Selected indicators of oral health in Canada

Additional information

This dashboard allows users to examine the latest data for selected oral health indicators in Canada: visits to an oral health professional, dental insurance coverage, oral health characteristics (self-reported), oral health characteristics (measured), oral health care risk factors.

For information on the survey questions used to estimate the oral health indicators, please refer to the “Definitions” tab.

Gender refers to an individual’s personal and social identity as a man, woman or non-binary person (a person who is not exclusively a man or a woman). Given that the non-binary population is small, it is necessary to aggregate the data to protect the confidentiality of responses provided by the Canadian population. Most information from the Canadian Oral Health Survey (COHS) is disseminated using a two-category gender variable. In these cases, people in the “non-binary person” category are distributed into the other two gender categories.

Caution should be used when interpreting results because of the collection method and survey coverage. Data were collected through self-response via an electronic questionnaire with telephone interview follow-up for non-response. The overall accessibility of the survey was reduced since it was not available in other formats, such as American Sign Language or Langue des signes québécoise and braille, and no proxy reporting was allowed, meaning that family members or caregivers could not respond on behalf of a person with a long-term condition or disability. Excluded from the survey's coverage are persons living in the three territories, persons living on reserves and other Indigenous settlements in the provinces, full-time residents of institutions and members of the Canadian Forces living on a base.

Definitions

The following definitions apply to data from COHS. Different surveys may ask the question differently. The definitions of the same indicator from different surveys may vary.

Avoided going to an oral health professional, due to cost

This is a modeled continuous variable. For more information, please refer to COHS user guide.

Avoided recommended dental care, due to cost

This is a modeled continuous variable. For more information, please refer to COHS user guide.

Visited an oral health professional, within the last 12 months

Numerator: Number of respondents who have indicated they saw a dentist, denturist, dental hygienist or any other dental specialist less than a year ago

Denominator: Total number of respondents with valid response to this question

Visited an oral health professional, never

Numerator: Number of respondents who have indicated never seen an oral health professional

Denominator: Total number of respondents with valid response to this question

Dental insurance coverage, public and/or private

Numerator: Number of respondents who have indicated all or part of this person's dental expenses covered by any insurance plan or government program

Denominator: Total number of respondents with valid answers to the question (including ‘Don’t know’)

Dental insurance coverage, none

Numerator: Number of respondents who have indicated this person's dental expenses are not covered by any insurance plan or government program

Denominator: Number of respondents with valid answers to the question (including ‘Don’t know’)

Dental insurance coverage, public only

Numerator: Number of respondents who have indicated having only a government paid plan

Denominator: Total number of respondents with valid answers to the question (including ‘Don’t know’)

Dental insurance coverage, private

Numerator: Number of respondents who have indicated having a private insurance plan

Denominator: Total number of respondents with valid answers to the question (including ‘Don’t know’)

Toothlessness or edentulism, self-reported

Numerator: Number of respondents who have indicated that they do not have at least one of their own natural teeth

Denominator: Number of respondents with valid answers to the question

Perceived oral health, very good or excellent

Numerator: Number of respondents who have indicated very good or excellent oral health

Denominator: Total number of respondents with valid answers to the question

Perceived oral health, fair or poor

Numerator: Number of respondents who have indicated fair or poor oral health

Denominator: Total number of respondents with valid answers to the question

Persistent or on-going mouth pain, sometimes or often

Number of respondents who have indicated having any persistent or on-going mouth pain in the past 12 months, sometimes or often

Denominator: Total number of respondents with valid answers to the question

Avoid eating foods because of mouth problems, sometimes or often

Numerator: Number of respondents who reported avoiding eating particular foods because of problems with their mouth in the past 12 months, sometimes or often

Denominator: Total number of respondents with valid answers to the question

Untreated mouth problems

Numerator: Number of respondents who have reported any untreated mouth problems

Denominator: Total number of respondents with valid answers to the question

Brushing, 2 or more times per day

Numerator: Number of respondents who have indicated usually brushing their teeth or dentures, 2 or more times per day

Denominator: Total number of respondents with valid answers to the question

Flossing, 5 or more times per week

Numerator: Number of respondents who have indicated usually cleaning between their teeth with dental floss or any flossing aid, 5 or more times per week

Denominator: Total number of respondents with valid answers to the question