Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health has seen a large increase of children with urgent dental needs over the past year.
From September 2022 to February this year, public health has seen an increase of 43 per cent of children needing urgent dental care.
Dental screenings were paused over the course of the pandemic before starting up again in 2022.
When last recorded in 2018-19 school year, public health found 196 students with urgent dental needs, but now the number sits at 280.
Urgent care is considered for children and youth who can’t afford treatment and are experiencing pain and infection.
Public health says 70 per cent of low income residents reported they couldn’t afford oral health care.
