COVID-19 Effects on Affordable Dental Care

Covid-19 has caused chaos across Canada in a number of ways. Some effects have been widely covered in the media, but an area that not many know about is the impact Covid-19 has had on access to dental care. This has caused anxiety among Canadians, and increased the financial burden caused by the pandemic.

We are well over a year into the global Covid-19 pandemic, and restrictions are still in force across Canada. There has been more than 1million confirmed cases, with almost 25,000 people tragically losing their lives.

The self-employed, the hospitality industry and the education sector are among the well-publicised areas to have been particularly affected by Covid-19. However, one area that many have neglected to focus on is the impact of Covid-19 on dental care, with the financial position of most Canadian citizens worsening throughout the pandemic, leaving many unable to afford dental care.

This situation has caused some to debate whether or not dental care should become part of the nation’s Medicare health-care system. Another topic to consider is the physical and mental health consequences caused by a lack of dental care.

Canadians Struggling to afford dental care

Canadians have become accustomed to dental care not being part of Medicare – the nation’s health-care system. Unfortunately, dental care has been seen as a form of luxury care, rather than an essential part of our overall, ongoing health.

The majority of the population have to pay dental fees outright, or through some form of insurance policy. Either way, with the financial hardship caused by Covid-19, many people are deciding to skip visiting the dentist in a desperate effort to save money.

In fact, even before Covid-19, in 2018, almost 25% of Canadian citizens avoided seeing a dental professional due to concerns over the cost [1]. Presumably, this total will have increased since then.

Increase in physical and mental health problems

Unsurprisingly, Covid-19 has had a marked effect on mental health, with statistics showing that the mental health and general wellbeing of the Canadian population has declined substantially since Covid-19’s onset [2].

In the absence of dental care, self-esteem issues regarding oral appearance and anxiety about future procedures and costs will only worsen mental wellbeing.

But what is most concerning is the fact that the longer a person waits to receive dental care, the worse their oral health becomes. What originally starts as minor cavities that can easily be treated, can morph into more serious conditions that require more complex and costly procedures like a root canal or a crown.

It is a well-known fact that poor oral health can result in physical health conditions developing too. Just recently we reported on research that links oral inflammation like gum disease to an increased chance of suffering from severe symptoms of Covid-19(click here to read more). Furthermore, various studies have found that poor oral health correlates with poor physical fitness, body balance and cognitive functions [3], which underlines the importance of maintaining good oral health.

Alberta’s ADA Fee Guide

Our dental clinic is based in Calgary, Alberta. Here at Savanna Dental, we adhere to the Alberta Dental Fee Guide, which allows us to provide affordable care to our patients across our wide range of services.

So while this may not be the easiest of times to visit the dentist, we hope you know that by visiting us at our Calgary-based dental clinic Savanna Dental, that you will have access to affordable treatment in a safe and convenient location.

What Savanna Dental can offer

We care deeply about our patients, and know that the earlier treatment takes place, the better the chance of successful treatment. We ensure that throughout your journey with us, that we provide a caring and comfortable environment, while giving you tailored advice for your specific circumstances.

Most dental problems are preventable. It is important to brush our teeth at least twice a day, floss regularly, and visit your dentist. Problems can be detected and acted upon, which will save you pain and higher dental fees in the months and years to follow. We ensure that our patients come away feeling healthy, and that they receive a high standard of care at all times.

We hope you visit us soon! You can find out more about the services we offer and our contact information via our website https://savannadentalclinic.ca.

• [1] Statistics Canada. (2019). Health characteristics, annual estimates. Available: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1310009601. Last accessed: 17 April 2021.
• [2] Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. (2021). One year into pandemic, about one in five Canadians reporting high levels of mental distress. Available: https://www.camh.ca/en/camh-news-and-stories/one-in-five-canadians-reporting-high-levels-of-mental-distress. Last accessed: 17 April 2021.
• [3] Bramantoro, T., Hariyani, N., Setyowati, D., Purwanto, B., Zulfiana, A. A., & Irmalia, W. R. (2020). The impact of oral health on physical fitness: A systematic review. Heliyon. 6 (4). e03774.