BCDA Save a Smile Program

Description:

Provides financial assistance allowing underprivileged children and youth with urgent dental needs to receive dental care and oral hygiene counselling. Participants must meet specific financial and oral health criteria and not have any other dental plan coverage. Individuals cannot apply directly; referral is required from a public health nurse or dentist.

Region of Administration:

Provincial

Government / Department:

Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation

Eligibility:

Participants must meet specific financial and oral health criteria and not have any other dental plan coverage. Individuals cannot apply directly; referral is required from a public health nurse or dentist.

Low-income school-aged children from the Lower Mainland who are not eligible for existing government-funded programs.

Coverage:

Basic dental and preventive services

Providers:

Dentists

Therapeutic Responsibility:

Dentists

Compensation:

Fee-for-service

How it Works:

British Columbia Dental Association’s Save a Smile Program that provides urgent dental care to the children of low-income families without public or private dental plan coverage throughout B.C. The association works with public health dental staff who screen eligible families to allocate available funds.