The provincial government is being urged to boost funding for the Healthy Smiles Ontario program to keep up with today’s real costs.
The initiative gives eligible children in low-income families access to free dental services.
The Ontario Dental Association says a funding gap is leaving dentists having to pick-up the shortfall to keep the program going.
Dr. Jerry Smith says dentists received 90% of the costs when the program started in the 1980’s, but it has since dwindled to 46%.
About 200,000 are currently treated under Healthy Smiles Ontario.
Smith says without a meaningful increase in funding, the program won’t be sustainable.
Smith notes they have been discussing the matter for a very long time, with no movement.
