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Abstract #161480

Carlos Quiñonez, DMD, MSc, Community Dental Health Services Research Unit, University of Toronto, 124 Edward Street, Toronto, ON M5G 1G6, Canada, (416) 979-4908 ext. 4493, carlos.quinonez@utoronto.ca

Canada is entering a time of potential dental health care reform. Nationally, regionally, and locally, events mirror those of the United States only 10 years ago, whereupon the result was Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General. By presenting national and/or regional trend data on: a) dental caries, 1950 to 2005; b) dental care utilization and insurance coverage, 1951 to 2005; c) total, private, and public per capita dental expenditures, 1926 to 2005; d) private and public dental human resources, 1945 to 2005; e) the household budgetary share for dental care, 1969 to 2003; f) visual and print media of dental relevance, 1945 to 2005; and g) a 2005/06 survey of public and dentists' opinions on publicly financed dental care; we consider the linkages between professional policy, a developing welfare/neoliberal state, the predominant social values surrounding oral health, and subsequent impacts on access to care. It is argued that there is now opportunity to better meet the dental health care needs of all Canadians, whilst remaining of relatively low political struggle for and within the Canadian dental profession and governments.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the major social, political and economic dimensions influencing oral health policy and their impact on access to care.
• Recognize how social, political and economic factors influence policy and avenues for potential change.

Keywords: Oral Health, Politics

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.