A dental hygienist shortage in Smithers is causing barriers for residents to access dental health care.
To raise awareness around this issue, Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP, Taylor Bachrach, organized an event in Terrace on July 23. Federal health minister, Mark Holland, was in attendance.
“The meeting [on July 23] was a chance to discuss those challenges and hear directly from the dentists,” Bachrach said.
The main concern for dentists is the hygienist shortage.
“Dental support staff are in short supply and without that staff, it is hard for dentists to take on more patients,” Bachrach said.
Bachrach also understands community members’ concerns with having to wait long periods of time to see a dentist locally.
“People should not have to drive up to four hours in order to visit a dentist ... it is frustrating [to see] some Canadians having better access than others and that needs to change," he said.
On July 8, the Federal Government changed the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) requirements, so dentists no longer have to sign up and can instead submit claims on a case-by-case basis.
The CDCP provides dental coverage for Canadians who have no access to private dental insurance and who have an adjusted family net income under $90,000.
“There are 14 dentists signed up throughout Northwest B.C. and that is a lower percentage of most other parts of Canada and reflects some of the unique challenges,” Bachrach said.
Currently, no dentists in Smithers are participating in the program.
"We are pushing to improve the program and get more dentists on board, so people can get the care they need close to home,” he said.
Bachrach is hopeful the health minister’s visit to the Northwest will make a difference.
“My hope is more dental providers will come on board and choose to deliver care to people who have not been able to afford a dentist until now and to get the oral healthcare they need,” he said.
“There are still some barriers we need to work out, but we are going to keep pushing until this program works for people in our region.”
The Interior News reached out to dentists in Smithers, but received no responses.
