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Volume2 Issue1
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I
ssues and
P
eople
At theUniversityof Toronto, residents inpediatricdentistryanddental anesthesia, alongwith
undergraduate students, providecareunderGA. “Weare improvingaccess tocare for childrenwhile
alsocarryingout our educationalmandate in trainingbothgraduateand
undergraduate students inperformingdentistryonpatientsunder anesthesia,”
saysDr. Daniel Haas, Deanof theFacultyofDentistry. “Wealso trainour dental
anesthesia residents ingivinggeneral anesthetics tochildren.”
Theseeffortshavea longhistory. Residentshavebeen treatingchildrenunder
GAat theHospital for SickChildren (SickKids) since the1950s. At first, patients
includedchildrenwith special needs aswell as young, uncooperative kidswith
extensivedental disease. In response toSickKids’ decision in2005 to focusonly
onchildrenunder theageof 3withearlychildhoodcaries (ECC) andchildren
with special needs, theUof TFacultyofDentistryopened thePediatric
DentistrySurgicentre. The facility,whichcoversbothpediatricdentistryand
dental anesthesia, offers care touncooperativechildren3years andoverwith
extensive treatment needs. Thewait time for dental careunderGA is currently
well over 18months.
The lateDr. NormanLevineaddressed the issueof providingcare toadults
withdisabilitiesbydeveloping in1974 theMount Sinai Hospital Dental
Program for PersonswithDisabilities, aco-venturewith theUniversityof
TorontoDepartment of PediatricDentistry. Clinics at theFacultyofDentistry
andSunnybrookHealthSciencesCentredepartment of dentistryhavealso
beencollaborating since the1970s tomeet theneedsof dental phobicand
medicallycomplexadults.
Access tocare issues arecommon tomanycommunities, andSouthwestern
Ontario isnoexception. Hospitals inLondon, Ontario, have seenaconsistent
reduction inoperating-room timeallocated for dentistry, leading towait times
of approximately14 to18months.
Awareof theneed toprovidedental servicesunderGA for peoplewithdisabilities and thosewho
cannot afforddental care, SchulichDentistrycompletedconstruction inearly2014of itsGeneral
AnesthesiaSuite. Locatedoncampus, the facilitywill offer students theopportunity toparticipate in
theoral careof patientswho requireGA.
ManyCanadians with special needs struggle to access dental services. Tohelp remove some of the
existing barriers to care, the two Ontario dental schools—the University of Toronto Faculty of
Dentistryand theSchulichSchoolofMedicine&Dentistry—havedesigned facilitiesandprograms
focusedon treatingunderservicedpopulations.
This reflects acommitment todeliveringdental care to allCanadians, andensuring access togeneral
anesthesia(GA) for those inneed—children, individualswith specialneeds, andanxiousormedically
complex patients. It is also part of an effort to build and sustain excellence in dental education by
providingunique trainingopportunities fordental students.
We often see parents
and patientswhoare
overwhelmed, and sometimes
even embarrassed, by their
oral healthneeds or that of
a child. I think theyare very
appreciativewhen theyfinda
team to provide the care and
compassion theyneed, and
reassured that their safety
is always prioritized inan
environment that specializes
inanesthesia services.”
—
Dr.MichelleWong,
dental anesthesia resident,Uof T
Photocredit: JeffComber,
Universityof Toronto, FacultyofDentistry.
