Volume 9 • 2022 • Issue 4

The study found that there is greater inequality in the U.S. than in Canada, despite higher public dental spending in the U.S. in the 2000s. This suggests that a stronger social safety net, in general, can have a positive impact on the oral health of low-income people. “One interesting component to the data is that the differences in income groups in terms of getting fillings has narrowed, rather than grown,” says Dr. Quiñonez. “This indicates that more people from low-income groups are getting dental care, which is significant because the social safety net specifically for dentistry has been in Reference 1. Chari M, Ravaghi V, Sabbah W, Gomaa N, Singhal S, Quiñonez C. Comparing the magnitude of oral health inequality over time in Canada and the Unite d States. J Public Health Dent . 2021 Nov 25. doi: 10.1111/jphd.12486. decline. It appears that people from low-income groups are choosing to pay for care out of pocket and potentially making difficult trade-offs as a result, maybe because there are intense social and economic costs related to the appearance of one’s teeth.” Dr. Chari says that further study is needed into the inequality of oral health compared to that of general health. “The impact that a universal health care system, or the lack of one, has on the general health of a population is complex. Clearly, oral and general health are deeply connected to the health care system, social, economic and political factors.” 28 | 2022 | Issue 4 Issues and People