Grant: Catalyst Grant: Oral Health Data Analysis - Epidemiological Research

Currently, there is not much national information on the oral health of people in Canada and how it has changed over time. This is mostly because there has not been any up-to-date national data on oral health since the last national survey in 2007-2009. Recently, the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) collected new national oral health data. Our team will be analysing this new data to better understand the current state of oral health in Canada and how it has changed since 2007. We will also study whether certain groups, such as people with lower incomes, newcomers, or those with health challenges, are more likely to experience dental problems than the average population. We will explore if people across the country are having problems accessing the dental care they need. This new information will also help us study how lifestyle habits affect one's oral health and how poor oral health can impact the overall health and well-being of Canadians. What we learn from this study will help shape policies and decision-making around oral health and dental care services in Canada. Studying the oral health of Canadians using this new national data will allow future studies to see if the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) is helping improve access to dental care and overall oral health. Our work will focus on five main areas: 1) understanding the current state of oral health in Canada; 2) exploring how oral health is linked to overall health, and how it is influenced by lifestyle and access to dental care; 3) identifying which groups of people are more likely to have dental problems; 4) sharing our findings with policymakers, oral health leaders, and dental professionals to support better services and planning.; and 5) building capacity in oral health research by mentoring students and early career researchers.