Dr. Susan Rosenthal describes the rise of Canada's public health system during labor's rebellious postwar period and the corporate profiteering by which it is now being destroyed.
By Dr. Susan Rosenthal
SusanRosenthal.com
Ontario’s Bill 60 has delivered a potential death blow to public M
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Canada’s health system does not include dental coverage, leaving a large gap in care that’s existed since its beginning. It’s time to ensure access to oral care.
I used to have good teeth. I was the only one in my family who didn’t need braces, and I didn’t have my first cavity until I was in my twenties. But all of that changed after my son was born. I suspect hormone and dietary changes during my pregnancy, both known to cause tooth decay and periodontal problems, as the likely culprits. In the decade since, I’ve spent at least $10,000 out of pocket on trips to the dentist.
The latest of my tooth dramas began in November 2017, when I went to the emergency room with a throbbing lump above one of my canine teeth. I was worried it was an abscess, but the dentist on call told me that my X-rays looked clear and recommended that I follow up with my regular dentist. By that point, I’d already burned through my $2,000 of dental coverage for the year (and now had to pay for the hospital visit out of pocket). I decided to tough it out with over-the-counter painkillers until January, when my insurance reset. I was in agony, but I knew that I