In a collaborative effort to improve access to oral healthcare for underserved populations in Montreal, the Faculty has partnered with the CIUSSS de l鈥橭uest-de-l鈥櫭巐e-de-Montr茅al (CIUSSS ODIM) to launch聽Dent mon PSL,聽a pilot dental screening clinic located at their local point of service聽(PSL) in Lachine. Designed on the 九色视频 side by Dr. Elham Emami, Faculty Dean and an expert in integrated primary care, in collaboration with Saadia Marfouk, Director of Vaccination, Screening, Public Health and Community Care of CIUSSS ODIM, and directed on-site by Dr. Christine Yea, an active mobile dentist in the Faculty, the initiative aims to identify individuals in need of dental care and refer them with appropriate services, including the Faculty鈥檚 Undergraduate Teaching Clinic (UTC). This project is the Faculty鈥檚 second such integration of dental services in primary care following the Dent ma maison clinic, which provides dental care to seniors in their home environment.
The project is known to the public and by the CIUSSS as PSL - Lachine鈥檚 Programme de soins dentaires (Dental Care Program). 鈥淭his partnership is a model of population-based dental service integration and exemplifies collaboration based on complementary expertise,鈥� explains Saadia Marfouk, 鈥溇派悠� provides its academic and clinical expertise, and the CIUSSS provides the community and organizational framework.鈥� Dean Emami agrees, adding that 鈥渢he Faculty is committed to serving the local population, and our partnership with CIUSSS de l鈥橭uest-de-l鈥櫭巐e-de-Montr茅al at PSL - Lachine is a valuable opportunity to do so. We're thankful to collaborate with such an open-minded and forward-thinking organization, whose support enables us to reach even more Montrealers.鈥�
The screening clinic, which opened in July 2025, is represented on the Clic Sant茅 platform, allowing patients to book appointments for dental screenings online. These screenings are not full exams but serve as a triage mechanism to determine eligibility for care at the UTC or other community clinics. 鈥淲e want to keep it small and simple,鈥� Dr. Yea explains, 鈥渢he purpose is to see if the patient is eligible for dental care at the UTC so that the students can then see these patients. If not, we will refer them to go elsewhere, such as to a CEGEP dental hygiene clinic if it will be more suitable to their needs. The screening is free to them and if they are eligible for services in the UTC, it will be free for them there too.鈥�
As to the clinic鈥檚 location, 鈥淧SL - Lachine was a natural choice,鈥� says Marfouk. 鈥淚ts proximity to underserved populations and its strong community roots in the area鈥� make it the ideal location for launching a dental screening clinic. The goal is clear: to provide 鈥渟imple, humane, and free access to essential dental care鈥� in a trusted, integrated health setting. The whole CIUSSS ODIM team has been hard at work ensuring the level of care and attention they bring to pre-existing services at PSL 鈥� Lachine are reflected in the roll-out of this new pilot project.
The clinic has already begun to serve a vital role in the community, particularly among newcomers to Canada. 鈥淢ostly it鈥檚 newcomers, people who have immigrated here not too long ago, and people who have fallen between the cracks of public and private oral health coverage before now,鈥� Dr. Yea notes of the patient population. Due in part to this, patients are often unaware of their eligibility for government dental coverage programs like the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP). 鈥淥ur reception team works with each patient to assess their eligibility for existing programs 鈥� the CDCP, Interim Federal Health Program, or others depending on their status,鈥� Marfouk explains, while Dr. Yea reflects that 鈥渁 side effect of the project is helping bring light about coverage that people don鈥檛 even know they are eligible for, so in every way, we are helping them.鈥�
Exemplifying the transformative power of accessible healthcare, Dr. Yea recounts the story of a young woman in pain with a broken tooth who she recently saw at PSL - Lachine: 鈥淪he went and paid at a private clinic because she had no insurance, but she had just enough for an exam. And when they showed her the treatment plan, she realized she could not afford any of it. She couldn鈥檛 even tell them 鈥榡ust pull it out鈥� because she didn鈥檛 have the means to pay for anything.鈥� Dr. Yea was able to refer the young woman to the UTC for treatment at no cost to her, and the patient 鈥渨as so happy she was crying!鈥�
From Dr. Yea鈥檚 perspective, this story makes the whole pilot project a success. 鈥淚f we help even one person in the whole process, it鈥檚 a big win,鈥� she says. The clinic, however, has already helped far more than just one patient 鈥� the response to the project so far has been overwhelmingly positive: appointment slots have filled rapidly, and referrals from local organizations have surged. Patients who had gone years without dental care due to financial or systemic obstacles are now receiving basic examinations and treatment plans thanks to being connected to services. 鈥淧atients express enormous gratitude. For many, this is the first time they have been able to see a dentist without worrying about the cost. This has a direct impact on their quality of life and dignity,鈥� says Marfouk.
Pilot projects are small-scale test runs of a project to gauge viability before full-scale implementation. By their nature, they generate experiences to learn from and encounter problems to innovate around, and this collaborative project is no different 鈥� but that鈥檚 the point. As Dr. Yea puts it, 鈥淲e鈥檙e doing things with our eyes open to see what we can correct, what we can improve for the next phase.鈥� Saadia Marfouk highlights that the project so far has represented a 鈥渞emarkable partnership with the CIUSSS ODIM Vaccination, Screening, Public Health, and Community Care team鈥� that 鈥減erfectly illustrates what a successful collaboration can achieve: a real impact in the field, constructive exchanges between partners, and a tangible improvement in access to dental care for people in vulnerable situations.鈥�
The Dent mon PSL pilot project is a testament to what can be achieved when academic institutions and health authorities unite with a shared vision. It鈥檚 a model the Faculty hopes to replicate and expand, ensuring that oral health is recognized not as a luxury, but as a fundamental component of overall well-being. The Programme de soins dentaires also complements CIUSSS objectives, as Marfouk states, 鈥渂y making dental care accessible to all, particularly marginalized individuals, we promote health equity and reduce pressure on emergency rooms. It is a concrete way to optimize resources and improve the overall health of the community.鈥�
Reflecting on the success of the partnership so far, Dean Emami extends her congratulations to everyone who has contributed to the pilot project, sharing that 鈥渢heir dedication and collaboration have already made a meaningful difference in the lives of local populations. We are proud to work with the team at PSL - Lachine on this pilot project integrating oral health into primary health care.鈥�
Even at this relatively early stage, Dr. Yea is bolstered by the success of the partnership and enthusiastic about scaling up the project in future. 鈥淟et鈥檚 say in every PSL they can have a room for dental services: screenings, maybe exams, even cleanings. That would be amazing! It would mean everyone in the population could be connected to dental services. It would be a different practice. Imagine a practice that helps underserved populations, that helps communities. It would be wonderful!鈥