EXPANDING
DENTAL SERVICES FOR LOW INCOME CHILDREN
McGuinty Government Implementing Poverty Reduction Strategy
Ontario is moving forward with its Poverty Reduction Strategy by providing urgent and essential dental care free-of-charge to children in low-income families.
The Children in Need of Treatment (CINOT) program currently provides emergency dental care to low-income children from birth to age 13. As of Jan 1, 2009, the program will be expanded to reach children up to age 18. It will also provide out-of-hospital anaesthetic coverage for children age five to 17.
The government is also working with Public Health Units, Community Health Centres, Dentists and Dental Hygienists to build community capacity and expand prevention and treatment services for low-income Ontarians, especially children. Services will be rolling out across the province over the next two years.
The government’s total investment in low-income dental services will be $45 million annually when fully implemented.
Ontario’s Poverty Reduction Strategy is designed to build a stronger economy by creating more opportunity for all low-income families and children. The strategy sets a goal of reducing child poverty by 25 per cent in 5 years – lifting 90,000 children out of poverty.
QUOTES
“The
expansion of the CINOT program will provide access to dental care for more
of Ontario’s most vulnerable children, youth and teenagers. This
expansion of the CINOT program is a key component of the McGuinty
government’s commitment within the Poverty Reduction Strategy,” said
Margarett Best, Minister of Health Promotion. “As we move into the New Year, we encourage all Ontarians
to eat healthy, stay active and butt out.”
“We know that a lack of access to proper dental care as a child can affect a person’s confidence when entering the workforce,” said Deb Matthews, Minister of Children and Youth Services and Chair of the Cabinet Committee on Poverty Reduction. “The expansion of this program means more kids will have access to dental care so they can grow up healthy and strong, and have the best possible opportunities for success.”
QUICK FACTS
§ The Children in Need of Treatment program provides services and treatments for children whose parents/caregivers have no dental coverage and cannot afford the cost of urgent dental care.
§ The program includes dental care services such as: fillings, scaling, extractions and sedation, and preventative dental care.
§ In 2007, the program paid for 30,890 courses of treatment for children with identified dental needs.
