Supplied by Sault Ste. Marie MPP Ross Romano…
Sault Ste. Marie— As part of its comprehensive plan to end hallway health care, Ontario is
investing in programs that keep seniors healthy in their communities longer. Today, Ross
Romano MPP for Sault Ste. Marie echoed how communities like Sault Ste. Marie stand to
benefit from this investment.
Each year in Ontario, preventable dental issues like gum disease, infections and chronic pain
lead to more than 60,000 emergency department visits by patients, of which a significant portion
are seniors. Many low-income seniors face challenges accessing regular dental care because
they cannot afford it, impacting their overall well-being.
This is why the government is investing approximately $90 million annually for the new Ontario
Seniors Dental Care Program (OSDCP), which will provide free routine dental care for eligible
low-income seniors in Sault Ste. Marie and across the province. In doing so, the government
expects to reduce the number of dental-related emergency department visits, helping to end
hallway health care.
“Providing dental care for low income seniors helps alleviate the concerns of seniors and their
families around not being able to access essential healthcare services in their community,” said
Romano. “In Sault Ste. Marie, organizations like Algoma Public Health will be able to ensure our
seniors receive the care they need and deserve, all while reducing hospital wait times. This is
yet another way how our government is protecting what matters most for the people of Ontario.”
Eligible seniors can apply to the program online as of today (ontario.ca/SeniorsDental), or by
picking up an application form at a local public health unit.
“With this program, we are making sure Ontario’s low-income seniors can age with dignity and
enjoy the quality of life they deserve,” said Premier Ford. “This is another concrete way our
government is delivering on our commitment to end hallway health care and cut hospital wait
times.”
“By providing seniors with access to quality dental care and keeping them out of hospitals, this
new program is a key part of our plan to end hallway health care,” said Minister Elliott. “Ontario
is building a connected system of care that supports all Ontarians throughout their health care
journey.”
“The well-being of all Ontario’s seniors is a top priority for this government,” said Minister Cho.
“This new dental care program will help eligible seniors receive the quality dental care they
deserve. By keeping seniors healthy, we can also help seniors avoid emergency visits to the
hospital, prevent chronic diseases, and increase quality of life for seniors in Sault Ste. Marie and
across the province.”
Ontarians aged 65 and over with an income of $19,300 or less, or couples with a combined
annual income of $32,300 or less, who do not have dental benefits, will qualify for the Ontario
Seniors Dental Care Program.
“Algoma’s population is aging, with a greater proportion of seniors aged 65 years and older than
the rest of Ontario. From a public health perspective, this program will improve the health and
quality of life and will reduce health inequities among low-income seniors in our region,” said Dr.
Marlene Spruyt, Medical Officer of Health for Algoma Public Health.
“We estimate that the new Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program will support 2200 seniors in
the Algoma District.”
Ontario remains committed to building healthier communities and making life more affordable
for everyone, including seniors and their families.
QUICK FACTS
It is estimated that 100,000 low-income seniors will benefit annually from this program once
fully implemented.
Two-thirds of low-income seniors do not have access to dental insurance.
The new dental care program will be available through public health units, including some
mobile dental clinics, as well as participating Community Health Centres (CHCs) and
Aboriginal Health Access Centres (AHACs).