Members of the Niagara Dental Health Coalition are calling on Niagara MPPs to support the expansion of public dental programs to adults and seniors who cannot afford to pay for private dental health care.
OHIP does not provide health coverage to prevent and treat diseases of our teeth and gums. As a result, between two and three million people in Ontario do not visit a dentist, primarily due to financial barriers.
“We know that a patient presents at a hospital emergency room with an acute dental issue every nine minutes across Ontario,” said Lori Kleinsmith, the new Chair of the Niagara Dental Health Coalition. Data from Niagara Region Public Health indicates that in 2015 there were over 2,300 visits to Niagara Health System emergency rooms, primarily presenting with tooth pain and infection, up three per cent since 2012.
To view the full story, please visit: http://www.niagarathisweek.com/news-story/6823237-niagara-dental-health-coalition-asks-mpps-to-expand-public-dental-programs-to-low-income-adults/
