Over One-Third of Canadians Report Avoiding Dentist Visits

CANADA: A new report from Statistics Canada reveals that more than one-third of Canadians refrained from seeing a dentist in the past year, shedding light on concerning trends in dental care access and coverage. The 2022 Canadian Community Health Survey discovered that 35% of respondents lacked dental insurance, and nearly a quarter opted out of dental care due to financial constraints.

Federal Government Initiates Dental Insurance Plan

As these findings surface, the federal government is actively working on establishing a new national dental insurance plan. This initiative, a key component of the NDP’s supply-and-confidence agreement with the Liberals, aims to provide coverage for up to nine million individuals with family incomes below $90,000. With a designated budget of $13 billion over the next five years, the plan anticipates initiating coverage by the end of 2023.

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Disparities in Insurance Coverage and Utilization

Statistics Canada data indicates that only 55% of Canadians possess private dental insurance through employers or other means. Merely 4% rely on a public government-paid plan. Among those with insurance, 76% sought dental care in the past 12 months, in stark contrast to the 51% without coverage. Cost emerged as a significant barrier, with 40% of the uninsured reporting avoidance of dental care due to financial reasons.

Demographic Variances and Regional Disparities

Demographic variations in dental care utilization were evident. Women, at 68%, were more likely than men (62%) to report receiving dental care in the past 12 months. Younger Canadians aged 12 to 17 demonstrated higher dental visit rates (79%) compared to individuals aged 65 and older (60%). Additionally, those aged 65 and older were half as likely (33%) to have dental insurance compared to the 69% in the 35 to 49 age group.

Regional differences were notable, with lower proportions of people in Quebec (62%), New Brunswick (62%), Saskatchewan (60%), and Newfoundland and Labrador (55%) reporting dental professional visits. Dental insurance prevalence was higher in urban areas and outside of Quebec.

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Inequities in Access: Racialized and Non-Heterosexual Communities

The survey underscored cost as a more significant barrier for racialized and non-heterosexual individuals, emphasizing the presence of disparities in dental care access across different demographic groups.

Conducted from February to December 2022, the Canadian Community Health Survey provides critical insights into the access and utilization of dental care services among Canadians aged 12 and older. The reported trends highlight the need for comprehensive strategies to address disparities and enhance access to essential dental services.