With the launch of a two-day offering of free dental care for uninsured Northerners, dentist Dr. Nittan Gohil says he hopes to fill a gap – and not of the tooth variety.
“We've sort of found this little gap of the population that doesn't have health insurance," said Gohil of Birchwood Dental in Yellowknife. "I thought, we need to see if we can help these people out.”
Brendan Burke/NNSL photo.
While seniors, Indigenous residents and people insured with their employers are covered in the territory, Gohil says there's a significant but small population of people who slip through the cracks of coverage, forcing them to go without the basic care they sometimes desperately need.
So, in marking the one year milestone since his clinic set up shop last January, Gohil did away with anniversary promotions or toothbrush handouts, instead opting to open his doors on Wednesday and Thursday to treat residents without dental coverage.
On the first day, 23 patients received basic cleanings and check-ups in just four hours.
According to Gohil, many of the patients he tended to that day made the trip to the dentist's office for a variety of reasons.
“Some came because it was free, some came in because they were in pain and couldn't afford it,” he said, adding that regardless of what brought them in, patients left feeling grateful and “happy.”
For Jason Crummey, a Yellowknifer who took advantage of the offering Thursday afternoon, a problem tooth and a lack of coverage brought him down to Birchwood
“I worked at the Snap Lake Mine. I had quite a nice job ... I got laid off ... and never landed back on my feet,” said Crummey, laying in a dentist chair readying himself for an impending tooth yank.
“Yellowknife is very expensive. Cash is tight. And Dr. Gohil, out of the goodness of his heart, is removing a tooth that's caused me problems. I'm very grateful.”
Robin Hawkins, another uninsured resident, spoke with Yellowknifer as he sat in the waiting room. Not being able to afford coverage, Hawkins says his Thursday check-up will mark his first visit to the dentist in almost four years.
“I could go for my (First Nation status card) but it's kind of hard for me because of my background,” Hawkins said. “So this is basically the way I get my teeth cleaned.”
Calls for children to come
While Gohil was pleased with the turnout, he says he's hoping to see a more a “vulnerable” demographic – children – make use of the care he's offering free of charge.
“If you're a kid and your parent can't afford dental care ... that's just a terrible thing,” he said.
When Gohill isn't wearing scrubs and asking patients to open wide, the dentist, who treated people in remote NWT communities early in his career, works alongside the GNWT's health and social services department as its oral health consultant.
“We've been working on a new strategic oral health initiative for the territory,” he said.
As part of his role within the department, Gohil says he's pushing for an added focus on children without dental coverage.
Citing other provinces with similar structures, Gohil says he'd like to see free dental care for children across the territory.
“At least to get the population from 0-18, so children, covered. I think the government should cover at least dental, check ups, cleanings – at least basic dental for that population,” said Gohill.
While Gohill maintains steps in the right direction are being taken, he says there's a ways to go before children could see free dental care.
“We're in the process ... obviously the government wants to know before they get into something how much it will cost them,” he said.
Gohil, no stranger to crusading causes like the “unacceptable” wait times he tried to conquer upon his arrival in the city, says he's fortunate to be able to do what he does.
“I feel lucky that I fell into a job I love to do and I would do it even if I didn't get paid,” said Gohil, adding that part of who he is pushes him to undertake these campaigns.
“I feel empathy when someone's got a bad toothache and they don't have a enough money to do something about it. That's a very unfortunate thing. It's hurtful”
While the two-day, doors open event wrapped up on Thursday, the man who “loves what he does” has no plans of slowing down on his bid to bridge the gap between the haves and have nots.
“This is something we're trying to do hopefully on a monthly basis. I'm hoping that as we start doing this on a monthly basis, parents will bring their kids in if they don't have insurance. I'd really like to see that happen.”