Dentist free for the poor

Francis Pilon/ 24H
Dr. Paul Sweet, director of the dental clinic Jim Lund, in the process of examining the teeth of a young refugee from Turkey.

Francis Pilon

Thursday, 15 February 2018 20:27

UPDATE
Thursday, 15 February 2018 20:31

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A dental clinic of Montreal offers services free of charge to the poor who can as well cease to suffer because they do not have the means to pay for dental costs too high.

Patients who attend the clinic Jim Lund, McGill University usually feel a lot of pain. Some have waited too long to consult, so that their dental problems affect their health.

“Often, patients who do not have access to dental care, they may develop problems of the heart, lungs, gums, or a bad opinion of them,” laments Dr. Paul Sweet, a dentist at the clinic Jim Lund.

The people who come to lie on the chair not have all been sensitized to the issues related to having a good oral hygiene, note the specialist.

“They do not represent well the teeth since they are young, it creates a lot of cavities, and then pain. They were then ashamed and afraid to come see the dentist. It makes me very heavy to treat, and it is a vicious circle,” says Dr. Sweet.

The clinic provides only basic care relating to dental exams, cleanings and fillings. However, patients would need to undergo more procedures, like root canals or crowns that are not covered by the institution.

“Some customers expect so much before coming that they let their teeth rot rather than pay for the repair. We also offer most of the time to tear out or the diseased teeth of the patient,” said Carol, a receptionist at the dental clinic Jim Lund.

More than one-in-four canadians is private oral care due to their high costs, announced last week the Institute of research and socio-economic information (IRIS).

A family of refugees from Turkey was present at the time of the visit of the “24 Hours” in the clinic. “Our economic situation is too precarious to afford dental care. Before discovering this place, we could not afford this care,” admits the father of a little girl with his wife at his side.

Government “careless”

The Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) covers only certain dental services curative for providers of employment assistance and for children under 10 years of age. The services of oral surgery rendered in a hospital setting are also covered by the RAMQ.

“The government is neglecting preventive care, such as cleanings. It focuses on those that are curative, such as a tooth pulled. He should better educate society about the dental health and do more prevention. Also, the majority of care are in private and it limits a lot of people who do not have the resources. In the end, the children pay the price,” points out the specialist.

96 % of dentists work in the private sector in the province of québec, according to the IRIS.

To get an appointment at the dental Clinic Jim Lund, you need to open a folder with Mission Bon Accueil, or be recommended by an organization working with the disadvantaged and homeless.

The dental Clinic Jim Lund in short

– 60 patients per week visit the clinic has been open for 7 years now

– This is the first permanent establishment of free dental care in Montreal

It is funded by philanthropic donations from corporations and foundations

– The clinic is the result of a partnership between McGill University and the Mission Bon Accueil

– All dentists, and other professionals working at the clinic are paid, in contrast to students who perform unpaid internships