PREPARED BY:
Oral Health
DATE:
2024-05-16
SUBJECT:
WECHU Oral Health Services and Oral Health Month
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE
The Windsor Essex County Health Unit operates two provincially-funded dental programs under the Oral Health Protocol (2021), a component of the Ontario Public Health Standards. The Healthy Smiles Ontario (HSO) Program is available for children 0-17, from low-income households, and the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program (OSDCP) is offered to low-income seniors 65 years and older. These programs important contributors to improved access to dental care as they remove financial barriers for vulnerable populations in Windsor-Essex. Additionally, the Oral Health Protocol mandates the implementation of school based preventive oral heath screenings and population-level surveillance of oral health indicators.
DISCUSSION
WECHU Healthy Smiles Ontario (HSO) Dental Clinics
Our Windsor and Leamington WECHU dental clinics successfully screened and enrolled 1,335 children in the publicly funded Healthy Smiles Ontario program during the 2023 calendar year. We provided emergency coverage for urgent dental conditions, including open carious lesions and infections, and assisted families in connecting with community dentists to address these immediate needs. Additionally, we offered preventive treatments such as topical fluoride applications, scaling, and pit and fissure sealants.
| Healthy Smiles Ontario Program: Key Statistics for WECHU Clinics | # of Children & Youth |
|---|---|
| Children had an urgent dental care issue; eligible for HSO. | 659 |
| New children were enrolled in the HSO- preventive services program | 676 |
| Children received preventive clinical services (2,630 visits/appointments) in our dental clinics | 1,614 |
Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program (OSDCP)
The OSDCP was launched in October 2019 to address the barriers that low-income seniors in the Windsor-Essex face when accessing oral health care. The primary goal of the program is to remove clients from dental pain and infection and reduce the number of visits to the ED for dental emergencies. Due to high demands on the program, the WECHU implemented a multitiered approach in 2022, forming partnerships with community dental offices to better meet the needs of the OSDCP clients. By utilizing both internal clinics and community dental offices, in 2023, 4,006 clinic visits were provided for seniors enrolled in OSDCP. In this time, 570 "new patient" exams were completed, with an average of 2.2 new patients being added daily to the client roster. Furthermore, the WECHU provided new dentures to 164 senior clients over the course of the year.
School Dental Screening, Assessment and Surveillance
School dental screenings are typically conducted in line with the Oral Health Protocol (2021), which includes the following students:
- Schools deemed LOW risk: all JK/SK and grade 2 students
- School is deemed MEDIUM risk: all JK/SK, grade 2 and grade 7 students
- School is deemed HIGH risk: all JK/SK, grade 2, grade 4, and grade 7 students
In 2023, the Oral Health Team set a goal of screening all grades in high-risk schools (JK-8). This initiative was to ensure that all students in high-risk schools were captured and given access to publicly-funded dental care in spite of disruptions to normal screening practices throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. From January to June of 2023, a total of 11,068 students from 82 schools underwent screening. Among them 1,466 (13.2%) students were identified with urgent dental care needs and were promptly referred for treatment and while 5,535 children were recommended for preventive care. Overall, in the 2022-2023 school year, 16,149 students were screened, and 2,300 (14.2%) children were identified with an urgent dental need and subsequently enrolled in the HSO program.
After successfully meeting this goal, the Oral Health Team transitioned back to implementing the Oral Health protocol as outlined above for the 2023/2024 school year. From September to December 2023, a total of 5,245 students from 39 schools were screened, 895 (17.1%) were identified as requiring urgent dental care, and 2,390 children were recommended for preventive treatment.
| Key Statistics for School Screening Assessment & Surveillance | January to June (Spring) 2023 (# of Students) | September to December (Fall) 2023 (# of Students) |
|---|---|---|
| Students Screened | 11,068 | 5,245 |
| Students identified with urgent dental care needs, & therefore eligible for Healthy Smiles Ontario (HSO) | 1,466 (13.2%) | 895 (17.1%) |
| Students offered HSO- preventive treatment services | 5,535 | 2,390 |
CONSULTATION:
The following individuals have contributed to this report: Sarah Hill and Kendra Chappus Sikich, Managers, Oral Health Department
Key References
Ontario. Ministry of Health. (2021). Oral health protocol, 2021. Retrieved from https://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/publichealth/oph_standards/docs/protocols_guidelines/Oral%20Health%20Protocol_2021.pdf