Ontario Seniors Dental Capital Program

MPP Sylvia Jones is pleased to announce that the Dufferin office of the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health unit has finished the dental clinic expansion to accommodate the provincially funded program for low-income seniors.

Since 2019, the Ontario government is investing approximately $90 million annually for the new Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program (OSDCP), which provides free routine dental care for eligible low-income seniors in the County of Dufferin and across the province. In doing so, the government expects to reduce the number of dental-related emergency department visits, helping to end hallway health care.

Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health (WDGPH) received up to $869,100 in additional base funding for the 2019-2020 funding year to support the new dental program.

To expand capacity for dental care for low-income seniors, the Ontario government has also announced the Seniors Dental Capital Program. This program provides funding support to critical infrastructure projects across the province. The Dufferin office of WDGPH, located in Orangeville, received $69,200 for 2019-2020 and $34,200 for 2020-2021, helping to convert the existing preventative space to restorative and create two dental suites with x-ray capability.

Each year in Ontario, preventable dental issues like gum disease, infections and chronic pain lead to more than 60,000 emergency department visits by patients, of which a significant portion are seniors. Many low-income seniors face challenges accessing regular dental care because they cannot afford it, which impacts their overall well-being.

“By providing seniors with access to quality dental care and keeping them out of hospitals, this new program is a key part of our plan to end hallway health care,” said MPP Jones. “Ontario is building a connected system of care that supports all Ontarians throughout their health care journey.”

“The well-being of all Ontario’s seniors is a top priority for this government,” said Minister Cho. “This dental care program will help eligible seniors receive the quality dental care they deserve. By keeping seniors healthy, we can also help seniors avoid emergency visits to the hospital, prevent chronic diseases, and increase quality of life for seniors in our community.”

“WDG Public Health has advocated for expanded dental programs to better serve the community, particularly the most vulnerable residents,” said Dr. Nicola Mercer, Medical Officer of Health and CEO of Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health. “We are pleased to be able to serve qualifying seniors through this partnership with the Province.”

Ontarians aged 65 and over with an income of $19,300 or less, or couples with a combined annual income of $32,300 or less, who do not have dental benefits, will qualify for the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program.

Ontario remains committed to building healthier communities and making life more affordable for everyone, including seniors and their families.

The dental clinic will reopen to patients once it is deemed safe with respect to COVID-19. In the meantime, public health is facilitating dental care through community dentists. Eligible seniors can apply to the program online at http://ontario.ca/SeniorsDental, or by calling public health at 1-800-265-7293.

 QUICK FACTS

  • It is estimated that 100,000 low-income seniors will benefit annually from this program once fully implemented.
  • Two-thirds of low-income seniors do not have access to dental insurance.
  • The new dental care program will be available through public health units, including some mobile dental clinics, as well as participating Community Health Centres (CHCs) and Aboriginal Health Access Centres (AHACs).

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