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Residents in Inuvik, N.W.T., will once again have access to dental services in the community when a new medical clinic opens in 2027, the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC) announced on Thursday.
The IRC-run clinic will offer both dental and physician services in one location with a team of rotating dentists, physicians, hygienists and dental therapists, the organization said in a news release announcing the project.
“IRC has a history of stepping up to fill urgent gaps for our people and community, and today’s lack of reliable dental and primary care is nothing short of a crisis,” said IRC Chair Erwin Elias in the release.
“By standing up this new clinic, we’re taking decisive action to bring care closer to home and make sure our people receive the quality health care they deserve right here at home when they need it most.”
There has been no dental clinic in Inuvik since the Western Arctic Dental Clinic closed around two years ago.
That has contributed to an explosion in travel to Yellowknife for dental services.
The service model for the new clinic is still under development, IRC said.
The opening date has yet to be confirmed and will depend on when the facility is ready and when the health professionals are in place.
IRC will provide updates as the project progresses, it said.
The project is funded by the Government of Canada, including Indigenous Services Canada and Health Canada, and had support from the territorial government.
“This project is a powerful example of how Indigenous Services Canada is supporting Inuit-led solutions that improve quality of life across the region,” said federal Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty in the release.
Federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel said the funding from Health Canada’s Oral Health Access Fund reflects the government’s commitment to improving access to essential oral health services across the country.