ENHANCED PREVENTIVE DENTAL SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AT RISK

Released on September 23, 2011

The Government of Saskatchewan is taking steps to improve children's oral health by increasing access to dental care, particularly preventive services for children at risk. Enhancements to regional preventive dental health services, for pre- and post-natal mothers, preschool and school-age children, are rolling out across the province starting this fall.

The program will initially be implemented in schools in those regions with the highest need. These include Athabasca, Keewatin Yatthé, Mamawetan Churchill River, Prince Albert/Parkland, Prairie North, Regina Qu'Appelle and Saskatoon Health Regions. The initiative will expand to the remaining health regions early in 2012.

"Oral disease is preventable, yet each year approximately 1,800 children under the age of five undergo dental surgery in hospital under general anaesthetic," Health Minister Don McMorris said. "We have committed funding of $1.4 million, through the Saskatchewan Surgical Initiative, to improve children's oral health and reduce the need for surgery by increasing access to dental care, prevention and education."

The Enhanced Preventive Dental Services Initiative will focus on disease prevention and health promotion and target early childhood tooth decay in at risk populations. The enhanced services will include oral health assessments, referral and follow up, fluoride varnish and dental sealants.

"Research clearly shows that the burden of dental caries (cavities) is shouldered by small segments of our population who face a variety of access-to-care barriers placing them at high risk for disease," College of Dentistry Dean Dr. Gerry Uswak said. "We need to work collaboratively to ensure that everyone who chooses to seek care can access it. We need to screen for people at high risk for disease and use proven preventive agents such as fluorides and dental sealants to protect their teeth. We also need to focus our attention on raising the "dental IQ" of high risk populations so that they recognize how important oral health is and become active participants in choosing to achieve it."

Oral health assessments will be provided to all preschool children in the province. Children from six months of age to five years, who are at risk of early childhood tooth decay, will be provided two fluoride varnish applications a year. Dental sealants will be offered to students attending schools with populations at risk in a phased in approach.

"Good oral health can prevent chronic diseases, such as diabetes and reduce infections that can cause severe illness and may even be life threatening," Ministry of Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Moira McKinnon said. "Healthy teeth are important for the overall health and wellbeing of an individual for their lifetime and it starts in childhood."

The enhanced dental services will include consultations with pre- and post-natal mothers to promote good oral health and ensure a healthy pregnancy and healthy development of their baby's teeth.

"Improving the oral health of children in populations at risk is one of the areas identified through the Saskatchewan Surgical Initiative," McMorris said. "Research shows that enhanced preventive dental services will help reduce the number of children requiring dental treatment in hospital and reduce wait times for dental surgeries."

The Saskatchewan Surgical Initiative's goal is to provide sooner, safer, smarter surgical care through improved access to key health services, and where possible, to reduce the need for surgery through proactive and preventive measures. The Initiative is focused on transforming the surgical patient experience, and ensuring that by 2014, no surgical patient in Saskatchewan waits more than three months for surgery. More information about the Surgical Initiative is available at www.health.gov.sk.ca/saskatchewan-surgical-initiative.

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For more information, contact:

Tyler McMurchy
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083
Email: tyler.mcmurchy@gov.sk.ca

Dr. Gerry Uswak
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon
Phone: 306-966-5122