CDA Essentials 2018 • Volume 5 • Issue 3

31 Issue 3 | 2018 | N ews and E vents The increase means that an additional 900 surgeries will be performed in the upcoming year, bringing the annual number of surgeries to 7,100. In 2016-17, the wait time for people needing dental surgery in a B.C. hospital was up to 26 weeks. “This increase in operating room space is the direct result of a concerted effort by the British Columbia Dental Association (BCDA) and our MLA (Members of the Legislative Assembly) Network, who have worked for a number of years in raising this issue with the B.C. Ministry of Health,” stated Jocelyn Johnston, executive director of the BCDA. “I’d really like to thank the members of our MLA Network. They have tirelessly lobbied BC MLAs in their own ridings and beyond to bring attention to the waitlists and the shortage of operating room time for children and adults with special needs.” People with special health care needs due to physical or cognitive disabilities experience greater levels of oral disease compared to the general population as a whole, in part because they struggle to access dental services. One of CDA’s priorities is improving access to care for vulnerable groups in Canada, which includes people with cognitive challenges such as autism, intellectual disabilities, Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia. Part of that strategy is to raise awareness among dentists about oral health concerns of Canadians with special health care needs, according to Dr. Heather Carr, practising dentist in Halifax and chair of the CDA National Coordinating Working Group on Access to Care. “Better funding for hospital dental care, to allow more dentists to access operating room time, is one part of increasing access to oral health care for vulnerable groups,” says Dr. Carr. “Hopefully provincial governments across Canada will consider implementing additional dental surgery time in hospitals where required.” “Although some patients with special health care needs require a hospital setting to receive dental treatment, many of these patients can be seen in private practices by dentists who are willing and qualified to provide that care,” Dr. Carr adds. “We need to increase the number of dentists who feel confident in providing this care, and one way we are looking to achieve this is by encouraging additional experience, training and mentorship within the dental community.” a INCREASEDDENTAL SURGERIES for vulnerable patients in B.C. hospitals The British Columbia government announced that it will increase the number of dental surgeries performed in B.C. hospitals by 15% to improve wait times for people who need dental treatment with general anesthesia. Better funding for hospital dental care, to allow more dentists to access operating room time, is one part of increasing access to oral health care for vulnerable groups. – Dr. Heather Carr Adrian Dix, British Columbia Health Minister, making the official announcement as Jocelyn Johnston, executive director of the BCDA, looks on.