NDP to introduce legislation providing dental care to all children through schools

HALIFAX - The NDP Caucus will introduce legislation today that would create a universal, school-based dental care program for all students in P-12 in Nova Scotia.

“Your teeth shouldn’t be exempted from public health care,” said NDP Leader Gary Burrill. “This program would ensure all school-aged children have access to basic dental care services, free of charge. It is an important first step toward expanding public health care to include dental care services.”

Brandon Doucet is a fourth-year dentistry student at Dalhousie University. He recently wrote an analysis about the lack of public funding for dental care in Canada. He will graduate and become a dentist in a few weeks.

“Basic dental care should be a right and not a luxury. Through the bill proposed by the NSNDP, preventative dental services would be provided to all children in schools, lessening the likelihood that dental decay progresses and reducing the need for more extensive treatment,” said Doucet. “Preventative dental care and oral hygiene instruction are critical in promoting good oral health.”

The legislation would see dental hygienists run preventative care clinics in every school in the province.

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