A new Virtual Reality initiative funded by Health Canada will soon enhance the way dental hygiene students are trained at Canadore College—especially when it comes to caring for patients with cognitive impairments
In a move aimed at modernizing oral health education, MP Pauline Rochefort has announced over $630,000 in federal funding to support a new Virtual Reality (VR) training initiative at Canadore College’s Dental Hygiene program.
Funding for the project, entitled “VR Training for Dental Hygiene Students: Addressing Mild Cognitive Impairment,” will aim to develop an immersive Virtual Reality Learning Module to enhance dental hygiene students’ ability to care for people with early-stage dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
The $631,595 in funding is through Health Canada’s Oral Health Access Fund and was announced during a recent visit by Rochefort to the college.
“I was impressed with the learning environment and the attention to detail of the instructors and students of the Dental Hygiene program at Canadore. After touring the training facilities and speaking with the key players, I have no doubt the funding dollars will be put to good use and will only augment the learning experience and outcomes for patients,” said MP Rochefort.
Health Canada is providing more than $35 million over three years to support projects submitted by oral health training institutions that aim to address competency gaps related to the treatment of targeted populations and training adaptations to ensure sufficient hands-on training opportunities.
Meanwhile, as of late November, nearly six million Canadians are now covered under the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP).
“The CDCP helps pay a portion of the cost for a wide range of oral health care services and is making life more affordable by saving eligible Canadians an average of $800 per year,” says a release.
Those eligible for services who do not already have an oral health provider can consult Sun Life’s CDCP Provider Search to find an oral health provider in their community.
“There is a great need in Nipissing—Timiskaming for more frequent and accessible dental care.” says Rochefort. “According to Health Canada, poor oral health can lead to serious health issues, including tooth decay, gum diseases, and oral cancer, which can significantly impact physical and psychological health.”
All eligible Canadians can apply to the CDCP. To qualify, applicants must:
- Not having access to dental insurance
- Have filed their individual 2024 tax return in Canada (and their spouse’s or common-law partner’s, if applicable)
- Have an adjusted family net income of less than $90,000
- Be a Canadian resident for tax purposes
The top five dental issues that led to emergency department visits but that could have been cared for in dental offices are: abscesses, toothaches, infections, cavities and other lesions inside the mouth.
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