Just under half of Canadians (59 percent) in the lowest income quintile have seen a dentist in the past 12 months compared with 73 percent of those in the highest income quintile, the agency found. The findings came from the 2023 Canadian Community Health Survey, which covered Canadians aged 12 years old and older across the country.
The survey found that the number of people who had seen a dentist in the past year was lower among people in Newfoundland and Labrador (55 percent), Saskatchewan (60 percent), New Brunswick (62 percent) and Quebec (62 percent), compared to other provinces.
The survey also found that 35 percent of Canadians do not have dental insurance, whether it be private dental insurance plans or government-paid plans. A total of 76 percent of Canadians with private dental insurance reported seeing a dentist in the last 12 months, compared to just 51 percent without any private or government insurance plan.
Although having private or public dental insurance coverage is not the only barrier or driver to seeking care, it can make it easier to access dental care services. Approximately three in four Canadians (76 percent) with private dental insurance reported having seen a dental professional in the past 12 months, compared with just over half (51 percent) of those without any private insurance plan or access to a government-paid plan, Statistics Canada said.
Among people with public insurance (i.e., a government-paid plan), 62 percent reported having had a recent dental visit. Furthermore, 40 percent of people without dental insurance reported having avoided going to a dental professional due to the cost, which was nearly three times more than those with private dental insurance (14 percent).
Insurance coverage for dental visits also varies by age group. Overall, 69 percent of people aged 35 to 49 reported having private dental insurance, which was more than twice as high as those aged 65 and older (33 percent). More than half (58 percent) of Canadians aged 65 and older reported not having had any of their dental expenses covered by a private insurance plan or government-paid plan.
Nearly half (49 percent) of Quebec residents reported not having dental insurance coverage, which was a higher proportion than those living outside of that province (31 percent), according to the survey. Furthermore, a higher proportion of people living in rural areas in Canada (41 percent) reported not having dental insurance compared with those living in urban areas (33 percent).
About one in four families (23 percent) with a net adjusted income of $90,000 or more, and just over one-third (34 percent) of families with an income from $70,000 to $89,999, reported not having dental insurance. For families with a net income of less than $70,000, about half (48 percent) reported not having dental insurance.
Additionally, 24 percent of Canadians reported avoiding going to the dentist in the past year due to costs.
According to an Inquiry of Ministry recently tabled in the House of Commons reported on by Blacklock’s, over nine million Canadians would qualify for subsidies under a proposed federal dental care program, according to the Department of Health. A previous estimate by the budget office said that under 6.5 million would qualify.
A current federal program pays $650 tax-free per year for dental for children under 12 in households with incomes under $70,000, but cabinet has proposed expanding the plan to individuals of all ages.
