Close X
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
ADVT 
National

Dental association releases paper on dental care

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 28 Feb, 2023 10:52 AM
  • Dental association releases paper on dental care

OTTAWA - The Canadian government's approach to universal dental care should include preserving private dental insurance programs and using existing clinics should be part of the Canadian government's approach to universal dental care, the Canadian Dental Association says.

On Tuesday the association released a policy paper following consultations with federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos, provincial and territorial dental associations and dentists from across Canada.

They put forth several recommendations for the Liberal government, urging them to have a national oral health strategy in place by April 2025.

Dentists across Canada could see up to 9 million new patients as a result of the government's new universal dental-care program, the report says, but it cautions that new policies are needed.

"It's a massive undertaking and we are pleased to see that this attention is being given to oral health care because we know there's a sizable number of Canadians that don't access regular dental care because of cost," said Dr. Lynn Tomkins, the Canadian Dental Association president, in an interview with The Canadian Press.

The recommendations include using existing dental offices, addressing staffing shortages so people don't have to endure long wait-lists, ensuring that treatment costs are fully covered, and undertaking a survey on oral health.

The association also wants the government to explore incentivizing employers so they continue to offer dental insurance to workers.

"We are concerned that whatever the government brings out, it does not disrupt the current ecosystem of third-party employer-sponsored health benefits," Tomkins said.

"We wouldn't want to see you lose your dental plan."

The association also recommends the federal government do a legislative review of dental care every five years, and collaborate with provinces and territories on its rollout.

Universal access to dental care is set to be fully implemented by 2025. Children under the age of 12 who are from lower-income families currently eligible to receive a children's dental benefit through the Canada Revenue Agency.

This year, it's expected the coverage will be expanded to teens, seniors and those living with a disability.

The Liberals said the benefit is intended to provide cost-of-living relief to low-income Canadians.

The current benefit is available to families whose household income is less than $90,000 a year and ranges from $260 to $650 per child depending on net income.

The NDP pushed for a universal dental-care program as part of an agreement to support the minority Liberals on major legislation and confidence votes until 2025.

Conservative House leader Andrew Scheer has said the current dental benefit is superficial, and that handing out cash could contribute to inflation and make the cost of living worse.

MORE National ARTICLES

Republicans shift gaze toward Canada-U.S. border

Republicans shift gaze toward Canada-U.S. border
Rep. Mike Kelly from Pennsylvania and Montana Rep. Ryan Zinke are launching a new congressional caucus focused on immigration, crime and national security at the Canada-U.S. border. The "Northern Border Security Caucus," to be officially announced Tuesday, is being billed as bipartisan, although it's unclear if any of its 28 members are Democrats.

Republicans shift gaze toward Canada-U.S. border

More southern B.C. snow coming after weekend storm

More southern B.C. snow coming after weekend storm
The weather office says 10 to 15 centimetres could cover those areas by Tuesday morning and much of the inner south coast could see a dusting at the same time. Most models call for two to three centimetres from Squamish to Chilliwack, but higher elevations of North and West Vancouver could see eight to 10 centimetres.

More southern B.C. snow coming after weekend storm

Richmond RCMP seeking witnesses after two random, violent assaults on women on Valentine's Day

Richmond RCMP seeking witnesses after two random, violent assaults on women on Valentine's Day
On February 17th, investigators arrested 41-year old Ernesto Mendoza Malgapo of Richmond.  Malgapo currently remains in custody, facing one charge of Assault Causing Bodily Harm. 

Richmond RCMP seeking witnesses after two random, violent assaults on women on Valentine's Day

B.C. New Democrat MLA to resign her Vancouver seat

B.C. New Democrat MLA to resign her Vancouver seat
The Vancouver-Mount Pleasant member of the legislature, who recently returned from a six-month medical leave, says she is leaving and expects her last day to be the end of March.    

B.C. New Democrat MLA to resign her Vancouver seat

Canada aims to boost Arctic defence capacity

Canada aims to boost Arctic defence capacity
Anand says Ottawa has already committed almost $40 billion towards that end, and the result will be "a new northern-approach surveillance system" that will detect threats farther and farther north to protect Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic.

Canada aims to boost Arctic defence capacity

Hit-and-run driver charged in connection with the death of a 24-year-old pedestrian in Kitsilano last summer

Hit-and-run driver charged in connection with the death of a 24-year-old pedestrian in Kitsilano last summer
The victim and a friend were crossing West 4th Avenue at Arbutus Street around 11:30 p.m. June 19, 2022 when he was struck and killed. The driver failed to stop or offer assistance.

Hit-and-run driver charged in connection with the death of a 24-year-old pedestrian in Kitsilano last summer