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CDA
at
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ork
“The only adequate preparation for tomorrow is the right use of today,” saidAmerican author
JohnC. Maxwell. To better understand where we currently stand in termof oral health and
to help guide future actions, CDApublished a report that examines the oral health landscape
inCanada.
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Issue 2
|
2017
|
Titled
The State of Oral Health in Canada
, the report provides an overview of:
• the state of oral health around the world
• how Canada compares against other countries
• information on the financing of oral health care
• statistics on dental usage and access to oral health care
• key trends in oral health
• priority areas for improving oral health
• national initiatives, such as the Canadian Oral Health Roundtable
• programs being spearheaded by provincial dental associations
• volunteerism by Canadian dentists
The report shows that the oral health of Canadians is very good, with a significant decrease in levels of
tooth decay over the past 40 years. “Three out of every four Canadians visit a dental professional at least
once per year, and 84% of Canadians believe they have good or excellent oral health,” the report says.
“In Canada, wait times to see a dentist and receive treatment are among the shortest in the world. And
for most Canadians, choice and availability of dentists is a non-issue.”
Although Canada is among the world leaders regarding overall oral health, the report mentions that
specific groups of the population still experience challenges in accessing care. “In particular, Canadian
families and individuals with lower incomes and of lower socio-economic status, those without dental
insurance, older Canadians and Aboriginal Canadians experience worse overall oral health outcomes
than the general population.” The report also recognizes provincial and national
initiatives that are bearing fruit—with the goals of inspiring other key players and
lifting obstacles to care for those vulnerable members of society.
a
The report also recognizes provincial and national
initiatives that are bearing fruit—with the goals of
inspiring other key players and lifting obstacles to
care for those vulnerable members of society.
Current State of Oral Health
in Canada
Read the full report at cda-adc.ca/stateoforalhealth