The Nova Scotia government is expanding dental care for children 14 and younger.
Dental care plays an important part in a persons’ overall health and the government of Nova Scotia has partnered with the Canadian Oral Health Program to provide free preventive measures for children.
Nova Scotia announced on Wednesday that they are expanding preventive dental care for children that is covered by provincial MSI dental programs — allowing children 14 and under to get molar sealants and annual fluoride treatments.
Dr. Nada Haidar, president of Nova Scotia Dental Association, says the move is an important step in educating children and providing mandatory resources.
“Fluoride prevents cavities from happening and sealants also prevent cavities from happening because they are a varnish that goes over the chewing surface of the permanent tooth and it prevents bacteria from living there and causing a cavity,” said Haidar.
Children were previously only eligible for fluoride treatment if they already had a cavity and only those with deep molar grooves were eligible for sealants.
Fluoride treatments are now available to children once per year but if a child is at high risk for cavities they may be eligible for treatment twice a year.
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The expansion is part of an agreement between the province and the Nova Scotia Dental Association.
The deal also raises fees dentists earn on provincial MSI dental programs by five per cent.
It’s expected to cost the government an additional $921,000 per year on top of the $10.2 million that has already been invested in the program.
– With files from The Canadian Press