Pain in the budget for low-income earners needing basic dental care

Some low-income earners and people over 65 in Newfoundland and Labrador are just coming to the realization that the government is no longer covering their basic dental care.

In fact, it's even a shock to the Newfoundland and Labrador Dental Association.

"We were very, very disappointed that the government has cut the adult dental program, or a goodly part of the adult dental program," said Anthony Patey, executive director of the association.

Patey said the association spent years lobbying the government to provide basic coverage for people who can't afford to see a dentist.

"An individual who has fallen into that group, and who has pain, infection, needs a filling, needs a tooth pulled, tough luck," said Patey.

Dentures have also been cut.

Last week, the budget chopped the program to save three-million dollars a year.

"It is such a small value to government, such a great value to the people of the province," said Patey.

"And it's long-term, short-term thinking. A person with a bombed-out tooth could have gone to the dentist, and gotten the tooth pulled or filled. Now, that tooth doesn't get fixed and — like anything rotting in your body — will eventually cause other problems."

Patey said that person will probably end up in in emergency. "And the cost will be much greater than the $100 to get the tooth filled or fixed."

Four years ago, he said, the province created the program to help people who don't receive income support payments from the government. 

Patey said the program was changed so rapidly that dentists' offices are having trouble dealing with the fallout.  

"So, a patient coming in is not covered anymore. Dentists had to scramble and call patients and tell them, 'What you were coming into have done, can't be done now.' People were dropped as quick as that."

Patey said he will push to get the program back. 

"These people are a vulnerable part of the population, a group that we really, really should be taking care of, and it is sad to do this," he said. 

About $500,000 was left in the budget to finalize any ongoing work from 2015-2016.