Dental Costs (Benefit Tip © 2001)

The 2002 Ontario Dental Association Fee Schedule will have some major changes:
  • The 38% discounts for patients with primary (baby) teeth will be eliminated.
  • The 16% discounts for recall packages (exam + 15min. scaling + 15min. polishing) will be eliminated.
  • A discretionary ELASTICITY OF DEMAND (what the market will bear) factor will be introduced.
  • A discretionary PRACTITIONER INCOME (mark-up) factor will be introduced.

    Two decades ago, the insurance industry began managing drug costs by limiting the components of pharmacy charges (ingredient cost, mark-up, dispensing fee). It is time to do the same for dental charges.

    Employers with defined benefit plans should have the option to limit dental charges to what they believe is reasonable and customary.

    Employers with defined contribution plans should equip their staff to make wise purchase decisions through education.

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