Dental health

Dental Health

Good oral health is important for overall well-being. Maintain your oral health through daily care, regular check-ups, and healthy eating.

It is never too early to start practising healthy oral hygiene. Learn best practices for dental health at every age.

Learn more about community water fluoridation and how fluoride keeps our teeth healthy and strong.

Dental programs and clinics

Eligible Canadians of all ages can now apply for the Canadian Dental Care Plan.

Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) members must renew their applications to the Canadian Dental Care Plan every year to avoid a gap in coverage.

The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) is:

  • A federally delivered public plan
  • Available to eligible Canadian residents who do not have access to dental insurance and have an adjusted family net income of less than $90,000

For more information, including how to apply, visit the Canadian Dental Care Plan, call 1-833-537-4342 or go to a Service Canada Centre near you.

We provide dental hygiene services to children 17 years of age and under. Services are free to children whose families cannot afford dental care.

Clinics are held throughout the Southeast Public Health region, and are by appointment only.

We offer a variety of preventive services for eligible children 17 and under. These include:

  • Oral health instruction (tips for keeping a healthy mouth and a healthy smile)
  • Scaling (professional cleaning that removes hard deposits and stains)
  • Topical fluoride (strengthens teeth and helps prevent cavities)
  • Interim stabilization therapy (a temporary restoration procedure)
  • Sealants (protective coatings for the teeth to help prevent cavities)

For more information, or to book an appointment call our Oral Health Program:

If your family needs help paying for your child’s dental care you may be eligible for free dental care through the Healthy Smiles Ontario (HSO) program.

Find out what the program offers, if your child qualifies, and learn how to apply by visiting Healthy Smiles Ontario.

Paper copies of Healthy Smiles Ontario applications are available at Service Ontario locations and at Southeast Public Health locations.

If you are accessing Healthy Smiles Ontario services from dental providers within the community, you are also encouraged to apply for the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP).

The Healthy Smiles Ontario and Canadian Dental Care programs coordinate benefits, and applying to both may help ensure your child receives the full range of available dental coverage.

For more information, or for assistance in completing the application form, call our Oral Health Program:

Dental screening is provided each year in all elementary schools under Ontario Regulation 570, School Health Programs and Services, under the Health Protection and Promotion Act. These screenings do not substitute for a child’s regular visit to the dentist.

Frequently asked questions

Who will screen your child’s teeth?

A registered dental hygienist and certified dental assistant from Southeast Public Health will provide the dental screening.

Which grades are screened?

All kindergarten and Grade 2 students receive a visual dental screening to identify any noticeable dental issues and follow-up with children who have dental needs. Students in other grades may also be screened.

Ahead of the dental screening, a screening notification from the school will be shared with parents/guardians. Parents/guardians can opt their child out of the dental screening by following the instructions on the notification from the school.

What does dental screening look like?

The screening is a quick look in the mouth with a sterilized mouth mirror, using all required infection control practices.

What happens if we see a student with a dental problem?

Each student who is screened receives a report card to take home that shows the results of the screening. Parents are contacted if the child has urgent dental concerns.

Why is dental screening important?
  • To identify dental problems that could lead to pain or infection and need to be treated by a dentist;
  • To help families access needed dental treatment;
  • To monitor the dental health of children in our community and use this information to plan programs and services.
Why do we screen your child’s teeth?

Dental screening is required each year in all elementary schools, under the Ontario Regulation 570, School Health Programs and Services of the Health Protection and Promotion Act.

If your child missed their screening at school, you can arrange to have a screening at one of our clinics. If you have questions about the School Dental Screening program, please call our Oral Health program for the location closest to you.

Belleville region

Gift from the Heart is a Canadian, non-profit charity providing solutions for accessing emergency and preventive oral health care for the underserved members of the community in the Belleville and Quinte West area.

For more information or to donate, visit the Gift from The Heart website.

Kingston region: Dental Treatment Assistance Fund (DTAF)

The Dental Treatment Assistance Fund (DTAF) is a charitable fund that provides financial help to adults in the Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington regions who need urgent dental treatment but cannot afford to pay for it.

Up to $400 can be offered every 12 months, when funds are available.

