Even in a nation that prides itself on accessible health care, a growing number of Canadians are quietly forgoing dental visits, a trend that speaks volumes about the cracks in our current system.
Dental care in Canada has long stood apart from the broader health care conversation. Unlike physician visits or hospital stays, dental checkups depend largely on private insurance, most often through employers. Recent survey findings suggest that more than half of the population is now skipping dental appointments—a figure that raises more questions than answers.
This analysis navigates the tangled causes behind the trend, drawing on a multiple-cause, single-effect approach. The driving forces are clear: gaps in insurance coverage, financial strain, and an uneven landscape of access. Correlation is not causation, but when employer coverage accounts for the lion’s share of dental insurance, the consequences for those without such benefits become painfully obvious.
Lack of insurance is the central culprit. Those employed full-time may enjoy regular cleanings, while the self-employed, part-timers, and retirees watch their dental needs slide to the bottom of the priority list. Cost is the next domino. Without coverage, even routine care can become prohibitively expensive, with families forced to choose between checkups and necessities. Then there’s structural disparity: some communities simply have fewer dental providers, widening the gap between urban and rural Canadians.
The effects are immediate and long-lasting. Oral health declines, with untreated problems snowballing into more serious medical issues. Inequity deepens as certain groups fall further behind. The societal cost? Greater pressure on the broader health care system, as preventable dental issues escalate into emergencies.
Of course, surveys only paint part of the picture. There are always outliers—those who avoid the dentist for reasons unrelated to cost or insurance. Still, the weight of evidence leaves little doubt about the primary drivers of this growing problem.
Policy-makers can’t turn a blind eye to these findings. If dental care remains a privilege tied to employment, the divide will widen. Solutions—whether expanding public coverage or rethinking employer benefits—are overdue. The health of Canadians hangs in the balance.
References:
More than half of Canadians skipping health care such as dental, survey suggests
