Financing of Dental Care in Canada
Source: CICH graphic created using data adapted from: Federal, Provincial and Territorial Dental Working Group. Summary report on the findings of the oral health component of the Canadian Health Measures Survey 2007-2009: https://www.dal.ca/content/dam/dalhousie/pdf/dentistry/ICOH2010/SummaryCHMS.pdf – accessed July 27, 2017.
Financing for dental care in Canada is available through third-party insurance, private dental insurance, out-of-pocket payments, and government-subsidized programs. In most cases, public dental programs for children provide coverage for basic screening, diagnostic (exams and x-rays), preventive, and restorative (fillings) services. In some cases, emergency surgical or orthodontic services are available. However, age limits, the types of services covered, and eligibility for children who are at high-risk (i.e. those living in low-income, those with disabilities) varies across the country.1
1Rowan-Legg A. Canadian Paediatric Society. Oral health care for children – a call for action. Paediatrics and Child Health, 2013;18(1):37-43.