This charity is funded by grants from community agencies such as the United Way of KFL&A and Community Foundation for Kingston and Area, along with donations from local dental professionals, our staff, and others.

Who can apply

Adults 18 years of age or older who:

  • Are in need of emergency dental treatment for pain, swelling, infection, trauma, or bleeding
  • Residents of Kingston, Frontenac, and Lennox & Addington county
  • Have no dental coverage, including Ontario Works, Ontario Disability Support Program, or other government-funded programs
  • Would experience financial hardship if they had to pay for this dental treatment

Financial hardship includes:

  • Being unable to pay rent or mortgage this month
  • Being unable to pay household bills (e.g., heat, electricity, hydro, etc.) this month
  • Having to go to a food bank to feed your family this month
How to apply

Call Southeast Public Health in Kingston at 613-549-1232 or 1-800-267-7875, extension 1218.

Brockville: Emergency Adult Dental Treatment Funds

The Emergency Adult Dental Treatment Fund is a grant-based program that can provide financial assistance to adults in the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark Counties region who need urgent dental treatment but cannot afford to pay for it. Up to $400 can be approved based on eligibility criteria and available funding once every 12 months. This initiative is contingent on ongoing funding availability.

Who can apply

Adults 18 years of age or older who:

  • Are in need of emergency dental treatment for pain, swelling, infection, trauma, or bleeding
  • Are residents of Leeds, Grenville or Lanark counties
  • Have no access to dental coverage, including Ontario Works, Ontario Disability Support Program, or other government-funded programs
  • Would be in financial hardship if they had to pay for this dental treatment

Financial hardship includes:

  • Being unable to pay rent or mortgage this month
  • Being unable to pay household bills (e.g., heat, electricity, hydro, etc.) this month
  • Having to go to a food bank to feed your family this month
How to access funds

Call Southeast Public Health in Brockville: 1-800-660-5853 or 613-345-5685, extension 2456

Low-income seniors may be able to get free dental care with the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program (OSDCP).

Eligibility

You can apply for the program if you:

  • Are 65 years of age or older
  • Live in Ontario
  • Do not have dental benefits
  • Have an annual net income of:
    • $25,000 or less (for singles)
    • $41,500 or less (for couples)

What services are covered?

  • Examinations and assessments
  • Preventive services
  • Restorative services to repair broken teeth and cavities
  • X-rays
  • Oral surgery to remove teeth or abnormal tissue
  • Anesthesia
  • Endodontic services to treat infection and pain
  • Periodontal services to treat gum conditions and diseases
  • Prosthodontic services, including dentures, will also be covered to a certain extent under the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program

Where can I get dental care?

Dental care services are provided through public health and participating Community Health Centres (CHC), Aboriginal Health Access Centres (AHAC), as well as mobile dental clinics in some areas.

How do I apply?

There are several options available for applying for the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program.

  • Apply online at the Ministry of Health website
  • Print, fill out, and mail your application
  • Visit your local public health unit or a participating Community Health Centres and/or Aboriginal Health Access Centres to pick up an application form and/or get support with completing your application.

What happens if I am approved?

Once your application has been approved, you will be mailed a welcome package and a dental card.

To receive dental services, call to book an appointment at the appropriate location closest to you:

  • Belleville: Southeast Public Health – 179 North Park Street, Belleville, Ontario – 613-966-5500 or 1-800-267-2803, extension 680
  • Kingston: Kingston Community Health Centre – 263 Weller Avenue, Kingston, Ontario – 613-507-6064
  • Napanee: Napanee Area Community Health Centre – 26 Dundas Street West, Napanee, Ontario – 613-507-6064
  • Brockville: Rideau Community Health Centre – 100 Strowger Boulevard Unit 107, Brockville, Ontario – 613-283-1086 or toll-free: 1-844-973-1400

Find out more by visiting Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program. If you would like a paper application mailed to you, call our dental team at 613-966-5500 or 1-800-267-2803, extension 680.

We launched a new dental vehicle in 2025 to increase access to dental care. The vehicle is a fully equipped dental clinic, complete with X-ray equipment.

Eligibility

  • The mobile dental clinic provides dental treatment for clients who qualify for the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program and/or Healthy Smiles Ontario program. Service delivery varies across the region.

For more information and to book an appointment: