A Momentous Day for Children’s Oral Health - from the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association

 

Ondina Love, chief executive officer of the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA), was honoured to join The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, federal minister of health, today for a historic announcement on a momentous day for children’s oral health in Canada.

 Across the country, dental hygienists are celebrating today’s official launch of the Canada Dental Benefit because this new program will help children access the essential oral care needed to prevent disease and improve overall health. Dental hygienists see the effects of poor oral health firsthand and that’s why they, alongside many other oral health care providers, have long called for better access to preventive oral care services for children. 

 “Today’s announcement on the Canada Dental Benefit will be remembered for generations,” said Love. “Dental hygienists have consistently called for increased access to preventive oral health care for children, and this government commitment does that.”

 “CDHA represents the sixth-largest regulated health profession in Canada. With a dental hygiene workforce of over 31,000 professionals, we have the capacity to deliver essential oral health services in dental offices, school clinics, independent dental hygiene practices, and mobile practices,” remarked CDHA President Anne Caissie. “The passage of this national dental care bill into law is a historic accomplishment of Prime Minister Trudeau and his government, working with the NDP to support the oral health of children in Canada,” added Caissie.

 CDHA and dental hygienists across the country applaud the federal government for investing in children’s oral health and look forward to future phases of this program reaching even more Canadians.

CDHA is the collective national voice of more than 31,000 dental hygienists in Canada, directly representing 21,000 individual members, including students. Since 1963, CDHA has worked to advance the profession and promote the importance of oral health. Dental hygiene is the sixth-largest regulated health profession in Canada, with professionals working in a variety of settings, including independent dental hygiene practice, with people of all ages, addressing issues related to oral health. For more information on oral health, visit dentalhygienecanada.ca.