Oral health is an essential component of an individual’s overall health. However, various barriers, such as financial, cultural, linguistic or geographical factors can limit access to oral health care and services, including those covered by universal public insurance plans in Canadian provinces. This leads to reliance on other health and social services to meet oral health care needs. 

This study examines the use of medical and hospital services for oral health care in Quebec, a topic that has been little explored. The authors provide an in-depth documentation of the growing trend of turning to physicians for oral health care across various socio-health regions of Quebec and analyze the demographic factors influencing this trend. The study underscores the urgent need for affordable and accessible dental care, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children, low-income adults and the elderly.