ODSP and the dentist

[Robert]

The first dentist I went to while I was on ODSP was not very happy to
see me. When they were done with my cleaning and one cavity, I asked
for an appointment booking for 9 months in to the future. The
secretary refused. The whole feeling I got is that they did not care
to have me taking up their time. I guess I can understand it, since
rates are low when one of us walks in the door.
The dentist that I am currently with never finds a cavity. That is
odd, because I've usually had a cavity at least once per year. So I
must wonder whether or not they wish to drill because of the low
rates? Also, now, instead of booking me for 9 months, they have told
me that they will only take appointments once per year from ODSP
people. Is this because of a rule change from ODSP? Or is it dentist
specific policy? They told me that changing to a year would benefit
me, because they will give me more cleaning time? I smell something a
bit off.
Also, does anyone know what the ODSP insurance are in comparison to
regular dental insurance rates/dentist rates?

[Cindy S-C]

robert, you were able to get your teeth cleaned through odsp?
~
i had one dentist in belleville, when i was on ow, who accepted my
daughter as a patient and then when i went to book my son as a
patient, they refused him. my daughter could keep seeing him, but my
son couldn't. i complained to whoever you complain to about dentists
and was told that they only had to take a certain # of ow/odsp clients
and if he had maxed out with my daughter, too bad about my son.
~
i haven't been in at least 2 years. simply cannot add that to my list
of things to do right now, finding a dentist that will take me.

[Robert]

I didn't realize that things could be worse. I hope you eventually
find yourself a dentist. I know when you are ill, that things that
are easy to do for 'normal' people are very difficult for ill people
to do.

[Deborah Masters nee Alexander]

Hi Robert:  My experience with dentist, eye doctors, practioners etc is that it is totally up to the professional you are seeing at the time.  It seems to vary from doctor to doctor, dentist to dentist.  My dentist is exceptional and goes the extra mile to get me whatever he can.  I have had two cleanings covered within 6 mos.  This is due to my medication affecting the bone density in my gums.  i suppose some of the professionals do not want to take the time to get you max coverage.  I hope this helps

See Yah, So Long,

DEB

> Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2009 04:19:38 -0700
> Subject: [odspfireside: 24914 ] Re: ODSP and the dentist
> From: x.smili...@yahoo.com
> To: odspfi...@googlegroups.com

[Robbie]

Hi Robert, I totally agree with Deborah,
I've had 2 dentist in the past 4 years and both went out of their way
to give me good service. I get cleanings every 9 months plus whatever
repairs I need including bonding for sensitive teeth. I have never had
a problem getting an appointment. Grace

On Oct 24, 1:05 pm, Deborah Masters nee Alexander

[Dr. Zaki]

Hi Robert

I'll try to answer some of your questions:

1. Instead of booking me for 9 months, they have told

me that they will only take appointments once per year from ODSP
people. Is this because of a rule change from ODSP? Or is it
dentist
specific policy?

The rules have not changed for ODSP.

A recall examination can be charged every 9 months.

Generally you can have upto 1 hour of cleaning (4 units of scaling) in
a one year period.

You can have a polish (1/2 unit polish) every 9 months.

Two bitewing x-rays (cavity detecting x-rays) can be charged every 9
months.

If it takes the dentist/hygenist 1 hour (4 units) to clean (scale)
your teeth at one appointment, then your cleaning for that year is up.
ODSP will not pay have your teeth scaled for another year + a day.

2. Also, does anyone know what the ODSP insurance are in comparison

to
regular dental insurance rates/dentist rates?

Let me give you some examples between the ODSP fee guide and the
current 2009 Ontario Dental Association (ODA) Fee Guide for some
procedures.


Recall Exam, 2 bitewing xrays, 2 unit scale, 1/2 unit prophy: ODSP
$121.04 ODA $170.80

Simple Extraction (extraction only; exam & xray billed separately)
ODSP $38.01 ODA $111.65

Difficult Extraction (extraction only; exam& xray billed separately)
ODSP $88.69 ODA $174.73

Simple Filling (molar tooth, one surface, white) ODSP $57.01 ODA
$125.94

Hope this helps.

[Lorene]

Last year, I was in Toronto, visiting my deaf cousin. She gets ODSP
drug and dental benefits only as her husband works full time and has
no benefits where he works. She had a dental appt that day, so I went
with her. When we were done, I heard the receptionist asking her (she
was moving her lips to make words clearly to understand to my deaf
cousin) if she like to come back in 4 months for another cleaning. I
asked her how often can a person on ODSP can get their teeth cleaning.
The receptionist told me at least 4 times per year under the ODSP
regulations. I was surprised to hear that. I am just going what I was
told.

I go get my teeth cleaned every 6 months here in London.

