Symptoms and conditions that often accompany the disease are of concern
Ottawa (24 November 2008) - The National Union of Public and General Employees is welcoming a report from the Ontario Dental Association on children's tooth decay. The Union sees the report as lending support for its call for More public investment in dental care and oral health promotion - part of it's 10 steps for faster - better care.
The association's report, entitled Tooth Decay in Ontario's Children: An Ounce of Prevention — A Pound of Cure, looks at the prevalence and impact of dental caries, more commonly called tooth decay, in children. It explains that:
"In 2000, the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported that dental caries is the most common chronic childhood disease, five times more common than asthma in children aged five through 17, and significantly more prevalent than chronic bronchitis."
It goes further on to show:
“The problem with dental caries goes much further than the actual decay of the tooth. In and of themselves, when caught early, cavities can almost always be treated. It is the symptoms and conditions that too often accompany the disease, particularly in children, that are of particular concern.
"Evidence shows that untreated caries may affect the growth of adult teeth, with poor dental health and disease persisting into adulthood. Caries can lead to infection, pain, abscesses, chewing problems, malnutrition and gastrointestinal disorders. It can affect speech and articulation, and like many chronic diseases, the risk factors of early childhood caries also contribute to childhood obesity and malnutrition. Of specific concern to families and dentists is the increased risk for treatment under general anesthesia, often in hospital, for children with extensive dental caries. Wait times for hospital operating rooms and general anesthesia mean more delays in access to dental treatment for children in urgent need of care."
Step 5 for faster - better care
The ODA's report doesn't come as a surprise to the National Union. As part of it's 10 steps for faster - better care material it has highlighted the need for leadership from the federal government on dental care.
In the pamphlet More public investment in dental care and oral health promotion the union argued that:
"Good oral health is a critical factor in good overall health. But, for some strange reason, our health care system doesn’t consider our mouths as part of a healthy body. And yet there is a great deal of medical evidence showing that good oral health is a vital component of disease prevention and overall health promotion."
The fact that dental care isn't included in the mainstream medicare system has resulted in considerable inequality of access for many Canadians.
"Unfortunately, dental care is not considered medically necessary in most provinces and territories. A significant portion of the Canadian population has poor oral health and cannot afford good oral health care.
"When there is publicly funded dental care it is usually for specifically identified groups of people. While this can be an important service for these people, it is not enough.
"For most people, if they have coverage, it is through their employee health benefit plans. This means coverage can be lost if they change jobs or are laid off. It also means that those who earn more money can purchase better dental health coverage than those who make less."
The National Union argues that this is both an unfair way to deliver an important health care service but that improved coverage of dental care would bring savings throughout the health care system - and as the ODA report suggests elsewhere.
"It is time for the federal government to show some real leadership and create a national strategy that ensures oral health promotion and disease prevention is brought into the mainstream of our public healthcare system.
"Justice Emmett Hall, whose 1964 royal commission laid the groundwork for Canada’s national public health insurance scheme, strongly felt that dental care should be part of our Medicare system.
"More than 30 years later it is time to make Emmett Hall’s vision a reality."
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring that our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE
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