June 10, 2024 | Ottawa, ON | Government of Canada

Regular visits to an oral health professional have been shown to reduce the risk of tooth decay, gum disease and other serious health problems such as cardiovascular disease and stroke. Unfortunately, some people have to choose between paying their bills and taking care of their teeth, while others face barriers related to geographic distance, difficulty accessing a health facility or obstacles related to their specific needs. That’s why we support projects that explore new ways to break down barriers and give more people access to quality oral care.

Today, the Honourable Minister of Health Mark Holland launched an expression of interest process for the second funding stream of the Oral Health Access Fund (OHAF). The funding will support projects aimed at improving access to oral health care in rural, remote and underserved areas and for underserved populations. It will also support projects aimed at raising public awareness of the importance of preventing oral disease and maintaining good oral health.

The expression of interest is open to for-profit and non-profit organizations, as well as other levels of government and their agencies. Eligible applicants are asked to submit their application using the form on the FSAB website by July 31, 2024. Successful applicants will be invited to submit a full funding application in fall 2024.

Last month, Health Canada launched the FASB’s first stream, for which the application process also closes on July 31, 2024. Stream 1 will help oral health education institutions fill gaps in knowledge and skills of students and/or oral health service providers to treat target populations and adapt existing training to ensure students have sufficient hands-on training opportunities.

The FASB complements the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDSP) by investing in targeted measures to close gaps in oral health care among vulnerable populations and reduce or eliminate non-financial barriers to access to health care, including in rural and remote communities.