JCDA - Canadian Dental Association

––– News & Updates –––
Seniors’ Oral Health Care Report
Report on Seniors’ Oral Health Care was approved and accepted by the CDA Board of Directors at its
A meeting in June. The report is a comprehensive document that outlines a national strategy to address the
challenges associated with the delivery of oral health care for seniors in Canada.
In February 2006, CDA’s Committee on Clinical and Scientific Affairs (CCSA) was tasked by the Board to
review the report that came out of a national forum on seniors’ health care organized by CDA in 2005. The CCSA
appointed a Seniors’ Task Force, chaired by CCSA member Dr. Chris Wyatt of Vancouver, to set priorities on
recommended activities. Drs. Mary McNally, Aaron Burry, Clive Friedman and Trey Petty were also on the task
force, representing different interest groups from across Canada with a special focus on geriatric dentistry.
The introduction to the report notes, “CDA recognizes that many seniors face substantial barriers and pro-
found disparities in accessing needed dental services, resulting in poor oral and general health outcomes, with
a negative impact on quality of life in the declining years at a time often characterized by increasing disability
and decreasing independence.
To confront the critical issues facing seniors’ oral health care in Canada, CDA brought together corporate
and clinical leaders from across Canada in 2005 to identify the key issues, to develop a national shared vision
and to take action in meeting the significant challenges inherent in promoting optimal oral health for the
elderly.”
To adequately assess the situation in Canada, the Seniors’ Task Force catalogued seniors’ oral health care
activities and programs currently offered by the provincial dental associations. They also reviewed relevant
academic literature, considered the Oral Longevity Project 2007 of the American Dental Association, and
examined documents related to competencies for beginning dental practitioners
and accreditation of dental programs in Canada.
As the report states: “The profession now needs to take stock of its resources
and professional development in order to meet the emerging needs of the coming
decades and to address the retirement of a significant portion of the Canadian
workforce.”
The report’s recommendations fall under 4 broad categories: education, delivery
of care, research and strategic planning. Some of the main recommendations include
developing a service model for delivery of care to seniors, developing standards for
daily oral hygiene in long-term care facilities, lobbying for increased geriatric
research and developing a communication strategy to raise awareness of geri-
atrics with the dental profession, government and the public.
The CDA Board acknowledged the efforts of the Seniors’ Task Force and the
importance of the report now that access to care for seniors has been identified
as the primary government relations issue for CDA in the coming months. The
full report can be found on the members’ side of the CDA website. a
580 JCDA • www.cda-adc.ca/jcda • September 2008, Vol. 74, No. 7 •