In regard to dentistry, over the last five years, Statistics Canada conducted a very thorough study on the needs of Canadians. The study showed that the vast majority of Canadians were receiving the care they needed.
Due to the lack of public coverage for these services, a segment of the population—about 20%—does not have access to the necessary care. We must therefore target this population through public programs. The association certainly recommends programs specifically intended for these people, who are also those with the highest levels of dental disease.
We know that 80% of all cavities are found in the poorest segment of the population, which represents 20% of all Canadians. This is a major problem because it is entirely possible to prevent cavities. There is no problem preventing them, provided the necessary resources are there.
One of these resources is, unfortunately, education, while one of the factors that predict the occurrence of tooth decay and periodontal disease is socioeconomic level. If we were able to provide assistance in these areas, it would be very useful.
Dentists already have a relatively broad scope of practice, which allows them to diagnose, do surgery and use nearly all the approaches needed for the treatment of maxillofacial structures. Dentists can prescribe appropriate medication to treat these conditions. Therefore, we do not really have huge problems in terms of our scope of practice. We are able to deal with whatever problems we have with little difficulty.
When we do nothing and allow problems to go unchecked, we end up facing problems that are much more complicated and much more expensive. For example, it is well known that the main cause of surgery under general anesthesia in children is tooth decay. All these surgeries are easily predictable if the children are properly monitored in care. This is one reason why we propose that children be seen from the age of one at the latest, within six months of the eruption of the first tooth, so that we can intervene, predict and assess the risk of cavities, and act appropriately.
The use of hospital emergency services is another area where there are very high costs. There are not many reasons why a patient with dental problems should have to use a hospital's emergency department. Dentists can provide all the treatments needed. Many dental societies organize emergency services to deliver care around the clock. That is not available everywhere, but it is very common.
Therefore, there is no reason to go to a hospital. In most cases, people who go there do so for financial reasons, and treating them in a dental clinic would be much more efficient and less costly for the system.