Free or Reduced Rates for Dental Services

A mere 62% of people in Canada have private dental insurance. If you’re part of the 38% that does not, you can possibly get dental care either free-of-charge or at a reduced rate depending on your situation.

Some colleges have dental programs that are linked to clinics offering reduced-cost oral hygiene services and dental care.

Find out if there are any dentists doing any free work in your area. For example, my dentist recently advertised free dental cleanings and extractions to the first 50 people to call for an appointment. A certain number of dentists will extend this type of “goodwill” gesture at some time or other to those who don’t have coverage. 

Here are some examples of FREE dental care options for children in Ontario:

Children in Need of Treatment (CINOT) program
If you reside in Ontario and have a child under the age of 18 who requires urgent dental care, but you can’t afford it, you may qualify for aid with CINOT.

Healthy Smiles Ontario is a program designed for children under 18 who live in Ontario and do not have access to any form of dental coverage. If deemed eligible, your child can get regular dental services at no cost to you. Check for a location nearest you by choosing from one of the 36 local public health units in Ontario who have partnered with local community health centers, primary care providers, dentists, hospitals, and schools and universities.

Dental Health Bus
If you’re fortunate enough to live in the City of Hamilton in Ontario, they have what’s called “The Dental Health Bus,” a mobile outreach clinic providing dental services free of charge to residents of Hamilton. 

 

Government Dental Programs
Although general dental health care is not covered in the Canada Health Act (CHA), some dental services are covered through certain government dental programs such as: 

• Ontario Works 
• Ontario Disability Support Program (Dental Special Care Plan) 
• Assistance for Severely Disabled Children (ASDC)

What is Periodontitis?

Periodontitis

Are the gums surrounding your teeth red and puffy? Do they bleed when you brush? Do you have chronic bad breath or a taste of metal in your mouth?  If you answered yes to more than one of those questions, you may have periodontitis.

Periodontitis is a gum disease that develops on account of bacterial growth in your mouth. If left untreated, it can lead to the destruction of the tissues that enclose your teeth, resulting in eventual tooth loss.

Gingivitis, which is inflammation of the gums, can potentially lead to periodontitis. Gingivitis typically happens when significant plaque build-up causes gums to bleed. Although it is alarming, it is not irreversible because bone damage has not occurred yet. Once gingivitis has advanced to periodontitis, bone is affected and the inner layer of the gums starts to pull away from the teeth, forming pockets that fill with debris, promoting infection. When periodontitis is not treated, you’re faced with the eventual break down of bone, causing the teeth to lose their anchoring and ultimately fall out.    

Age, smoking, hormonal changes, illnesses such as diabetes or HIV/AIDS, and some genetic factors can put you at risk for periodontitis. 

Bear in mind that plaque hardens and turns to tartar, a rock hard substance on the teeth that can only be removed by a dentist or oral hygienist.  A yearly visit to your dentist will not only uphold your general health but can also greatly decrease your chances of developing periodontitis. 

Click here to inquire about dental insurance coverage.

Senior Home Care

My mother, who is 77 years old, suffered a stroke last year. As a consequence, she has had to leave her independent life behind and go live with my brother and his family. However, my brother and his wife both hold full time jobs and, as good as their intentions may be, they need help in looking after our aging mom while she continues to stay with them. This kind of scenario raises a valid concern for a lot of people in the same position. How do we care for our senior parents when we’re so busy (sometimes overwhelmed) with our own day to day lives? 

About 1 in 4 Canadian seniors receive home care each year, and about 50% of those seniors rely on friends, family, or neighbors to provide them with the help they need. Sadly, home care for the elderly can be quite a challenge, especially for those loved ones who must meet the demands of a boss, tend to the well being of their children, and submit to various other responsibilities. Sometimes it’s best to leave home care to the professionals!

Home care is not only valuable to the caregiver but also to the elderly because it allows them to continue leading a somewhat independent life. It can also delay the need for hospitalization, as well as decrease the likelihood of institutionalization, which subsequently benefits the health care system.

The most common types of home care programs usually include providing transportation, home maintenance or housework, and meal preparation. Depending on the state of the senior’s health and mobility, assistance with eating, dressing or bathing is sometimes required.

Use the services available in your community to help you look after your loved one. Organizations like The Red Cross  offer services such as bathing, feeding, grooming, meal preparation, companionship, and grocery shopping. The Red Cross was the first to bring Meals on Wheels to Canada, a program that helps those who are unable to shop for groceries and cook their own food by delivering nutritious, delicious and affordable meals to seniors in the comfort of their home. 

Health insurance plans specifically designed with seniors in mind are significantly helpful.  Some of the benefits not only include coverage for health care services, but also cover the rental of medically necessary equipment such as crutches, non-electric wheel-chairs, hospital beds, oxygen, and other types of remedial appliances. 

Having a private health insurance plan can make a big difference in the quality of your life during the golden years. It makes good sense to examine your options now.

See health insurance plans for seniors.

Prescription Drug Abuse in Canada

Canada is second to the United States for its misuse of prescription drugs. It has been estimated that over 350,000 Canadian kids have taken pharmaceutical drugs that were not prescribed to them by a doctor. A recent Ontario report revealed that the number of opioid-related deaths soared by 242 per cent between 1991 and 2010. Opioids are in the group of medicinal drugs that contain opium (or an opium-like substance) that is usually prescribed by physicians for pain relief. 

Prescription Drugs

Because of the issues associated with prescription drug abuse in Canada, federal health minister Rona Ambrose announced that Health Canada will be imposing more descriptive warnings on labels for controlled-released prescription narcotics.  It wants to modify such labels that display “for moderate pain” to labels that clarify that these types of drugs are to be used “for severe pain”.

Ambrose was quoted as saying that prescription drug abuse is “a major public health and safety concern” for many Canadians and remarked that this country is second only to the United States for its per capita consumption of prescription opioids.

What Can We Do?

One practical and reassuring way to restrain prescription drug abuse in our own homes would be to return unused portions to drug stores. Canada’s National Drug Take Back Campaign has partnered with Shopper’s Drug Mart and Pharmaprix to help tackle this issue.

Find a drug store near you and participate in this positive campaign. Remove all leftover pain medications from your medicine cabinet and help reduce the misuse of prescription drugs in Canada.