Most Canadian youth visit dentists, but lack of insurance a barrier – GLOBAL
April 17, 2024
Some Canadians under the age of 18 are two months away from being able to apply for the national dental care plan, but data from Statistics Canada shows a lack of insurance is preventing nearly one-quarter of those five to 17 from visiting a dental professional.
According to a report released Wednesday, 89.6 per cent of Canadian children and youth aged five to 17 in 2019 had visited a dental professional in the previous 12 months.
When it comes to the insurance status of those visiting the dentist, the numbers differ with about 93 per cent who had dental insurance making a trip, while 78.5 per cent who were uninsured did the same.
“It shows how families are prioritizing. You know, the oral health care for their children. And sometimes even over themselves,” Canadian Dental Hygienists Association manager of professional practice Donna Wells told Global News.
Read more: https://globalnews.ca/news/10429669/canada-dental-care-dentist-visits-drop-insurance/
