Dental Health
We provide a wide range of dental services to help improve the oral health of our communities.
What we do
Some of Northwestern Health Unit’s (NWHU) dental health services include:
Free dental care
Free dental services are available to those in need. If you qualify, you may be able to receive free, routine dental services including check-ups, cleanings, x-rays, and fillings. We can help by finding you a dentist, filling out forms, and making sure you can get to your appointment.
If you live in northwestern Ontario and you cannot afford to pay for dental care, call us at 1-855-407-6453 or complete our online referral form and our staff will contact you.
Programs that we offer:
- Healthy Smiles Ontario (HSO) – Dental services for children aged 0-17.
- Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program (OSDCP) – Dental services for low-income seniors aged 65 years old and up.
- Children’s Oral Health Initiative (COHI) – Dental services for First Nations children aged 0-7 years old and their parents/caregivers.
- Green Door Project – Emergency dental services for people aged 18-64 years old who have no other form of dental coverage.
Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)
The Government of Canada provides dental coverage for 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 about the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) and the Canada Dental Benefit (CDB), including how to apply, visit the Government of Canada’s Dental coverage page.
Fluoride varnish
Fluoride varnish makes teeth stronger by making the enamel harder. To prevent cavities, children should get fluoride varnish at least twice per year.
We offer this free service at many locations, including schools and childcare centers. It’s quick and painless – we just paint the teeth with a tiny brush.
If you’d like your child to get a free fluoride varnish from us, please call 1-855-407-6453.
School dental services
We provide dental services in elementary schools to all children.
All students in Kindergarten to Grade 8 receive an annual dental screening from us. When screening, we look inside the mouth for any obvious dental concerns. We contact parents / guardians if their child has a dental concern or if we recommend other services. If your child missed their screening, please contact us at 1-855-407-6453 to book an appointment. To see when we will be visiting your child’s school, visit our School Dental Screenings and Clinics page.
We also offer other free dental services in schools. These include fluoride varnish, sealants, and teeth cleanings. For children to receive these services, parents / guardians must complete a consent form that the school will send home.
If you have questions about these services, please contact us at 1-855-407-6453.