Volume 9 • 2022 • Issue 3

Dr. Lynn Tomkins president@cda-adc.ca The ImmenseOpportunity of Federal Investment inDental Care I t is an honour to become president of CDA during a critical moment as we envision how our profession will serve more Canadians than ever and address challenges we’ve been wrestling with for decades with access to care. The last time the federal government seriously considered funding dental care was before the Canada Health Act was introduced in 1984. But now, theMarch 2022 announcement that the federal government will invest in providing dental care to low-income Canadians can serve as a catalyst for the dental profession to improve the health of those who have been historically underserved and develop an oral health care system that is more inclusive, equitable and robust. One of the overarching vision statements that arose from CDA’s Future of the Profession Task Force in 2018 was that the dental profession would fulfill its social contract by providing access to care to every Canadian by 2032. We’ve already laid the groundwork for this, including support and engagement of internal and external stakeholders, in an ongoing conversation about what principles will guide how we define “essential dental care,” which would be available to all, no matter their circumstances. Dentists across this country are already doing everything they can to provide care for those who need it most. Many donate their time and skills to provide pro bono dental care in various settings. Other dentists treat patients who are registered in existing provincial and territorial government assistance programs at their own practices. But many of these programs have been woefully underfunded for years and they often don’t cover the cost of providing care, meaning these dentists have to subsidize it out of pocket. I’m extremely proud of the generosity and volunteerism of my colleagues. But I think we can do even better if we work together with the federal government to shape how to effectively use and allocate this new funding. Providing oral health care to those who need it most shouldn’t be dependent on the charity or volunteerism of individual dentists. With these recent developments in Ottawa, we have a tremendous opportunity to influence changes in our health care system that will enable all Canadians to access the dental care they need. This is Canada’s chance to get it right and CDA has been preparing for this moment. Our advocacy efforts and environmental scanning have shown that a majority of Canadians look favourably on some form of federal dental care support. We’ve been leveraging CDA’s knowledge, relationships and reputation to collaborate with the government on this issue. We are also working with our provincial and territorial dental association partners to ensure that the messages and proposals we send to all levels of governments are coordinated and consistent. We want to rise above regional politics and jurisdictional protectionism and serve as a unifying voice for the profession. I am confident that our policy expertise, our persistent advocacy and our teamwork with provincial and territorial associations will ensure that the voice of dentistry will be heard, and heeded, on Parliament Hill. Our collective efforts will affect the well-being of all dentists in this country; we have the opportunity to create an even more positive and productive professional environment. And in this historic moment, the ultimate goal of our efforts is to improve the quality of lives of the people and families who will receive the dental care they need and deserve. From the President 7 Issue 3 | 2022 | CDA atWork