People in pain but no coverage

Almost one in four people in Windsor-Essex County have reported having no dental coverage, according

to the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.

 

Officials of WECHU created a survey to be completed by Windsor-Essex residents based on a

previous community assessment where a number of individuals indicated that dental care was an unmet

need.

 

The survey was presented online, on paper and was completed by approximately 1800 people.

A number of people reported having difficulties accessing dental care because of high costs.

“A lot of those surveys provide us with detailed information around people not able to access dental

care suffering from toothaches and broken teeth,” said Kim Casier, oral health manager at the health unit.

 

Understanding the needs of the people was one of the main reasons the WECHU launched the survey.

“We wanted to learn more about adults and seniors and the issues they had accessing oral health care,”

said Shannen Janisse, health promotion specialist at WECHU.

 

Health workers from WECHU also visit schools and collect data on the children’s oral health and are

finding things improving for students.

“We are seeing a consistent trend or decline in the number of children starting schools with cavities so it

would indicate that yes, at least things with children are gradually getting better each year,” said Casier.

 

Officials at WECHU plan on holding an oral health workshop to create awareness about this issue and

will have speakers who are knowledgeable about the topic.

 

The health unit also offers a program called Healthy Smiles Ontario for children from zero to 17 but no

programs are offered to anyone aged 18 years old or older except promoting the importance of oral

health, so WECHU hopes something can be done soon.

“We need to speak with our policy makers and let them know that there are individuals in this

community living in pain,” said Casier.

 

Results of the survey will be available online at the WECHU forum later this fall to be shared publically.