Even for Albertans fortunate enough to have health benefits, high fees often push dental care to the back burner.
That’s why programs such as the Alex Dental Health Bus, which provides no-cost dental care for low-income families and youth in need, are struggling to satisfy growing dental demand in the city.
Denise Kokaram, program lead for the dental health bus, said compared to the 600-odd kids seen during the six-month pilot program four years ago, they now see more than 2,200 children in the same time frame.
“We’re always left with about 200 people on a waiting list who can’t afford to go anywhere else,” Kokaram said. “We’re seeing seven-year-olds in Calgary with full mouth decay, and other children that require thousands of dollars worth of treatment. No child should be left in that condition.”
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Even children with dental care access are in trouble: Children’s Oral Health Troubling Despite Equal Dental Care Access
