Ontario's low-income dental programs need to be reviewed to improve their effectiveness, efficiency, and reach, according to Arlene King, MD, MHSc, the province's chief medical officer of health.
Ontario has made significant progress in providing dental care to low-income Ontarians, but more needs to be done, Dr. King noted. A number of publicly funded programs are available, including the Children In Need of Treatment (CINOT) dental program, Healthy Smiles Ontario, Ontario Works, and the Ontario Disability Support Program.
However, these programs amount to a patchwork of services that are difficult for people to navigate and difficult to assess in terms of health outcomes achieved and return on investment, according to Dr. King.
"We have made significant strides in providing dental services to people who struggle to pay from their own pockets," she said in a press release. "But current efforts are not enough. Opportunities exist to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of current publicly funded programs so we can improve access to oral health services for Ontarians."
In her report, "Oral Health -- More Than Just Cavities," Dr. King calls on the province to consider integrating these programs to make it easier for people to access the care that is needed, when it is needed.
Dr. King also suggests that the province:
- Ensure all Ontarians have access to fluoridated drinking water
- Review how publicly funded oral health programs are monitored and evaluated
- Improve access to oral health care and inrease awareness of the oral health services available to First Nations people in Ontario
