Endorsement of the Chief Medical Officer of Health Report, Oral Health – More Than Just Cavities, April 2012 (Motion #30-12)

Moved by Berthiaume, Gingras. Approved on May 17, 2012, by the Sudbury & District Board of Health.

Motion

WHEREAS the Board recognizes that there are dangers associated with poor oral health that extend beyond cavities and the cosmetic inconvenience of discoloured teeth; and

WHEREAS dental caries (tooth decay) is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases and can contribute to poor nutritional status, negatively impact the development of adult teeth in young children, damage self-esteem and may affect school performance, ability to learn and potential to thrive; and

WHEREAS the Sudbury & District Board of Health has a mandate under the Ontario Public Health Standards, Child Health Program to work to increase the proportion of children reaching optimal oral health; and

WHEREAS prevention is critical to good oral health and optimally fluoridated drinking water is a highly effective preventive strategy that should be accessible to all Ontarians, protecting children’s primary teeth and the permanent teeth of children, adults and seniors; and

WHEREAS as compared with other provinces, Ontario has the lowest rate of public funding for dental care, as a percentage of all dental care expenditures and the lowest per capita public sector spending on dental services, resulting in precarious access to dental preventive and treatment services, especially for low-income Ontarians; and

WHEREAS the Sudbury & District Board of Health recognizes the overall poor oral health outcomes among First Nations and is committed to exploring public health program and service coordination with area First Nations communities; and

WHEREAS the Sudbury & District Board of Health has carried a number of motions since 2004 recognizing the importance of oral health and the need for preventive measures to address dental decay;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Sudbury & District Board of Health strongly endorse the Chief Medical Officer of Health report, Oral Health – More Than Just Cavities, April 2012, and support the recommendations regarding fluoridated drinking water, monitoring and evaluation of current publicly funded oral health programs and services, improved integration and access of low income oral health services and improved access to oral health services for First Nations people in Ontario; and

FURTHER that this motion be shared with relevant area municipalities, Ontario Boards of Health, Chief Medical Officer of Health, Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), Sudbury & District Dental Society, Ontario Dental Association, Ontario Medical Association, Public Health Ontario, area First Nations, First Nations and Inuit Health – Ontario Region, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Manitoulin-Sudbury District Services Board, local MPPs, and Health Sciences North.

This item was last modified on June 12, 2015