Grant: Applied Public Health Chair - Oral Health

Good oral health during early childhood sets the foundation for a lifetime of optimal dental health. Unfortunately, many Canadian children develop early childhood caries (ECC), defined as decay in the primary teeth in those < 72 months of age. Caries in children is a major public health problem and more frequently affects those facing social and economic inequalities and poor access to oral health care, such as children from low-income households, First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples, refugees and recent immigrants, and children living in rural and remote regions of Canada. This Applied Public Health Chair on "Public Health Approaches to Improve Access to Oral Health Care and Oral Health Status for Young Children in Canada" has four priorities: 1) Research that strives to improve the oral health of young children by focusing on ways to improve access to early risk assessment, prevention, and oral health care; 2) Mentorship that builds capacity for future oral health and health services research; 3) Integrated knowledge translation, exchange, and mobilization; and 4) Partnerships with decision-makers and stakeholders to bridge the gap between research, practice, and policy. This program consists of two Aims that address the significant oral health gaps that exist in Canada. Aim 1 will evaluate the roll-out of the Public Health Agency of Canada funded Canadian Caries Risk Assessment (CRA) Tool for children < 6 years of age. This evidence-informed CRA Tool was developed for use by non-dental primary care providers to improve access to early oral health assessment and prevention for young children. Aim 2 will evaluate of the impact of the Interim Canada Dental Benefit (CDB) and the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) on access to oral health care for children in Canada using a mixed-methods approach. The Interim CDB for children < 12 years began in October 2022 while the CDCP is proposed to commence by the end of 2023.