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UK Against Fluoridation

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Canada - Anti-cavity crusade

Anti-cavity crusade
DENTAL HEALTH: Program helps youth without coverage Posted
By HEATHER IBBOTSON, EXPOSITOR STAFFUpdated 18 hours ago
Dr. Alicia Gertig treats many mouths in serious need of help, some of them as young as three.
The Brantford dentist is one of many area dental professionals who take part in the Children in Need of Treatment (CINOT) program offered through the Brant County Health Unit.
The program provides access to urgent dental care for youngsters without private dental benefits or other forms of dental coverage.
The program's eligibility requirements have now expanded to include youth aged 17 and under, as part of the province's poverty reduction strategy.
"Children shouldn't have to suffer," Gertig said in an interview on Tuesday at her St. Paul Avenue office, adding that she has seen cases of "rampant decay" in the teeth of children as young as three. She has also seen the necessity for decayed tooth extractions in children aged four to six.
"It's amazing how quickly a cavity progresses," Gertig said.
The CINOT program was introduced across Ontario in 1987.
Last year, the program treated 436 cases throughout Brant County, down by about 50 cases from 2007, said Beth McIntosh, dental program co-ordinator with the health unit.
"We're fortunate here because of the participation of local dentists," she said. Currently, 78 dentists across the county participate in the program.
The average cost of dental services provided for these urgent cases is $330 per child, McIntosh said, with at least two children last year requiring more than $1,000 in urgent care dentistry.
The CINOT program covers the cost of fillings, extractions, X-rays and even root canals. Orthodontic work is not covered.
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There are three main reasons why some youngsters end up with serious dental decay, McIntosh said.
Diet is part of it, she said, adding that the constant consumption of sugary beverages, in bottles or sippy cups, is a dental no-no.
As well, many children have not been taught about proper dental hygiene and the importance of regular brushing and flossing, she said.
A third factor is the simple lack of access to dental care by families who cannot afford to send their children for regular checkups, McIntosh said. For some families, dental care is more reactive than preventative.
McIntosh said she expects the numbers of children and youth seeking treatment through the CINOT program to climb, given the new eligibility inclusion of teenagers up to and including 17-year-olds.
The program may also see more patients due to the economy.
"We're falling on hard economic times," Gertig said, adding that some families simply don't have "a couple hundred dollars kicking around for dental care."
Such costs could "bury a family," she said.
That is why the CINOT program is so important and such a boon to any community, she said.
"Everyday families are losing jobs and losing their (dental) coverage," she said.
In addition to treating children with urgent dental care needs, Gertig emphasizes dental hygiene to all her young patients to encourage the development of healthy habits that will last a lifetime.
Gertig's decision to enter a career in dentistry and her participation in the CINOT program can be traced back to her father, Dr. Hans Gertig, who retired from a 40-year career in dentistry two years ago. He was involved with the CINOT program since its earliest days, Gertig said.
"He had such a kind and tender heart. He never turned anyone away," she said.
To be eligible for the CINOT program, patients must be age 17 or under and have no access to private dental coverage or coverage through other governmental programs.

Brantford (Ontario) was the first Canadian city to add fluoride chemicals to prevent tooth decay and they still do:NYSCOF

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