Justin Wright, member for Cypress-Medicine Hat
If paperwork makes you frown, Alberta’s dental plan may just paste a great big smile on your face.
That was one of the messages within a statement in the legislature from Justin Wright, the parliamentary secretary for rural health south.
Other thoughts Wright voiced to his peers centered on the importance of dental care and dentistry professionals in keeping Albertans healthy.
Wright, the member for Cypress-Medicine Hat, rose recently to extol the virtues of a clean and well-maintained smile as he marked National Oral Health Month, an April designation in Canada.
“We know that oral hygiene is health, and a healthy mouth is closely tied to our overall well-being,” Wright said. “Yet it’s often overlooked.”
Dentists are “essential members of our primary health-care team.”
So why, then, is Alberta opting out of the federal dental care plan by 2026?
“The federal plan was introduced without collaboration and duplicates existing coverage, creating confusion and inefficiencies for Albertans when they visit their dentist,” Wright said.
Alberta will negotiate its share of federal funding. It will use the money to remove red tape and improve fair access to oral health care, he said, especially for those “currently falling through the cracks.”
When Premier Danielle Smith announced opting out last year, the Alberta NDP said the idea was wrong-headed because many Albertans do not have existing coverage.
The UCP overstates the amount of confusing overlap caused by the national program, the Opposition said.
Wright continued in his legislature statement April 17: “I want to thank the Alberta dentists, hygienists, assistants, administrative staff and dental teams for their dedication. Those professionals are integral for the health of Albertans, fixing not just our teeth but also detecting early signs and helping prevent potentially bigger health issues.”
Wright encouraged Albertans to “get back to oral health basics” like flossing and brushing regularly.
People who don’t have a dentist can visit albertadentalassociation.ca/dentist to find one.
As of last April, the association had 2,836 members, according to data published in its annual report.
More than 88 per cent of them were general practitioners.
April is National Oral Health Month. And if you want a healthy and bright smile, the tooth of the matter is brushing, flossing and visiting your dentist.
