Unlike going to the doctor, when you go to the dentist, you need to pay, whether through insurance or out of pocket, which means for some people, having to opt out, no matter what kind of pain they are in. That was the subject for a USask College of Dentistry research project – understanding the connections between oral health and quality of life.

Assistant professor, Dr. Keith Da Silva, says the idea came from seeing the need at the college’s student-run free dental clinic which operated in downtown Saskatoon, which was so popular, the lineup for service would be around the block even in the winter months.

Researchers spoke to patients who accessed the clinic as well as others, and found a correlation between dental care, self-esteem, employability and quality of life.
Da Silva says it also highlights the need for better access to quality dental care for underserved and impoverished residents.

The results of the research have gone beyond Saskatoon. Da Silva, who is also president of the Canadian Association of Public Health Dentistry, says the data has been used by local and national researchers and advocacy groups, and the results were part of the discussions around this year’s announcement of a federal dental plan for low-income Canadians, which is expected to begin sometime in December.