Are Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures Covered by OHIP? By A. Nutt At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

OHIP is almost unparalleled in providing the coverage Ontario natives need to remain in good health. Unfortunately, not everything pertaining to the overall well being of adults residing with the Providence can be taken care of. In most cases, cosmetic dental procedures fall under the category of things not capable of being covered by OHIP.

Are any Cosmetic Dental Procedures Eligible for Coverage?

As a whole cosmetic dentistry, as the name implies, is purely focused on improving the recipients appearance. Most truly cosmetic procedures have very little to do with improving the recipients health beyond the physical, so as elective procedures that aren’t necessarily done for the purpose of maintaining good health, they don’t fall under the umbrella of standard coverage.

The design of the OHIP is to provide emergency and preventative care to Ontario residents free of charge, since a large part of regular dental visits, and cosmetic dentistry in particular, are more geared toward aesthetics than toward actual physical health, those services fail to qualify for the free coverage provided by the government.

Are any Dental Services Covered?

Unfortunately, very few if any dental services are covered by OHIP. Though it does specify on the OHIP website, that residents eligible for coverage under the terms of the plan are entitled to receive emergency and preventative health care - so if a dental issue gets to the point of requiring emergency care or an accident of some variety requires an emergency dental procedure as part of the treatment, exceptions of the rule could potentially be made.

There are a number of problems associated with the teeth and gums that can occur that will most certainly have a negative impact on an individuals well being. Impacted wisdom teeth and gingivitis can lead to infections and cause a lot of discomfort. Regular visits to the dentist could conceivably be considered as preventative measure for these problems, but they are still not covered by OHIP, probably because there is no guarantee that these conditions would arise without the treatments.

How can Dental Coverage be Obtained?

Out of pocket costs to the dentist, orthodontist or any other oral care specialist can cost quite a bit for someone who has no coverage at all, but just because dental services don’t fall under the plan of coverage provided by OHIP, that doesn’t mean that Ontario residents necessarily have to absorb all of the cost without any assistance.

Many Ontario residents can obtain some form of dental coverage through their employer. Though this plan may not be entirely free like OHIP, it often absorbs a pretty large percentage of the total costs. Patients may need to pay a portion for coverage through a small deduction in their paychecks, and may be responsible to cover a deductible or pay a co-pay upon each office visit, but that is much better than having to absorb all of the costs of dental care on your own.

Inquire at your place of employment to see if coverage if there is any form of dental coverage available to employees and what, if any, cost the employee would incur for obtaining coverage. If there are different types of coverage available, take the time to check thoroughly into each to see what would be most appropriate for your situation. Due to the fact that the employers are providing the coverage, what exactly is covered and any potential out of pocket costs for services could vary greatly from plan to plan and employer to employer. It’s important to be fully aware of what types of visits as well as how many appointments you can make on an annual basis under your plan, as well as if there are any allowances for visits to specialists or elective procedure that are covered.

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