More than 60-thousand patients a year are seen in the emergency room — for dental treatment that should be provided in a dentist’s office.
The Ontario Dental Association said there needs to be more funding provided to dentists, which would make emergency rooms more efficient.
According to Dr. David Stevenson, president of the ODA, no dental treatment is possible in a hospital situation.
“They don’t have the facilities to do that,” said Stevenson. “At best they get an antibiotic and a painkiller.”
Stevenson estimates $40 million a year is spent seeing these patients, and the ODA is asking for that funding to be redirected to private dental practices and government dental programs.
To view the full story, please click here.
