Need for a Provincial Oral Health Program for Ontario Adults & SeniorsAnna RusakHealth PromoterOral Health Department

New Canadian Report

• 6 million Canadians cannot afford to visit a dentist.

• Canada provides less publicly funded dental care than the United States & internationally, is among the lowest funders of dental care programs.

• A problem for low income and middle income

Report: Improving Access to Oral Health Care for Vulnerable People Living in Canada (August 2014)

The Ontario Picture

• OHIP pays to treat infection in every part of the body except for the mouth

• Cost is the most common and serious barrier to accessing dental treatment

• 1 in 5 Ontarians do not visit a dentist due to cost

Source: August 2012, Public Health Report

Access to dental care

• Dental care programs available for most children 17 and under• Children In Need of Treatment (Health Unit)• Healthy Smiles Ontario (Health Unit)• Ontario Works (Health Unit in CKL/Hal only)• Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)

• No provincial program for low income working adults and retired seniors

Exception: Ontario Works offers discretionary program, ODSP offers basic dental program for adults

What’s available for adults in HKPR

• Port Hope Community Health Centre – Low Cost dental clinic

• City of Kawartha Lakes Community Health Centre – Low cost dental clinic

• Haliburton Volunteer Dental Outreach (VDO) Clinic

Mouths of Haliburton Residents (before treatment at VDO)

Northumberland Oral Health Coalition (NOHC)

• A community based coalition made up of representatives from health and social service agencies, along with oral health professionals and concerned members of the public

• Working together since 2005

• Member of Ontario Oral Health Alliance (OOHA)

Ontario Oral Health Alliance (OOHA)

• Province wide group of dental coalitions, health and social service providers & members of the public

• Haliburton, Kawartha Lakes, Brock partnership

• Makes oral health advocacy accessible to local groups across Ontario

Postcard Campaign

Dental Related Emergency Room Visits

• 59,000 visits in Ontario in 2013

• Reason for visit: In pain & cannot afford dental treatment

• Only painkillers/antibiotics offered in ER…Not treatment

• Estimated cost per visit: $513 >$30 million spent in Ontario

• An expensive ‘Band-Aid’ solution

Sources: IntelliHEALTH ONTARIO: Ministry of Health and Long Term Care (2013); St. Michael's Hospital

Local numbers• 599 visits to Campbellford (293) and Northumberland Hills

Hospital (306)

• 1187 visits to Ross Memorial (715) and Haliburton Highlands Hospital (472)

Over $916,000 spent in 2012 on Dental Related ER visits within HKPR area hospitals

Sources: IntelliHEALTH ONTARIO: Ministry of Health and Long Term Care (2012); St. Michael's Hospital

Current OOHA Campaign2014 Ontario Liberal Budget Promise:

• To develop a provincial dental program for low income adults in 2025

OOHA Ask to Ontario Minister of Health:

• To make this promise a reality during Liberal’s four year term

Advocacy Strategy

• Letters requesting support from local, municipal, provincial and federal politicians

• Media releases

• Online electronic action

Thank you for your time.

Any questions?