Stats Canada: Price stays a significant barrier to accessing dental care

Price stays a “main barrier” to accessing dental care, Stats Canada reported Wednesday, citing knowledge from the Canadian Oral Well being Survey (COHS).

The info exhibits that about 24 per cent of Canadians aged 12 and older averted visits to an oral well being skilled attributable to value for fiscal 2024, barely increased than the 22 per cent reported in 2018.

“Price is a significant impediment to accessing dental care, and subsequently, an obstacle to reaching good oral well being outcomes,” the examine says. The report particulars the traits of people who averted visiting an oral well being skilled or getting advisable dental remedy attributable to value.

The report comes after Canada launched its federally backed Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) in late 2024 to assist low-income and uninsured Canadians entry dental companies. It’s estimated that greater than 1.5 million Canadians have acquired care beneath this system.

Ladies extra affected

The examine additionally examined disparities amongst numerous teams. Total, 27 per cent of ladies reported value as a barrier to dental care, in comparison with 22 per cent of males.

Younger girls aged 18 to 34 had been the most probably to report value as a barrier, with 38 per cent saying they’d averted a go to to an oral well being skilled attributable to value. Moreover, 33 per cent of racialized Canadians had averted visiting an oral well being skilled due to value, a better proportion than the 21 per cent of non-racialized Canadians.

Dental care entry disparity

Earnings and insurance coverage play a major position in entry to dental care.

Amongst people with out dental insurance coverage, 50 per cent of these with an adjusted household internet earnings (AFNI) beneath $90,000 and 30 per cent of these with an AFNI of $90,000 or extra averted visits to an oral well being skilled attributable to value.

For people with non-public insurance coverage, cost-related avoidance was 19 per cent for these with an AFNI lower than $90,000 and seven per cent for these with an AFNI of $90,000 or extra.