Today, Mayor John Tory was joined by Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier of Ontario and Minister of Health, and Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Eileen de Villa to open the City of Toronto’s newest Dental and Oral Health Services Clinic (DOHSC).
The new clinic in the Dixon/Rexdale community is a partnership between Toronto Public Health (TPH) and the Rexdale Community Health Centre (RCHC).
Funding for the clinic is provided by the Ontario Government which will allow TPH to provide necessary services to eligible clients ranging from children to seniors. The $457,000 investment helped build and connect the new clinic to the RCHC, and will cover 100 per cent of the operating and related costs for the program. TPH staff will provide the services, and the team will include dentists, denturists, dental assistants and clerical staff. The clinic will open to patients later this summer.
Dixon DHOSC will serve an estimated 1,700 people annually who are low-Income Ontarians enrolled in the following: the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program, the Healthy Smiles Ontario Program, Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program.
This location will serve area residents including members of the Somali, South Asian and Caribbean communities. The dental work performed will include preventative and restorative care, as well as specialized oral surgery and dentures. The services provided will prevent the need for some people to attend hospitals for the treatment of pain management, which often becomes necessary when dental issues are not addressed. Co-located with the Rexdale Community Health Centre at 222 Dixon Rd., clients will be able to access other health and socio-economic supports including healthcare and housing.
This will be Toronto’s 27th DOHSC. The Government of Ontario fully funds the program, contributing $18 million in 2022. TPH will provide dental care for an estimated 45,000 clients: 31,000 seniors and 14,000 adults and children this year.
Beyond kids and families, the dental program also provides care to residents of City-owned Long-Term Care homes.
“This is another step we are taking to creating a more liveable, and healthy city for our residents. These dental clinics across our city have proven to provide much-needed care and services to those who need access to affordable dental services. Now people from the Dixon Road and Rexdale communities will have better access to dental care. I want to thank the Ontario Government for their continued investment in this program and for helping us fund a new clinic in Toronto.”
“With our government’s support, Toronto Public Health’s new dental and oral health clinic will increase access to high-quality dental care for patients and families in Etobicoke and the surrounding communities. Together, we are building a modern health care system that will better meet the needs of Ontarians now and for generations to come.”
– Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health
“Our community health centres provide valuable services to low-income residents who face barriers to health and dental care, which in turn can create barriers to success in school or employment. This new partnership between Toronto Public Health and the Rexdale Community Health Clinic will provide the services they need to succeed in life. Thank you to the Ontario Government for investing in this vital service that will improve the lives of so many in this community.”
– Councillor Joe Mihevc (Spadina-Fort York), Chair of the Board of Health
“This is a winning combination for the residents of this community. Toronto Public Health is teaming up with the Rexdale Community Health Centre to add a dental care program to the site, with full funding provided by the Government of Ontario. The new dental clinic will provide much-needed needed services to this community and will integrate with the Health Centre to provide a higher level of health-related care and social services for area residents.”
– Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health
“This is a great investment by the Government of Ontario in increasing access to dental services and improving the health and wellbeing of the residents of North Etobicoke. The Rexdale Community Health Centre is proud of its ongoing collaboration with Toronto Public Health offering comprehensive health and social support to the community we serve.”
– Safia Ahmed, Executive Director, Rexdale Community Health Clinic
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