Provincial and Territorial Coverage for Children’s Dental Services
4.1.4 Provincial and Territorial Coverage for Children's Dental Services
- A - Public health dental screening program
- B - Universal dental coverage for children
- C - Coverage for targeted dental care programs for children
Alberta
A, C
British Columbia
A, C
Manitoba
C
New Brunswick
C
Newfoundland and Labrador
B, C
Nova Scotia
B, C
Northwest Territories
B
Nunavut
B
Ontario
C
Prince Edward Island
A, C
Quebec
B, C
Saskatchewan
C
Yukon
B
Some provinces and territories offer universal dental coverage for basic services such as diagnosis and fillings for children up to pre-adolescence (Québec, Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island) or a specific grade level (Yukon). Nunavut and the Northwest Territories provide complete coverage for registered First Nations and Inuit children.
In addition to basic dental care a number of provinces (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Québec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia) offer additional coverage including emergency treatment, exams and fillings for youth from families receiving financial assistance, foster care, or children who have complex medical needs, as do the provinces without universal coverage.
Only three provinces (British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, Alberta) incorporate public health dental program focused prevention and education that target school-aged children. The Early Childhood Dental Initiative in Prince Edward Island was the only program which had dental screening for 15 to 18 month olds in public health immunization clinics.
Click here to see how we gathered these data.
For more information about the dental care programs for children and youth across Canada, click here.
Implications
As the result of this financing of dental care in Canada, these services are not equally accessible to all children and youth. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry advocates the establishment of a ‘dental home’ model for children, similar to the medical home model, which focuses on care that is comprehensive, compassionate, family-centered, accessible, coordinated, and culturally effective. They recommend a number of components:
• The establishment of a dental home by 12 months of age;
• Timely comprehensive acute and preventive oral care services;
• Regular assessment for oral conditions and diseases;
• Individualized health programs aimed at prevention of dental trauma;
• Preventive education and guidance for growth and development;
• Dietary counselling; referrals to specialists; and
• Transitions to adult care.1
1Original Council. Policy on the dental home. American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, 2012