Lorene

[Sharol Caswell]

Dr. Tucker in Belleville took on my daughters when they were still on
ACSD and then continued when they reached age for ODSP.
Sharol

[Ugly Sean]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Sharol Caswell" <scas...@cogeco.ca>
To: <odspfi...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, October 24, 2009 10:09 PM
Subject: [odspfireside: 24926 ] Re: ODSP and the dentist

>
> Dr. Tucker in Belleville took on my daughters when they were still on
> ACSD and then continued when they reached age for ODSP.
> Sharol
> On 23-Oct-09, at 11:21 AM, Cindy S-C wrote:

ACSD?

[Cindy S-C]

okay, is there anything in the odsp directives that shows what dental
is covered? i have not been to the dentist in 3 years and at that
time i needed a root canal i couldn't afford so i had the tooth
pulled.
~
so, basically, it's a matter of finding a dentist that will take me on
odsp and then finding out in the directives what is covered? my teeth
are rotting out of my head!

[Sharol Caswell]

ACSD- Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities

[Cindy S-C]

robert, i have to thank you so much for posting your question. i
simply assumed that i had basically no dental coverage like you do on
ow. now, i'm looking for a dentist that will take me on odsp. the
last dentist we had made it very clear in manner that he did not like
seeing us. and i had to have a specific problem before i could even
go to the dentist. well now, i do have a specific problem, but i
thought that the only answer would be pulling that tooth as well.
kinda ticked off at myself because when the tooth first started
crumbling, had i known i had coverage, they may have been able to save
the tooth for sure. now, i'm not so sure.

what i did yesterday was google odsp directives and in the odsp
directives for dental coverage it mentions mcss dental coverage so i
googled that and it took me to the link that shows what coverage we do
have.

if anyone would like me to find the link and post it here, please let
me know.

i know that everyone must think that i'm terribly stupid, just
assuming that i had the same (basically none) coverage as i did on
ow. but there have been other things that i've had to tend to with
odsp that were important so when i was going through the directives i
wasn't looking at dental specific.

robert, that link will show you how often you can get your teeth
cleaned.

i was speaking about this with 2 friends of mine last night (one
friend, her son has just transferred from ow to odsp) and one of the
women made a good point. even though the dentist is being paid less
than what he/she is paid *normally*, at least with odsp they know
they're going to get paid. i know one woman in my children's family,
where the whole family of 5 went to a dentist and because they had
dental coverage (partial) through the husband's work, they all had
their teeth done, everything that needed to be done. the husband's
dental paid say 75% and they owed 25% which was a huge chunk of change
for five people. they simply didn't pay the bill. now, of course, i
don't know how common that is, but again, at least, even though the
rates are lower, the dentist will know that they will get paid
something from odsp.

it was all i could talk about yesterday. that i can finally have my
teeth cleaned? and that maybe i can get some cavities filled before i
lose the tooth? my soul. i also see that fluoride treatments are
covered. and also, as someone mentioned, there is almost like an
"extenuating circumstances" clause whereby if through your disability
or the meds you're on, it's affecting your teeth, you can get further
work done.

i have one friend on ow appealing odsp and his teeth are crumbling due
to his pain meds. i'm actually not clear that the reason my one tooth
is crumbling is not because of the pain meds i'm on.

but again, thank-you everyone for not calling me stupid. i think i'm
going to try to get the dental printed off so i do know exactly what i
have covered. i find it difficult reading it off a computer screen.

another thing i noticed is that mouthguards are covered every 60
months (so 5 years) and in a previous life, i have always needed a
mouthguard to sleep because i grind my teeth down.

so here's hoping i can find a dentist that is taking new patients and
one that is comfortable taking a family of three on odsp.

many many thanks. i'll be one happy lady if i can finally get my
teeth cleaned (even though i know it would probably take 4 sessions to
get them fully cleaned after all these years, my soul, the one will be
enough to brighten my day now, and again, maybe i can save the one
tooth yet).

i think that's another issue i have when i post to newspaper articles
re poverty. anyone who has worked or who has had a great dental plan
sometime during their life, you sit here with teeth rotting or having
to be pulled and think about all the $ you put out in a previous life
to have nice teeth (or basically just to keep your teeth healthy) and
then you're presented with the ow dental plan which basically leaves
you with the only option of having teeth pulled, teeth that you may
have paid thousands of dollars previously to keep.

i had been so down about my teeth a couple of months ago that i
thought perhaps i should just go and get them all taken out and false
teeth put in.

again, can't thank everyone enough. especially for not calling me
stupid, which i've quite obviously been.

i have more to add to my ttc ticket discussion and my soul, i'm just
fuming about that whole situation. i'm at the point where i feel as
if i can't get bogged down with anything else. my week-end included
taking my 12 year old child to be formed on friday night due to
threats of suicide and then her being released on saturday and the
psychiatrist just telling us to keep up with the family counseling.
so, is that a problem with the health care system or is it a problem
with the mental health care system? (apologies for going off topic).

[Bill Higgs]

you might check with the health unit in your area, to see if they have a
dentist on staff, the Middlesex London health unit does, or at least they
did, and so does St Josephs hospital in London

Bill