Dental & Oral Health Services

Toronto Public Health provides free non-emergency and emergency dental care for eligible children and youth (0-17 years).

School Dental Screening

Toronto Public Health provides annual dental screenings in local public schools. Parents are notified in advance of the screenings and are able to opt out if they do not want their child to be screened.

The school screening programs do not replace a dental examination that is done at a dentist’s office. The screening can provide an early sign of possible problems that should be looked at more closely.

Parents who are enrolled in select Toronto Public Health perinatal or parenting programs may be referred by their public health nurse, dietician or home visitor to a Toronto Public Health dental clinic for dental services. A referral form must be completed by the program staff.

If you are not eligible for this free service, you may qualify for dental care at a reduced cost at another facility.

If you are 65 or older, you can get free dental care at a Toronto Public Health dental clinic if you are eligible.

Toronto Public Health is working with the Ministry of Health and local partners to provide dental care for eligible seniors through the new Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program (OSDCP).

The Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program is a Provincially funded dental care program that provides dental services for eligible low-income seniors who are 65 years of age or older. Learn more about this program and how to apply.

If you have any questions or need to replace your dental card, please contact the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program:

Tel: (416) 916-0204
Toll-free: 1-833-207-4435
Toll-free TTY: 1-800-855-0511
www.ontario.ca/seniorsdental

Seniors residing in Toronto who have applied for OSDCP and deemed not eligible, may be eligible for Toronto’s municipal dental program. If you require assistance in applying for the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program (OSDCP), please contact (416) 338-7600.

Dental Screenings in Seniors’ Facilities

Toronto Public Health provides the following services to nursing homes, long-term care facilities, retirement homes and collective living centres:

• Screening of residents for potential dental issues
• Workshops for caregivers and/or independent seniors on the importance of good oral health, disease prevention and other dental health concerns specific to seniors
• Demonstrations on brushing techniques for residents and/or their caregivers

Facilities will be notified in advance of the screenings. Please note that not all facilities offer this program.

This screening assessment does not replace a dental examination that is done by a dentist. The screening may identify potential dental issues that should be looked at more closely.

City of Toronto Long Term Care Homes are working in partnership with Toronto Public Health on a pilot delivering mobile dental care. If you work at a City of Toronto Long Term Care Home, please call 416-338-5824.

Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally in the environment. Fluoride is found in soil, air and water.

At appropriate levels, Fluoride in drinking water has been proven to significantly reduce cavities and dental decay. This finding is strongly supported by an extensive body of Canadian and international research, and has been commonly accepted in the scientific community for almost 70 years.

Scientific guidance on optimal fluoridation levels is routinely reviewed by expert panels convened by Health Canada and conveyed to all provinces and territories.

The most recent Health Canada review, undertaken in 2007, assessed the latest available evidence on the benefits and potential risks. This review concluded that there is no harmful health risk from the fluoridation of community drinking water at current levels and that fluoridation continues to be an effective public health strategy to prevent dental disease.

The City of Toronto’s policies and practices in drinking water fluoridation are guided by these expert reviews and recommendations. Toronto Public Health and Toronto Water are committed to ensuring the safety of the Toronto drinking water supply, and protecting the health of Toronto residents.

The dental benefits and safety of fluoridation of drinking water are strongly supported by many health organizations, including the Ontario Medical Association, the Canadian Dental Association, the Ontario Dental Association, the American Dental Association, the Public Health Dentists Association, the Chief Dentist of Canada and the International Association for Dental Research.

Fluoride has been added to the Toronto drinking water supply since 1963. Studies of Toronto children 12 years after the introduction of water fluoridation and again in 2000 show that by 2000, there was a 77.4 per cent mean reduction in decayed, missing and filled baby teeth for five year-old children. There was also a 390 per cent increase in the percentage of children with no tooth decay when compared to rates reported prior to the addition of fluoride in 1963.

This dramatic improvement in dental health is due to a combination of water fluoridation, other sources of fluoride (such as toothpaste), better nutrition and better dental preventive care. Water fluoridation plays an important role in a comprehensive approach to good dental health.

The current target level of fluoride in Toronto drinking water is 0.6 parts per million – a level which is less than the naturally occurring fluoride levels from a number of European and North American water sources, including parts of Ontario.

Fluoride levels in Toronto’s drinking water are regulated in Ontario under the Safe Drinking Water Act administered by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks .

Toronto Public Health will continue to monitor expert reviews and recommendations on water fluoridation from provincial, federal and international health research organizations to ensure Toronto residents continue to have appropriate levels of fluoride in drinking water.

For more information about Toronto’s clean, safe drinking water including questions about fluoride, visit Tap Water in Toronto.

Toronto Public Health provides annual dental screenings in local public and separate schools. Parents are notified in advance of the screenings and are able to opt out if they do not want their child to be screened.

The dental screening process is as follows:

• The school informs parents and students of the dates
• A dental hygienist does a visual inspection of the gums, teeth and mouth
• The hygienist can answer any questions the student might have, provide guidance on oral hygiene and may encourage the student to get a follow-up visit with a dentist

Curriculum Resources for Teachers

• • Activities and teaching resources, The Canadian Dental Association
  • K-12 Oral Health Education Curriculum, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services

Patient Claims

Please send claims for Healthy Smiles Ontario Dental Program to

Dental Fee Guides and Schedules

Schedule of Services (HSO)

General Information on Healthy Smiles Ontario

HSO

How do I Refer Clients for Dental Care?

If you work for a community agency and you have a client who needs dental care, contact one of our dental clinics. Our staff will help you determine if your client is eligible for free care, or care at a reduced cost in another facility.

Oral health education and screenings are also available for seniors in long-term care facilities, nursing homes and collective living centres.