DT News - Canada - Canadian children most in need of dental care are least likely to receive it

Dental Tribune USA

Thu. 12 June 2014

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TORONTO, Ontario, Canada: Less than one per cent of healthy urban children surveyed in Toronto had received dental care by the recommended age of 12 months and less than 2 per cent had seen a dentist by the age of 24 months. Children most susceptible to cavities were least likely to receive early dental care, according to the study by Dr. Jonathon Maguire, a pediatrician and researcher at St. Michael’s Hospital.

Of the 2,505 children (all about 4 years of age) who were surveyed between 2011 and 2013, 39 per cent had never been to a dentist. The children were part of TARGet Kids! (The Applied Research Group for Kids!), a collaboration between doctors and researchers from St. Michael’s Hospital and The Hospital for Sick Children. The program follows children from birth with the aim of preventing common problems in the early years and understanding those problems’ impact on health and disease later in life.

Maguire’s study was published in the journal Pediatrics.

The study found that never having been to a dentist was associated with younger age, lower family income, prolonged bottle use and higher daily intake of sweetened drinks, such as juice. With each one-cup increase in the amount of sweetened drinks consumed daily, the odds of never having visited a dentist increased by 20 per cent.

Of children who had visited a dentist, 24 per cent had at least one cavity.

Dr. Maguire said prolonged bottle use (especially at night) and sweetened drinks are suspected risk factors for cavities because the carbohydrates in the beverages promote the growth of the bacteria that causes cavities.

Among children who had been to a dentist, older age, lower family income and East Asian maternal ancestry were also associated with having one or more cavities.

Cavities can cause not just pain for children but also can contribute to feeding problems, poor nutritional status and behavioural problems, Maguire said.

He said previous studies have found that children who receive preventive dental care in the first year of life have less dental disease, are less likely to require restorative or emergency treatment and have lower dental-related health care costs — particularly among high-risk populations. Barriers to dental care for families with young children may include cost, access to transportation, school absence policies and a belief that dental health may not be important to overall well being, he said.

“It’s one thing for primary health care providers to be recommending early preventive dental care but for many families this is unrealistic,” said Maguire. “Publically funded universal early preventive dental care just makes sense.”

Dental care is not part of Canada’s universal health care system and, as in the United States, it is primarily provided in private practice settings on a fee-for-service basis.

About St. Michael's Hospital

St. Michael’s Hospital provides medical care to patients and education to future health care professionals in 27 academic disciplines. Critical care and trauma, heart disease, neurosurgery, diabetes, cancer care, care of the homeless and global health are among the hospital’s recognized areas of expertise. Through the Keenan Research Centre and the Li Ka Shing International Healthcare Education Centre, which make up the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, research and education at St. Michael's Hospital are recognized and make an impact around the world. Founded in 1892, the hospital is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto.

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