2.5.4 Access to dental care by family income levels, Canada, 2007-2009
| Lowest income quintile | 2nd quintile | 3rd quintile | 4th quintile | Highest income quintile | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No dental visits in the past year % | 38 | 30 | 24 | 15 | 21 |
| Avoiding dental professionals because of the cost | 34 | 21 | 13 | 10 | 9 |
| Emergency pattern of dental visit | 29 | 21 | 11 | 9 | 12 |
Source: CICH graphic created using data adapted from Improving access to oral health care for vulnerable people living in Canada, Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. Created by the authors from the analyses of the 2007–2009 Canadian Health Measures Survey data.
Canadian families with the lowest income are most likely not to have had dental care in the last year, to have avoided a dental professional because of cost and to use emergency dental care.
In 2007-2009, 38% of Canadian families in the lowest income quintile had no dental visits in the last year, compared with 21% in the highest quintile.
34% of Canadian families in the lowest income quintile had avoided dental professionals because of the cost, compared with 9% in the highest quintile.
29% of Canadian families in the lowest income quintile used emergency dental care compared with 12% in the highest.