Cost Barriers to Dental Care in Canada

Objective: To determine who avoids the dentist and declines recommended dental treatment due to cost. Methods: A secondary data analysis was undertaken. Weights were utilized to ensure data were nationally representative. Univariate and bivariate descriptive statistics were calculated and logistic regressions were used to observe the characteristics that were predictive of reporting cost barriers to care. Results: Over 17 per cent of the Canadian population reported avoiding a dental professional due to cost, and 16.5 per cent reported declining recommended dental treatment due to cost. These individuals had a higher prevalence of needing treatment, had more untreated decay, missing teeth, and reported having poor oral health and oral pain often. Having no insurance, lower income, and reporting “poor to fair” oral health were the greatest predictors of reporting cost barriers to care. Conclusions: Individuals who report cost barriers experience more disease and treatment needs than those who do not.MAS