The Oral Health of Refugees: The Impact on Dental Services in Canada

Dentists in Canada are facing a large demand for oral health services from refugees. Refugees are often arriving in Canada with poor oral health, having never received routine dental care before. This is causing many issues, but is also a shining example of how dentists are doing their best to help this vulnerable population.

The recent influx of refugees from Ukraine and Afghanistan has presented many problems, with many refugees arriving in Canada with severe oral health problems [1].

Therefore, dental professionals are facing an increase in demand, with many of the refugees arriving having unfortunately not received any preventative dental care in many years.

This is presenting a difficult challenge. Not only do dental professionals have a high demand, but the refugees themselves are forced to live with poor oral health, which requires treatment.

Refugees and Oral Health

Canada has a long history of providing sanctuary for refugees. Recently, the majority of refugees are coming from either Ukraine or Afghanistan, owing to the troubles in those nations.

But a problem that many refugees have is poor health, including physically, mentally and oral. Oral health is a particular concern for dental professionals, with the recent influx of refugees requiring urgent oral care set to strain the Canadian healthcare service.

For example, a study in 2019 looked at the differences between the oral health of refugees in Canada and Canadian children [2]. They found that many refugee children had never seen a dentist prior to arriving in Canada, and that they had “significantly” worse oral health than Canadian children [2].

Not all refugees are children though. A similar study – albeit based in Nova Scotia – looked at adult refugees [3]. Of the 86 recent refugee arrivals, 85% had untreated tooth decay. 98% had moderate to severe gingivitis [3].

In a sign that many people there don’t understand the seriousness of oral health, 49% of refugees considered their oral health to be good, very good or excellent [3]. Therefore, many were unaware of the need for oral health treatment.

Another study found that an added issue facing refugees is their language, cultural and financial difficulties [4]. These limit their access to and use of Canadian dental services [4].

The impact on dental services

Dr. Brad Krusky is a Pediatric Dentist operating in northeast Calgary. Krusky has had many patients coming to Canada as refugees [1]. He has been commenting on the situation, and his concerns.

“A lot of the kids come with active infections, they will come with cavities that we would normally see in kids that simply do not have access to dental care” [1]. This lays bare the issues, with many of these children having never received dental care.

Many of these children require immediate treatment, often without realizing. Krusky says that many children “end up on antibiotics over and over again”, and that “a lot of them will end up in the hospital, in the emergency room with worse pain” [1].

History is repeating itself, with very similar events happening in the mid-2010s, when scores of Iraqi and Syrian refugees came to Canada.

Improvements are needed

Krusky has acknowledged the difficulties of the current situation, stating that “unfortunately there are better ways that we could deal with it clinically than is being done right now” [1].

The current situation involves dentists providing fixes to emergency situations. But this isn’t sustainable in the long-term, given the sheer demand not only from refugees, but also from Canadian citizens.

There is also the issue of funding. Refugees are often covered by Federal Government funding, but this is typically limited to emergency dental care, rather than ongoing care [1].

Krusky says that “in my opinion, if the funds were not directed at the individual families themselves but rather injected into the system that already exists, especially provincially, I think we’d be able to do a lot better” [1].

Dental professionals often struggle to communicate with refugee children due to the language barrier. Therefore, Krusky says that the children “don’t understand what we are doing or why we are doing” it [1].

Unfortunately, this often results in these children having a negative experience, which has the impact of them becoming afraid of the dentist in the future” [1].

Krusky has mentioned how many dentists are working for free, in a selfless effort to assist this vulnerable population [1]. This is an admirable example of the kind-hearted actions of dental professionals in Canada.

The current situation

Therefore, the overall situation is causing many problems. It is a situation that is negatively affecting multiple groups. Dental clinics are finding they are having to spend more, dentists have a high demand and Canadian citizens face longer waiting times.

While the refugees get much-needed dental care, it can also cause problems, such as resulting in the fear of the dentist, and problems needing multiple treatments.

Educational programs in schools could help the refugees to understand the importance of oral health, with newcomers especially targeted given their heightened risk of poor oral health. The aim is to improve the oral health status of everyone in Canada.

Thinking points…

1) Are you, or someone you know, a refugee? You may not have had adequate oral health treatment in your home country. But do not worry, as help is available, and can relieve pain! For example, here at Savanna Dental, our Calgary-based dental clinic has helpful staff that are used to these situations, and will be happy to assist you! Feel free to get in touch with us now!

2) Waiting times in Canada for dental services can be long, but this shouldn’t put you off of booking a check-up for your oral health. Check-ups are crucial, and provide a chance for a dentist to take a thorough look at your oral health, and provide advice and treatment options if necessary. If treatment is required, then a plan can be discussed, with the aim of improving your oral health and ensuring your problems don’t worsen. We recommend booking an appointment right away!

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, 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] Kury de Castillo, C. (2022). Alberta dentists struggle to help refugee kids with dental problems. Available: https://globalnews.ca/news/9357566/alberta-dentists-battle-refugee-dental-issues/. Last accessed: 22nd December 2022.

[2] Moreau, A-M., Hennous, F., Dabbagh, B., & Ferraz dos Santos, B. (2019). Oral Health Status of Refugee Children in Montreal. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health. 21: p693-698. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-018-0835-1.

[3] Ghiabi, E., Matthews, D. C., & Brilant, M. S. (2014). The Oral Health Status of Recent Immigrants and Refugees in Nova Scotia, Canada. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health. 16: p95-101. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-013-9785-9.

[4] Reza, M., Amin, M., Sgro, A., Abdelaziz, A., Ito, D., Main, P., & Azarpazhooh. (2015). Oral Health Status of Immigrant and Refugee Children in North America: A Scoping Review. Journal of Canadian Dental Association. 82: g3. PMID: 27548669.