Peel Public Health delivered critical dental care to thousands of children and seniors in 2025

BRAMPTON, ON (Apr. 28, 2026) – In a recent update to Peel Region Council, Paul Sharma, Senior Director, Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention for Peel Public Health, shared that many Peel children and seniors continue to face financial, geographic and social barriers when accessing oral health care. Peel Public Health works closely with schools, community agencies and health system partners to reduce these barriers, so children and seniors can receive the critical dental care they need.

In a delegation to Peel Region Council, Pamela Bondett, Principal of Birchbank Public School, expressed her appreciation for the successful partnership with Peel Public Health that has allowed her to connect families to services. This has resulted in a decrease in the percentage of children with urgent dental needs over the past 3 years.

Reducing barriers and increasing access to care

Peel Public Health’s oral health programs prioritize serving children and seniors in under-resourced communities who may not be able to receive dental care otherwise.

• In some schools where children need more dental care, students can receive free services, such as dental cleanings, fluoride treatments and dental treatments, all during the school day.
• The children’s oral health program works with local newcomer agencies and shelters to provide dental screenings and preventive dental services to children whose families are experiencing financial or housing instability.
• Public health staff support seniors in applying for the OSDCP and connect them with clinics close to home.
• For clients whose first language is not English, Peel Public Health offers translation services whenever possible.
• Accessible oral health services, such as those provided at Peel dental clinics, reduce emergency room visits and pressure on the overall healthcare system.

In 2025, following the evacuation of three First Nation communities due to wildfires and flooding, Peel Public Health worked with Indigenous partners and local organizations to deliver urgent dental screenings, care and referrals for affected children and seniors. As highlighted in a delegation to Peel Region Council from Christopher Thind, Health Director with Kashechewan Health Services, this response helped ensure evacuated community members could access essential, respectful dental care during a time of significant disruption.

While there are several publicly funded oral health programs available, the number of children and seniors with preventive and urgent dental needs remains high. Peel Public Health is committed to bridging the gap between services and providing necessary dental care to those who need it. Advancing health equity so all Peel residents can access the care they need is a core priority of Peel Public Health’s strategic plan and a key focus for the children’s and seniors’ oral health teams.

Peel Public Health provides free dental screenings and services for children 17 years and younger, and also delivers the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program for eligible low-income seniors 65 years and older. For more information on Peel’s children’s and seniors’ oral health programs, visit our website.

Quick facts

• In 2025, Peel Public Health screened more than 75,000 children and referred more than 9,000 for treatment of an urgent dental need.
• Of the children who attended Peel Public Health dental clinics, nearly 50% were born outside of Canada, with 72% of those having arrived in the last 5 years.
• The children’s oral health program provided dental screenings in 35 childcare centres for approximately 970 children.
• The seniors’ oral health program has reduced the waiting list for OSDCP services from 10,000 in 2023 to 4,100 currently.
• In 2025, Peel Public Health staff supported approximately 9,000 seniors who had questions about the OSDCP, for waitlist management, referral to dental services and client follow up.
• Peel Public Health has built 3 new clinics and one mobile unit (dental bus) through funding from the Ministry of Health.
• The mobile unit, expected to begin operations in summer 2026, will serve under-resourced areas and harder to reach seniors, such as those living in long-term care.