Thanks to generous support from people like you, children from low-income families are receiving education and dental care through The Alex Preschool Oral Health Program, a mobile outreach initiative. With your help, a pilot program has been developed to provide preventative dental care to children whose families may face barriers to access. The vision is to reduce the likelihood of preschool-aged children suffering from tooth decay and mouth pain.

After recruiting a registered dental hygienist and dental administrator, the team’s first priority was to identify preschools and daycares where the program could be implemented. Official outreach launched on September 29, 2022 and just six months later, on March 31, 2023, the team had provided education and preventative services at more than 40 sites.

Following the initial outreach, the team also assessed that 25 patients were best suited for a treatment called Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) to prevent further decay and reduce the need for crisis intervention down the road. Based on pain and/or infection, 15 children of families without coverage or funding for dental services were referred to the Dental Access Network, which provides services for a very low fee or even free of charge.

I got to hear about The Alex organization when they came to my son’s daycare back in March to do teeth assessments. My son had several cavities and I had been to several dental clinics. All of them were telling me how to get his teeth fixed and that it would take over $4,000. Without health insurance and being a single mom, I was so stressed out and discouraged. One night, someone from The Alex called me asking if I needed financial assistance for my son’s dental procedure. I cried because angels were sent to me. My son’s dental work was $4,600 and I only paid $25 for the procedure. I am so grateful, beyond what words can express.”
— Parent

DID YOU KNOW?
There are many serious long-term risks associated with poor dental health in children, including sleep disturbances, malnourishment, decreased school performance and behavioural concerns. It can also result in stress on the overall healthcare system, as children experience health challenges into the future. That’s why promoting good dental hygiene and early intervention for escalating problems helps set kids up for good overall health and success in life.

The program has been met with very positive response.
One hundred percent of parents who completed a satisfaction survey rated the experience as ‘Excellent’.

Parents have reported their children have done better seeing our team in a comfortable, familiar setting and being able to watch their classmates participate as well. For us, this is a huge success as one of the program goals is to ensure a child’s first dental experience is a positive one.”
— Dental administrator

Thank you so much for coming and helping our preschool kids with their journey to take care of their oral health. We really appreciate your time and commitment.”
— Preschool staff member

After losing my job and not having benefits anymore, this program went above and beyond to make sure my child’s teeth were still taken care of. From the moment we connected to the time we went in for services, the staff were amazing — very kind and explaining the process along the way. I’m so grateful for them and what they have done for my daughter.”
— Parent

Looking Ahead

Around the time the pilot program was rolled out, the federal government launched Phase 1 of the Universal Dental Plan, offering up to $650 in oral care coverage per child for kids under 12, based on family income of less than $90,000. As Alberta continues to have the highest dental fees in Canada, The Alex’s program complements this funding to provide accessible care to families in need and the hope is those who are eligible can benefit from the support of both programs. In addition to financial strains, many Calgary families face educational, transportation and cultural/language barriers to dental care – all of which The Alex aims to help overcome through its outreach services. With ongoing donor support, the intent is to grow the number of sites visited and children cared for through this important initiative.