Giving Back with a Smile

At Simply Smile, we offer comprehensive dental cleaning and teeth whitening services. Supporting Canadians through oral health is integral to our mission. Since launching our first office in Surrey, we’ve collaborated with Gift from the Heart to support Mom2Mom. Gift from the Heart is a collection of volunteer dentists and hygienists who provide urgent, low-cost dental care to Canadians. Through Mom2Mom, we’ve been supporting single mothers living in and around Greater Vancouver with $1000 worth of essential dental care every month.

It’s surprising, but almost one in three Canadians cannot afford basic oral care, like dental cleaning. Yet oral health is vital to overall health and well-being. Poor dental health can lead to conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and many more. When Canadians can’t afford dental care, they’re more likely to end up in an emergency room or a physician’s office. It’s a terrible situation–one the Canadian government is attempting to address at least partly through the interim Canada Dental Benefit. 

The plan lowers dental costs for families earning less than $90,000 annually. Parents and guardians may be eligible if they pay for dental care for a child under 12 years old who does not have access to a private dental insurance plan. Depending on adjusted net income, a tax-free payment of $260, $390, or $650 is available for each eligible child, and families can apply for a maximum of 2 payments per child online at Revenue Canada.

To enroll in the Canada Dental Benefit, families must meet the following criteria:

• Have a child under 12 years of age who does not have access to private dental care coverage (employer-based or purchased through the applicant or other family member); 
• Have an adjusted family net income under $90,000 per year; 
• Have filed last year’s income tax and benefit return (for the taxation year 2021, to be eligible in 2022—for more information on how to file a return, visit Canada.ca/doing-your-taxes); 
• Be a parent (or guardian) who receives the Canada Child Benefit for that child; 
• Have incurred—or will incur—out-of-pocket costs for child’s dental care which have not been fully reimbursed under another federal, provincial or territorial government program; and 
• Provide information on the recent or planned oral health care visit that the benefit would be used to pay for, along with information about the oral health care provider. 

As dental hygienists, we feel this is an excellent first step. Founder Suji Kang has long volunteered skills and equipment in the downtown Eastside. To support Canadians facing barriers to quality dental care, as part of the National Day of Giving, we will once again support Mom2Mom with an all-day clinic. Vulnerable mothers will have access to the quality dental care necessary to live healthier, more fulfilling lives, with fewer trips to the dentist.

As a team of hygienists who provide teeth whitening and dental cleaning in Burnaby, Metrotown and Surrey, we want our local communities to benefit from the better overall health and quality of life that comes with accessible oral healthcare services.

Through a combination of education, volunteering, and information, we at Simply Smily are proud to be working towards a brighter, healthier future where Canadians have more reasons to smile.