Dental Health Essay

1400 Words3 Pages

Introduction: In Canada, general dental health is not part Canada’s national system of health insurance (Medicare) (1) except for some dental surgical procedures that are performed at hospitals. Since Oral health does not come under the Health Act about ninety-five percent of the oral health care services are offered on a fee-for-service basis. Oral health care is under provincial or territorial jurisdiction like other health care services and publically financed dental care programs provide the remaining five percent of oral health care services (2). Thus, majority of Canadians receive oral health via privately owned dental clinics. Privately owned dental care gives these services providers control over dental service charges, types of available treatment for the patients and number of follow-up appointment for treatments or routine care. Service users pay for the dental expenses from their own pockets or utilize insurance coverage (1). Background: According to Canadian Health Measures Survey on latest oral health, approximately 62% of Canadian had private dental insurance. About 50% of the respondents from the lower income class do not have any dental insurance while 78% of the respondents with higher income section had private dental insurance coverage. Half of low-income individuals without dental insurance will pay for dental care expenses by themselves for them and their families. Additionally, 53% of respondents between the age of 60 and 79 were also not covered by any dental insurance. This indicates, that most Canadians will get private dental insurance when they are capable to afford it (i.e. high income). Whereas, half of low income and more than half seniors lack any dental insurance to receive dental care (1). As pr... ... middle of paper ... ... three quarters of all public expenditures for dental care in Canada is associated with treatment in a private dental facilities, where public insurance is billed as a third-party payer (9). However, only 30% of dentists deal with public insurance (8). The delivery method causes problems between dental service providers and public insurance. Public vs. private setting for dental care is also important to consider due to the disparity that exist with oral health and its access. Low-income and high-risk children (i.e. Aboriginal children) are unable to acquire dental care suffering medically and socially since they cannot afford the cost. Additionally seniors, individuals in long-term care, the homeless etc. are also in this category. Thus, sometimes delivering would be more appropriate in private dental setting, while in others, a public setting would be more ideal.

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