The Federal Government have announced their new budget, with the announcement of an increase in funding for dental care resulting in widespread joy from oral health professionals. The funding will increase to $13billion over the next five years. Moreover, this will form part of the new national dental care plan. Further details about this plan have also been released.
Dentists have applauded the Federal Government’s decision to increase funding for dental care as part of their 2023 Federal budget.
The government have committed to increase funding for the National Dental Care Plan to $13billion over the next five years, beginning in the 2023-24 year [1].
This is another example of how the government is contributing to dental care in Canada, following the creation of the temporary national dental benefit at the end of 2022.
Dental care in Canada
Compared to many countries, the standard of dental care in Canada is strong. But with many requiring treatment each year, further work is needed to improve oral health.
Almost two-thirds of Canadians have a form of dental insurance [2]. But those that don’t face large hospital bills, A&E visits and intense dental pain.
However, the national dental benefit which was launched at the end of 2022 sought to provide more access to dental care for children from families with a low-middle income.
This is just a temporary measure though, with a wider and more comprehensive plan due to be in place by 2025. This new plan will offer support to a wider range of people, rather than just children.
Given the large demand for dental services in Canada and rising population numbers, having an increase in funding was deemed to be crucial by some politicians.
The increase in funding
The government have announced their 2023 Federal budget [1]. As part of this, they have provided more details on how the eventual national dental care plan will look.
The projected cost is much higher than the ruling Liberal Party first estimated. The final program is now due to cost $13billion over five years [1]. This is a big increase on the $5billion they had originally earmarked for the program. The aforementioned temporary benefit will be phased out by June 2024 [3].
This year, eligibility for the benefit will extend to those under the age of 18, seniors and people with disabilities [3]. Those hoping to access the benefit will still need to meet the low-middle income criteria and not have insurance.
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said that “by the end of 2023, we will begin rolling out a dental-care plan for what will eventually be up to nine million uninsured Canadians” [3].
The update was praised by leader of the New Democratic Party – Jagmeet Singh – who has been a long-term advocate for improved access to dental care in Canada. This was one of the most important aspects of the Liberal/NDP confidence-and-supply deal.
Singh said that “I think Canadians are going to be happy” with this announcement [3]. He also commended his party’s work on the issue, saying that “we forced the government to do this” [3].
However, politicians in the Conservative Party largely criticized the budget increase. Leader Pierre Poilievre condemned the NDP, saying that they are “bankrupting households” and “forcing seniors to choose between heating and eating” [3].
Amidst criticism, Freeland admitted that the plan “does cost a lot of money”, but said that the increased cost was a “necessary expansion of healthcare” [3].
How have dentists reacted?
Understandably, dentists were delighted with the news. Dr. Lynn Tompkins – President of the Canadian Dental Association – praised the “historic investment” [1]. She suggested that the budget highlighted the “government’s continued commitment” towards improving the oral health of Canadians [1].
Moreover, Tompkins said that the “CDA has long advocated for targeted investments to improve access to oral health care” – with access being a key issue [1]. Furthermore, Tompkins said that this new budget will “yield even more long-term gains in oral and overall health” [1].
Meanwhile, Dr. David Lim of the British Columbia Dental Association said that his organization is “encouraged that the federal government recognizes the link between oral health and overall health” [1]. The topic of the link between oral and overall health is very important. Hopefully, the increased budget will mean this link is known by more people.
In other news that has pleased dentists, the Liberals have suggested that $23million should be put aside over the next two years to collect better data on oral health, which could help to make better informed decisions when implementing the dental plan.
Overall, this is very positive news, with the hope now that oral health across Canada will strengthen in the years to come. This should result in strong health improvements too across the nation for future generations.
Thinking points…
1)This is exciting news for many people around Canada! For those without insurance, getting dental care has been very difficult. But this new plan should assist with accessing and financing dental care. However, it is important to not wait until it arrives, instead you should attend a dental clinic regularly to have a check-up on your oral health. We recommend you make an appointment now!
2)We discussed above about how many people find the dentist too expensive. But no one should suffer with pain in silence. It is useful to know that here at our Calgary-based dental clinic Savanna Dental, our fees are set in line with the Alberta Dental Fee Guide. This means that our prices are fair, fully transparent, and reliable. To find out more about us, you can visit our website https://savannadentalclinic.ca. We would love to see you visit our Calgary dental clinic 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] Oral Health. (2023). Dentists Praise Expansion of Dental Care in Federal Budget. Available: https://www.oralhealthgroup.com/news/dentists-praise-expansion-of-dental-care-in-federal-budget-1003972601/. Last accessed: 31st March 2023.
[2] Statistics Canada. (2018). Health Fact Sheets: Dental Care, 2018). Available: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/82-625-x/2019001/article/00010-eng.htm. Last accessed: 31st March 2023.
[3] Osman, L. (2023). Budget 2023 expands dental-care program, but expected cost balloons to $13B. Available: https://globalnews.ca/news/9585059/budget-2023-dental-care-program/. Last accessed: 31st March 2023.
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