Reported need for and access to oral health care services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada

The COVID-19 pandemic interrupted routine and preventive dental services until precautions could be implemented to limit virus transmission. Access to services for dental emergencies was maintained. The objective of this study was to describe the reported need for, access to, and receipt of oral health care in Canada during the first year of the pandemic.

The 2021 Survey on Access to Health Care and Pharmaceuticals During the Pandemic collected information from Canadians aged 18 years and older. Respondents were asked whether they needed (routine) dental care in the previous 12 months, whether they received that care, whether they experienced any mouth or tooth pain (indicative of a dental emergency), and whether and how COVID-19 affected service access.

Of the 44.5% of Canadians who reported needing dental care in the 12 months before the survey, 5.8% did not receive the care they reportedly needed. Almost 20% of those with a reported need had their appointment cancelled, rescheduled, or delayed because of COVID-19, and this was more common for individuals with unmet dental care needs (46.9%) than it was for those who had received dental care (17.1%). For those requiring more urgent care, 23.3% of Canadians experienced pain in their mouth or teeth in the previous 12 months. Among those with dental pain, 64.2% sought treatment, and the majority (86.4%) received the treatment they needed. One-third (33.2%) avoided care for their dental-related pain because of fear of contracting COVID-19.

During the first year of the pandemic, many Canadians experienced cancelled or delayed dental services or did not receive the oral health care services they reportedly needed. Ongoing monitoring could help determine whether these COVID-19 service interruptions will have lasting effects on Canadians' oral health.