All editorial matter in CMAJ represents the opinions of the authors and not necessarily those of the Can adian Medical Association.

Picture this scenario. A 74-year-old patient presents with an infected wound the size of the palm of her hand. The doctor tells the patient that there is no health coverage in her province for the care of this type of infected wound in seniors. She will have to pay out of pocket. On a tight budget, the patient leaves without treatment. Sound implausible? It shouldn’t. The patient has perio-dontitis rather than a skin infection. Although the periodontal surface area of the mouth is substantial, and periodontal infec-tion is associated with systemic diseases such as coronary artery disease, stroke and aspiration pneumonia,1–3 most seniors in Canada do not have coverage for dental care, apart from specific oral surgery procedures that are performed in hospital.4 This lack of coverage has serious health implica-tions for older Canadians, which puts this vulnerable group at higher risk for both dental and systemic disease. There is a growing body of evidence showing the assoc