BEDFORD, NS – November 25, 2024: Nova Scotia political parties are saying they’ll do more to protect the province’s access to and quality of oral health care.
The Nova Scotia Dental Association (NSDA) contacted the province’s political parties earlier this month looking for their support and positioning on the following oral health policy priorities:
- Dental Office HR Shortages & Training Support – capacity issues that impact public access to care.
- De-insurance Risk – protecting private third-party dental benefit plans that keep Nova Scotians from relying solely on government dental programs
- Long-term funding for provincial dental programs
- Support for fluoridated water as a safe and effective means of preventing dental decay
With the introduction of the Canada Dental Care Plan (CDCP), dental offices are seeing an increase in patients looking for care. The NSDA is pleased that the CDCP has increased access to oral health care for Nova Scotians, however, the increase in demand has exacerbated existing labour shortage challenges.
“Addressing these challenges while maintaining access to care through post-secondary funding, protecting third-party and provincially funded dental plans, are key concerns for the NSDA,” says the NSDA Executive Director Steve Jennex.
Nova Scotian dentists are also concerned with the increasing amount of misinformation impacting policy decisions on water fluoridation, which is a scientifically proven safe and cost-effective way to prevent early childhood tooth decay.
The NSDA received replies from the Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia, the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party and the Liberal Party of Nova Scotia.
While the political parties are committed to tackling these key issues, including prioritizing healthcare training at post-secondary institutions and trusting scientific evidence to inform water fluoridation measures, each party has unique perspectives and approaches.
For more information and to read the responses from the political parties, click here.
About the Nova Scotia Dental Association
The Nova Scotia Dental Association is a member-based organization serving the needs of more than 600 dentist members across the province. As a not-for-profit organization, the NSDA has been the voice for dentistry in Nova Scotia since 1891. Our mission is dentists helping dentists.
Media Contact:
Samantha Ashenhurst
Communications Manager
Nova Scotia Dental Association
902-420-0088 ext. 2
Communications.nsda@bellaliant.com
