look “perfect”, with teeth seen as an area that many people wish to improve. Furthermore, social media is full of so-called “influencers” who often display unrealistic looks.

Then there is also the issue of dental care being expensive, and not accessible by everyone. Therefore, this turns some people towards DIY dentistry. Many people believe these treatments are painless and effective, but this isn’t the case.

The most popular videos are supposed “success stories”, with disappointing results rarely seen. This leads to many thinking that these are fool proof techniques that guarantee success.

Example Case: Tooth Gems

The hashtag #DIYdentist has 2.6million views – showing its widespread popularity [1]. This hashtag brings up thousands of videos, the vast majority of which have content that is harmful to its viewers.

One example is tooth gems. Older readers may remember the “tooth gem” trend that was common during the 2000s. While they had seemingly been forgotten, TikTok has breathed new life into the trend.

Tooth gems put colourful gems on teeth, which some people find desirable. Therefore, this has led to many influencers selling their own DIY tooth gem kits [1].

These kits sell on Amazon cheaply, leading to many people purchasing them. But the product reviews show the danger, with phrases like “bleeding gums”, “tooth sensitivity” and “pain” are common [1]. These gems also attract bacteria, further increasing the risk of cavities and gum disease.

Many people struggle to make these gems stick, which has led to many suggesting using nail glue to solve the problem [2]. However, nail glue is toxic and can damage tooth enamel [1]. Many of these products are made in China – a nation with much less stringent safety rules and regulations on such products.

Other dangerous trends

Many other dangerous trends exist. For example, tooth replacement kits. This is something that should never be attempted by anyone other than a fully qualified dentist. These kits often include “drills”, which are not fit for purpose. It is crucial to not alter the shape of your teeth.

Another trend that has gained popularity is a so-called “healthy coke”. This drink is made up of balsamic vinegar and sparkling water. This drink has been called a healthy version of Coca-Cola, as there is supposedly no sugar. But while it isn’t as unhealthy as regular soda, the acidic content is enormous.

Therefore, this drink causes tooth decay and is actually more acidic than regular cola. In fact, a recent study found that “healthy coke” was almost as bad as regular sodas when it comes to eroding teeth [3].

Lemon juice is something else that many people on TikTok are erroneously suggesting is healthy for oral health [2]. Many videos see users adding lemon juice to their water to create a low-cost sparkling drink. However, lemon juice is very acidic, which results in increased erosion of the enamel and a higher likelihood of cavities.

Dentist’s Reaction

These videos are very worrying and cause alarm to any dentist. The potential damage to oral health is very concerning, and often result in younger people worsening their oral health.

Dr. Ruchi Sahota is a spokesperson for the American Dental Association [1]. She has spoken out about the rise of DIY dentistry, which is a growing concern for dental professionals.

She has pointed to how years of studying and experience informs a dentist’s treatment choices. Sahota says “when we practice dentistry, we do it with the background information of years of training, X-rays, and the experience that helps us decide when and how to do the treatment” [1].

Dentist Dr. Amber Bonnaig has stated that the cost of dental care and lack of access is making DIY dentistry an appealing alternative. She says that “a major contributing factor is lack of access to dental care” [1].

Sahota finishes by saying something very important – “you can have a beautiful smile, even if it’s not perfect” [1]. This is very important to remember.

Thinking points…

1) As we mentioned, TikTok is mainly used by children and teenagers. If you have children, it is important to inform them of the dangers of DIY dentistry. They can cause significant and costly damage to their teeth, whilst also having long-term consequences for their oral health. Therefore, have a conversation with them, and make sure they stick to conventional methods of aiding their oral health, like brushing regularly and visiting the dentist for a check-up. We recommend having a talk with them soon!

2) If you are interested in cosmetic dentistry, there are safe ways of achieving this. It is important to see an actual dentist, as they can provide safe treatment with proper aftercare. For example, here at [clinic name], we offer cosmetic treatments like teeth whitening and Invisalign™. At your next appointment, why not have a discussion with your dentist about your treatment options! We would love you to book an appointment with us soon!

What we offer at Savanna Dental

Savanna Dental is a Calgary dental clinic that provide its patients with a range of treatment options and advice aimed at improving 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, teeth 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] Giles, C. (2022). Don’t drill your own teeth! And quashing other rotten dental advice on TikTok. Available: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-10-dont-drill-teeth-quashing-rotten.html. Last accessed: 28th October 2022.

[2] Iqbal, M. (2022). TikTok Revenue and Usage Statistics (2022). Available: https://www.businessofapps.com/data/tik-tok-statistics/. Last accessed: 29th October 2022.

[3] Eckhart, S. D., Brewster, J. A., & Curtis, D. C. (2022). The erosive potential of sugar-free waters on cervical dentin. JADA Foundational Science. 1 (100009). DOI: https://doi.org/10.10