stokesey

Hi - Nightmare scenario....

My eldest lad is being fitted with a brace in the next couple of weeks (about a month prior to our move to Canada).

He'll need tightening and removal as part of the treatment in Canada, any ideas on the possible cost of this (I've heard dental costs in Canada are outrageous).

The orthodontist has advised he'll need it for 12 months.

Would this be covered under the dental plans offered by employers?

Thanks in advance.

Mickey690

I havn't got any advise but we are in the same situation. My eldset got his fitted on the 11th April and has to have it on for 18 months. We are flying out first week of August.

I've read somewhere that braces in Canada can cost $10k but most health care will cover half of it.

stokesey

I would have thought the expensive bit has been taken care of in the UK then (as in fitting of the braces)?

I'll have a bash at tightening and removal myself, how difficult can it be?

Joking aside i've emailed a couple of dentists in Calgary for a rough idea.

I'll let you know.

Almost Canadian

You will probably find that the Canadian orthodonist will want to start the whole process again. Get ready to pay $$$$$$$$$

stokesey

That would be ridiculous, why on earth would they want to start it again?

iaink

I suspect it wont be too bad (for ortho), as the hard work has been done. Most employer plans have only limited ortho coverage, IF they have any at all.(many dont)

From my dodgy memory I think I am gratefull to get a total of $2k coverage (probably at 80%) per kid lifetime. If you have a government job you might have better coverage...

See if you can get the UK and CDN dentist in contact before you move for a seamless transition of care if you can.

singingringingtree

Here in the UK, my daughter went to an ortho and had x-rays, photos, consultation and first brace. Around three months after she started treatment we had to change orthos due to a move. The new chap insited she had to be seen as a new patient and he couldn't take any previous history into account. She had to go through all that again, including new brace.

Almost Canadian

Welcome to Canada.

You may get lucky but, as other will attest to, the dental profession over here will not even look inside a new patient's mouth before performing all manner of x-rays and scans.

I could be wrong, but suspect that I am not

Lorry1

My eldest just got braces in Canada - by memory they cost about $5000.00, maybe more!!!

There is no insurance (i don't think) that will cover the full amount, or even half the amount. Hubby's work insurance gave us $1000.00 back after we paid!

Not sure what will happen if braces are already fitted though. I guess they just need tightening every few weeks and maintenance.

Lorry1

You are not wrong!
You need good dental insurance here, that's for sure

Auld Yin

Please don't come under this belief. Health care will not cover dental work of any type (except in special cases), and if an employer scheme provides some orthodontal care it will be mimimal vs total cost.
Dental care is expensive here but it is of a high quality, IMO.

gryphea

You haven't met canadian dentists, let alone canadian orthodontists.

Plus they probably have some kind of liability gig going. Plus they are extreme perfectionists

iaink

Of course you also have the option to shop around until you find an ortho who will take here on just for the maintainence, you dont have to take the first dentist you stumble upon.

My dentist (not an ortho) was quite happy to take me as I was without a ton of Xrays etc first. My advice is to shop around.

Employee benefits, if you have them, will typically cover about 80% of "regular" dental exam costs, but Ortho being what it is (expensive) is often excluded, as I said, I consider myself lucky to have even limited coverage. Still, Ortho is often expensive enough that it meets the 2 or 3% of income requirement to have it as a tax deductible expense so you can claw some of it back, especially if you can come to a suitable billing arangement with the dentist to bill for it all at once rather than over several years of visits.


The alternative I suppose in most cases is crooked teeth, Oh the humanity. People might think you British.

singingringingtree

Just to compare - I got braces in the UK in January and total treatment is going to cost me £3,500 (I make that around $5,500), but I guess that depends on a comparison of the amount of work needed.

Lorry1

Is that for a child?