Dental Treatment of Children - Essay Example

Many, however, are not able to afford insurance, and therefore, to meet the needs of such people, the health care system devised various public dental programs. These programs have been implemented for all age groups, but children remain one of the most focused targets of these interventions. Among these programs are included the Children in Need of Treatment Program or CINOT, Ontario Works, which provides basic dental coverage up to 18 years of age, the Ontario Disability Support Program and the Dental Indices Survey or DIS, and preventive services. There is also the emergence of clinics following income residents since many of the people who cannot afford dental treatment belong to low socioeconomic status. The University of Toronto and the University of Western Ontario are two of the main providers of such dental services.

    Even these programs, however, have not been able to cater to the needs of the Canadian public in general. Statistics show that thirds of the residents of Ontario do not see a dentist on regular basis. The most common reason is the lack of insurance and inability of these people to afford dental care (The Whole Tooth and Nothing but the Truth, Nd). Other issues include fear and anxiety towards dental treatment. This does not mean that the issue settles here. Even if patients do manage to get dental insurance, it is no guarantee that it will be sufficient for the particular treatment needs (The Whole Tooth and Nothing but the Truth, Nd). Studies show that although 52% of the Canadians and 60% of the Ontarians have some form of dental insurance, these insurance programs have not been created equally, which again leads to cost becoming a barrier to dental care (The Whole Tooth and Nothing but the Truth, Nd).

DENTAL CARE AND NEED FOR DENTAL CARE AMONG ONTARIO CHILDREN CANADA

     Many challenges need overcome for children living in Ontario or for that part many areas of Canada. Accessing dental care in Ontario may not be possible unless a person has insurance. Dental care can be very expensive and therefore, prohibitive for many people, especially children who belong to low socioeconomic status or are immigrants. Since early childhood caries is fast becoming a regular feature among children, the need for early treatments is also rising. Statistics show a very large percentage of children from immigration populations not receiving any form of dental treatment at all (Werneck et al, 2008, 805a).  Werneck et all’s (2008) research found that 77% of the children's Portuguese immigration status in Toronto Canada had not ever visited a dentist before for early childhood caries. The lack of dental insurance and poor socioeconomic status remained one of the most cited reasons for lack of access to the under privileged children therefore, continue to suffer (Werneck et al, 2008, 805 b, 805d).

    The effects on the child who is denied dental care are pain and infection, a failure to thrive, a negative impact on healthy development and readiness to learn and long-term impact on school success respectively (The Whole Tooth and Nothing but the Truth, Nd).