14
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Volume2 Issue3
CDA
at
W
ork
"Theconsiderableunmet needs inoral
healthcarechallengeus tofindeffective
ways to improveoral healthoutcomes in
Canada,” saidDr. GaryMacDonald, CDApast-
president, inhisopeningaddress. “There is a
need for groupsof organizations, like those
attending today, to join forces toadvocate
for improvedaccess tocareonbehalf of the
vulnerable.”
Oneyear later
Thegoal of this year’sRoundtablewas
tobuildon thework startedat the2014
meeting (knownas theNationalOral
HealthSymposium). Since that inaugural
event, notableprogresshasbeenmade
on initiatives related tocommunitywater
fluoridation (CWF), oral healthcare standards
in long-termcare (LTC) facilities, andoral
healtheducation for children:
• 27organizations endorsedaconsensus
statement on the safetyandefficacyof
water fluoridation inpreventingcaries,
whichcanbeusedbymunicipalities to
support their positiononCWF in the face
of persistent opposition.
• Adraft statement on standardsof oral
healthcare inLTC facilitieswas circulated
to2015COHRparticipants for review.
• CDAcreated theCOHRClearinghouse
, awebsite
that compiles informationonCanadian
oral healthprograms and initiatives in
thepublic, academicandprivate
sectors.
Advocating forseniorsand
children
Facilitateddiscussions inFebruarycentred
on thedraft consensus statement outlining
minimumoral care requirements for all
residentsof LTC facilities. Dr.MartinChartier,
actingchief dental officer at thePublic
HealthAgencyof Canada, addressed the
participants, noting that patients inLTCare
at agreater risk for root decayandgum
diseasebecauseof factors suchas limited
access tocare, xerostomia, lossofmobility
anddexterity, and reducedfinancial
capacity.
Interprofessional collaboration guides
Recognizing theneed
foramultidisciplinary
approach to
improving the oral
healthofCanadians,
representativesfrom
29organizations
gathered in
Ottawa for the
2015CanadianOral
HealthRoundtable
(COHR)hosted
byCDAon
February26.
