Campaign to educate Grey-Bruce seniors about dental care programs

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Bruce County and Grey Bruce Public Health are launching a social media campaign to help inform seniors of government-funded dental care programs available to them. 

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The campaign, which will include posters and other educational material in area communities, is being put on to educate residents about the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) and the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program (OSDCP). Both programs are designed to assist seniors who face financial barriers to receiving routine and restorative dental services. 

“Research continues to show that a healthy mouth is key to good overall health and well-being,” Grey Bruce Public Health’s manager of the oral health program, Jason Weppler, said in a news release. 

“Oral health problems, which are more prevalent in older adults, can negatively impact a person’s quality of life – as they can cause pain, anxiety, and discomfort, and impact eating, sleep and self-esteem. Evidence also shows connections between oral diseases, which include tooth decay and gum disease, and other diseases in the body, such as Type 2 diabetes and diseases of the heart and lungs.” 

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The OSDCP covers the cost of routine dental services, including check-ups, cleanings, x-rays, fillings and treatment of gum conditions, for seniors aged 65 and older who meet income requirements and do not have other forms of dental benefits. Services covered are provided at public health’s dental clinic locations in Owen Sound, Walkerton, Markdale and Wiarton. 

Seniors with an adjusted net family income of less than $90,000 and no dental insurance can also apply to the CDCP, which covers the cost of a range of oral health services. 

Patients who qualify can receive services covered by the federal program at any private dental clinic that accepts CDCP clients. Public health does not provide services covered by the CDCP at its clinics. 

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Some seniors may qualify for assistance under both programs. 

Applications for the OSDCP are available at the public health offices at 101 17th St. E. in Owen Sound, at the South East Grey Community Health Centre at 55 Victoria Ave. in Markdale or online at www.ontario.ca/page/dental-care-seniors 

More information about the provincial program is available by calling public health at 519-376-9420, and pressing 9, while information on the federal program is at Canada.ca/dental 

Seniors needing support navigating the programs can e-mail [email protected] 

Statistics show that 40 per cent those aged 65 and older and more than half of those over age 85 report not visiting an oral health professional in the previous 12 months. Over one in 10 Canadians aged 60 to 79 has untreated cavities, while close to half of those in that age range have gum disease. 

The rate of seniors in Grey-Bruce who visited an emergency department for an oral health condition in 2022 was more than double the provincial average, the news release said. 

“Good oral health is essential for overall well-being, especially for seniors,” Bruce County director of long term care and senior services Megan Garland said in the release. “The Bruce County Long Term Care and Senior Services department encourages all eligible seniors to utilize these dental care programs.”

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