A healthy smile on a child is not a privilege – it is their right.
Now a new program here in Grey Bruce — and right across the province — is ensuring that right is met.
The Health Smiles Ontario Program is now in Grey Bruce (being launched Friday at 9:30 AM at the Grey Bruce Health Unit Owen Sound).
Maureen Handley — the Director of Operations and Program Development at the Grey Bruce Health Unit — says this program is part of the provincial government’s poverty reduction strategy.
Handley says the program is completely funded by the government and will allow regular dental care to low income children under the age of 17.
Handley says the service are preventative and vital services such as checkups – fillings – x-rays and cleanings.
She adds this care will help in the self esteem of children – their overall health and even perhaps future employment as they get older.
The capital funding to the Grey Bruce Health unit is 258-thousand dollars to purchase mobile equipment and clinic improvements — public health will also receive operational funding of 349-thousand dollars a year.
To qualify for the program Handley says the application forms are available on line (www.ontario.ca/healthysmiles) and the net family income must be 20-thousand dollars or under and have no access to dental coverage.
Handley says clients who access this program have their choice to go to their own dentists — a public health dentist.
She adds the Health unit is in the process of setting up preventative clinics in outreach centres in Kincardine, Wiarton, Markdale and Hanover, as well as their main centres in Owen Sound and Walkerton.
Handley says once the application is filled and they are approved clients receive a card which entitles them to the dental coverage.
