The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) has provided an update on the impact of oral health on residents.
A report was introduced to the board of directors at the health unit's meeting on Thursday afternoon, and it has raised continued concerns about dental health in young children.
Windsor-Essex Medical Officer of Health Dr. Mehdi Aloosh said there were issues that came up in recent school screening data, particularly with grade 2 children.
"We saw that, probably at 40 per cent of these children in grade 2 need some sort of dental assessment because they have caries in their mouth. A significant number of children," said Aloosh.
Caries refer to cavities and other forms of tooth decay.
The data also showed that grade 2 students have the highest percentage of decayed teeth, missing or extracted teeth, and filled teeth.
The report also blamed the COVID-19 pandemic for reducing opportunities for young children to receive preventative dental care, since screening and oral health services were restricted. However, Aloosh said that reintroducing fluoridation in 2022 appeared to turn things around.
"The trend is getting better with the start of fluoridation," said Aloosh. "In 2013, we saw that level of oral health had diminished...but now we see that it has rebounded."
The health unit provides dental care to eligible children through initiatives such as Healthy Smiles Ontario, though it has acknowledged that more work must be done to ensure more residents have access to dental care.
-with files from Maureen Revait
