Dental Services Downtown Toronto Call: 416-922-8615

[Dr. Zaki]

Hello Group

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Kashif Zaki and I am a
dentist with a practice in downtown Toronto.

I was born in Hamilton but was raised in Woodstock Ontario. I
graduated from the Univerisity of Western Ontario in 2000 with a
Bachelors degree in Psychology, and then again in 2004 with my Doctor
of Dental Surgery degree.

I worked for another dentist for two years before striking out on my
own in 2006. I chose to establish my practice in downtown Toronto for
a number of reasons one of which was its diversity.

This diversity is reflected in my patients. I have a number of
patients who are on ODSP and one common factor is the fact that they
have had trouble finding a dentist who will take ODSP patients.

I actually went to the ODSP office in Toronto to leave some phamplets
to let people know that I am accepting new patients - including
patients on ODSP. However the secretary would not let me.

I was "googling" info on ODSP and stumbled across this site. The
moderators were kind enough to let me join, so I thought it would be a
good way to let people know that I am accepting patients on ODSP.

Please feel free to call me at my office: 416-922-8615 or email me at
k3z...@hotmail.com if you have any questions.

My office is located at 597 Parliament St. Suite 215 Toronto ON near
the corner of Parliament and Wellesley. It is located on the second
floor and is wheel chair accessible.

Thank you for your time.

Dr. Zaki

[abrowne]

Hi Dr. Zaki,

Thank you for coming online to share your availability to our members.

Perhaps, your name and number can be put on our website for

members who are seeking a dentist that will accept ODSP coverage.

I'm glad there are dentists out there like yourself.

Angela

"Dr. Zaki" <k3z...@hotmail.com> wrote:

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Kashif Zaki and I am a
dentist with a practice in downtown Toronto.

I was born in Hamilton but was raised in Woodstock Ontario. I
graduated from the Univerisity of Western Ontario in 2000 with a
Bachelors degree in Psychology, and then again in 2004 with my Doctor
of Dental Surgery degree.

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

[Cinderella]

I just wanted to make a comment here .... I think this is absolutely outstanding !  .. Thank you Dr Zaki for having a heart in a world that seems to have forgotten to have one .

abrowne <browne...@yahoo.com> wrote:

---

Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr!

[lanab...@hotmail.com]

Thank you Dr. Zaki for being a professional with a heart that sees
people as people regardless of disabilities and understands that we
all need to have access to dental care. This is another pet peeve of
mine that every dentist I've seen has been uncomfortable in working
with ODSP and insists that I "save up my money" so that I could afford
good dental care. I am becoming increasingly unfamiliar with the
concept of saving money since any money that comes my way goes
directly to someone else such as the landlord and at this point in the
month I am down to my usual $3 in my chequing account.

Do you happen to know any fellow dentists in Ottawa who are willing to
work with ODSP patients?

Lana

[Shelley Blidner]

try this url Lana...hope it helps:
Shelley

Collège Boréal - Sudbury
Toll-free: 1-800-361-6673
Dental Clinic: 705-521-6021

[Dr. Zaki]

Hi Lana

Thank you for your reply.

Actually I belive basic dental care should be made availalbe to
everyone, regardless of disability or not.

Im not sure what you mean by "good dental care" - all services
provided by dentists are held to a high standard as regulated by the
Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario.

Unfortunately however not all dental procedures are covered by ODSP -
for example caps or crowns. In some situations a cap is the best type
of "filling" or restoration for a tooth, and the dentist is just doing
his/her job in telling you that. Is it expensive, yes - but it
involves a lot of time and also a lab fee. Many people assume if a
dentist charges $800 for a crown that he walks away with $800. Not
true. About $250 goes to the lab. $50 goes for materials and
supplies. So that leaves $500. Out of that you have to pay staff,
rent, taxes... You see where Im going. But just because ODSP doesn't
cover crowns means that it is a bad plan. Many private insurance wont
cover crowns, and if they do its usually only at 50%.

So you shouldn't have to worry about the quality of dental care that
you are receiving for the dental services that are provided to you
under ODSP plan.

Unfortunately I do not know anyone in Ottawa who is accepting patients
on ODSP, but call around. Im sure there are many dentists in Ottawa
who are willing to accept patients on ODSP.

Hope this helps.

Dr. Zaki

[Dr. Zaki]

Hi Cindrella

Thank you for your reply and kind words. But honestly there is
nothing outstanding here. It just so happens that the area in which I
practice is home to a lot of people on ODSP (I think), and I thought
this would be an intersting way to reach some of them, to let them
now
that ODSP will cover basic dental servies (which actually I belive
should be made available to all Canadians.)

Dr. Zaki

[Dr. Zaki]

Hi Angela

Thank you for your reply.

I posted my office info on the "pages" section of this website.

Dr. Zaki

[Dr. Zaki]

Hi abrowne

[corrinna]

If this is so, the work I have had done thus far is all
necessary, for relief of pain, not for beauty! All work has been
extractions, and fillings, amalgam for the molars and composite
for the front teeth. I have severe decalcification, bruxism and TMJ.
This has caused severe damage to my teeth. I have had to pay
hundreds of dollars already for this work, about 84.00 a visit, for
fillings. Why am I paying if it is covered?
They tell me this IS the ODSP formula.
This is a dental school. I am not getting superficial work done, I also
had extractions done on 5 teeth as they could not be saved. I have had
13 fillings and 5 extractions. They tell me a night guard would help save
the rest of my teeth, so I say OK, lets do it, but I know this is not
covered. I don;t understand why the other stuff isn't... Also, they say my
lab
fee for partials is 400.00 plus 400.00 for the partial. How, if it clearly
says
lab fees and partials are covered for up to 900 or so dollars, am I paying
for it?
I have been in pain and infection for 8 years , and need this work done.
It's
frusterating. It says these fees are covered if the beginning of the partial
and end is within a 3 month period, that they cover it. I won't be starting
that until
Sept. They will be ready in that time period, so should they not be covered?
I DO NOT
want to end up homeless AGAIN over this.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Dr. Zaki" <k3z...@hotmail.com>

Unfortunately however not all dental procedures are covered by ODSP -
for example caps or crowns.

Dr. Zaki

[Heather S.Maxwell]

Dr. Zaki

I live inthe Windsor area and would appreciate knowing a dental service in
this area who could help me with some dental concerns. As I have been
without care for a couple of years.

----- Original Message -----

[Dr. Zaki]

Hi Corrinna

First off Im sorry you've had such a hard time with your teeth.

Its difficult for me to comment on your specific case as we have never
met, however it seems your major concern seems to be the cost of the
services rendered to you.

1) Basic fillings and simple and complex extractions are covered by
ODSP.

2) Night guards are NOT covered by ODSP.

3) For the dentures:

There are two types of dentures: 1) all plastic or acrylic dentures
2) metal based or cast
dentures.

Cast dentures have a much higher lab fee and also involve a few more
steps/appointments, and therefore a much higher cost than making
plastic dentures.

I can appreciate your frustration however the best thing to do is to
sit down with your dentist and discuss your concerns.

No one should end up homeless over dental care.

Dr. Zaki

[Dr. Zaki]

Hi Heather

The best thing to do is look in the yellow pages, call dental offices
if they accepting patients on ODSP. I don't know of any offices off
hand that are accepting ODSP clients.

Dr. Zaki