Should Dental Care be Part of the Medical Services Plan?
Dental Care under the umbrella of the Medical Services Plan, now there is a headline that will raise a few eyebrows. Still it is a thought-provoking question, why is it not considered a health issue and included as part of our MSP coverage? There is certainly no debate that poor oral health will ultimately affect overall health. Natural dentition in a state of decline can be very painful, limiting types of foods we chew and our ability to digest. Weight loss, recurring infections, headaches, stomach and intestinal disorders as well as poor self esteem are a just a few of the problems patients can suffer due to a lack of dental care. However unlike any other orifice of the body we are expected to carry the entire cost of its treatment and prevention.
How did it come to pass that our system covers practically the whole body but dentistry was left to become a private pay profit system? Perhaps it was not so much a lack of recognition that healthy teeth make for a healthy body, but more to do with fiscal restraints. We did in this province for a very brief period in the early eighties have a dental care plan for all children and seniors. Unfortunately it only lasted a few years before it was axed. Sadly it is an all to regular occurrence in my clinic, to see patients in a terrible state of dental decline simply due to a lack of ability to afford necessary treatment, ultimately resulting in tooth loss and the need for dentures. Ironically even at this final stage of dental collapse dentures are not covered by MSP either. If you can not afford the care, you are expected to go toothless. Hardly an acceptable or reasonable state for a citizen of a country that prides itself on equal access to the health care system regardless of income.
I am not suggesting all of dentistry be covered, as some areas can be considered cosmetic or aesthetically based. Just like cosmetic surgery they would be available to the public outside of the regular system on a user pay system. Basic dentistry however, oral exams, cleaning, radiology, fillings, extraction's, partial and full dentures should be.
Obviously given our current climate regarding health care I might as well be whistling in a hurricane. But one day, when our fiscal house and medical system is in better shape and given greater priority, we might look at making our universal health care system a little more universal and accessible to all.