Statistics Canada has published the results of its first ever Canadian Oral Health Survey (COHS) showing that dental visits among Canadians are returning to levels seen prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

They say 72 per cent of those over age 12 reported visiting an oral health professional in the past year. “This was down from 75 per cent in 2018 but up from 65 per cent in 2022,” they write. “The survey covered several key aspects of oral health, including individuals’ ability to pay for oral health care, experiences with the oral health care system, challenges finding oral health services, self-reported oral health and care needs. This release focuses on recent dental visits and dental insurance coverage.” 

The survey period extended from November 2023 to March 2024.  

School aged children between six and 17 years of age were most likely to have visited the dentist – about 88 per cent reported visiting an oral health care professional during the previous 12 months. Children under six were least likely to have visited the dentist with only 52 per cent reporting the same.  

They say those with dental insurance were more likely to report visiting a dentist. Of those surveyed, 81 per cent with insurance versus just 56 per cent of those without insurance reported visiting an oral health professional in the past 12 months. “These results are in line with recent reports that identified dental insurance as an independent predictor of accessing dental care among adults, seniors, children and youth, even after controlling for other factors,” they state.  

Children most likely to have coverage 

Children were most likely to have dental insurance, while seniors were least likely to report the same: 83 per cent of children under five were most likely to be covered, followed by 79 per cent of those between six and 11 years and 77 per cent of those between 12 and 17. “In contrast, about one in three seniors aged 65 to 79 years living in private dwellings (38 per cent) and one in four seniors aged 80 years and older living in private dwellings (25 per cent) reported having dental insurance,” they write. 

Canadians living in Quebec were the least likely to have dental insurance while those in Alberta were most likely to have it. According to the survey, just 53 per cent of those living in Quebec had dental insurance; 77 per cent of Alberta residents had dental coverage.