Why isn't dental care free?

[Danny]

I've been wondering about this for quite some time but I never really got an answer. So, why isn't dental care free in Canada? Apparently, the Government of Health decided that dental care falls under the category of cosmetical procedures... How? People need teeth pulled out and cavities fixed for health reasons not cosmetical ones.

Here, just look at OHIP's offical Goverenment site if you don't believe me:
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/program/ohip/ohipfaq_dt.html The work dental plans don't cover all fees. I actually haven't been for any check ups for a few years and I'm actually much healthier than when I did.

Shouldn't it be free? It costed my father about $1000 to have an infected tooth removed! They even pulled out the wrong one out twice and taxed him for those too! I don't think this should be like that... Even a simple check up or cleaning can cost over $100. It usally ranges from $100 to $1000 but it has even costed more than that.

Taxes in Canada are high because health care is covered yet dental health care isn't. In the U.S, taxes are lower but health care isn't completly covered. Sweden has an even better system. The taxes are a lot higher, yet all of health care is covered, even dental care. In Romania (where I'm from), taxes are pretty low and health care also costs a little. Procedures cost a little and inspections are free. The wait for health care is even lower than in most places such as Canada, the U.S and England.

I also find that some dentists lie about false cavities and tell you to remove some teeth such as the wisdom teeth. Sometimes they should but it usally shouldn't be removed. Think about, evolution made it so they would come out at a older age to hold our teeth in place. They may apear to grow crooked but they will grow straight. The space in your mouth where they are growing increases to give them space. If you remove them, then you will have a big empty room in your mouth which will cause the other teeth to crumble shortly afterwards!

Hear me! My father had them removed by dentists in Canada and that's why he has such bad dental problems while my mother didn't and her teeth are fine. Ironicly, my father had better teeth than my mother did which is really sad to watch him degrade like that. He has a hard time eating solid food.

My point is that health care and especially dental care should be free every where. There's an old saying that "teeth are the most important part of health and when you lose them, you shortly die afterwards". This is true as you can't chew your food any more. Drinking minced food through a straw is not my idea of a good life!

Fake teeth either damage your gums and the other artifically implanted ones damage your jaw bone. The screw can't compete with the teeth's natural roots! A metal screw will further damage your jaw bone that will lead to many infections. Metal coating over teeth should also be added to the ones below even if they're not infected as metal against tooth will destory the uncoated teeth. This also saddly happened to my father...

So please, try not to get your wisdow teeth removed even if it looks bad at first. They will get better, I swear! Only in very rare cases they don't and removing them is actually not really required dispite what other people think and that dentists say. Most get paid by each operation so of course they'll tell you a whole bunch of lies just to get you to come! This may seem unbelieveable but it's true! You would know this if you have studyed biology in university or at that level like my older sister, mother and father. I've also taken an interest in this and learned both from them, school and by myself.

I have many books on the subject of health which can probably still be found if you look around, so I suggested that you get as many as possible and learn the truth for yourself. Just make sure that they are genuine and not written by some cheap health care organization that only cares about $$$ and doesn't give and damn about anyone.

[BenoitRen]

Free? That's a bit much to ask for. But I'm not saying that a compensation would be uncalled for.

[Neo48]

Woah, bashing my home town!

It's hard to say why it is. But with the free health care, I don't think many people are complaining. Plus, a good job will cover dental expenses.

The problem could be more of what dentists charge. What exactly makes a root canal cost $700? Maybe the government doesn't want to ask. Seems like a lot of money that they don't want to fully cover.

As far as our "high" taxes go...they are about to be lowered for the second time since the Conservatives have been in power. Go oil industry go? Maybe...but that could be for another topic.

[Danny]

The tax has indeed dropped from 15 cents to 14 but rents, mortgage and overall store prices have risen. It seem that so have the dental bills even though the GST and PST is by one cent lower per dollar. I'm not really bashing Canada, this is just where I live right now so it's easy to talk about the poor health care here. Not that it's the worst, the U.S and England have it even worse. It seems that there's too many sick people now-a-days and not enough money to go towards dental care. Most of Europe and Japan have it going really good.

Somehow, the job dental insurance plan doesn't seem to fully cover all dental expenses. I'm thankful that I have strong healthy teeth but that doesn't go for all people. I've even heard that some have been on the waiting list for a dental surgery or cleaning for months! That's too long to wait as an infected tooth will degrade fast. It needs to be taken care of quickly. I also don't like how many dentists just look at you then charge you and tell you to come back in a week for the actually operation. Why don't they just do it on the spot? It will only get worse if you wait!

The same thing can be said about braces. They are needed sometimes, but often teeth will straighten on their own. Braces can actually cause you more harm than good since it will un-naturally move the teeth from place, therefore weaking their placement. Most of the time, you should just let your teeth fix themselves in time. It's the way nature and evolution intended it to be.

[Neo48]

Honestly, if any country put money towards making helath care free, as well as making good hospitals and more of them, they would go broke.

There is a lack of skilled labor in many sectors, and it would seem almost impossible to make room and money for everyone.

Maybe we are on the verge of a major andemic or something. Oh well, I'll just make sure to not break anything, haha.

[Danny]

Well maybe then not entirely free, but cheap at least. If a person can't pay, it should be free though. I've seen too many sick people and with tooth problems that can't get help because they don't have money to afford it. It's a terriable aspect, but I see your point on the whole money issue. If better politicans were elected, then maybe it could one day be free. That's a long shot but hope is good.

[Neo48]

It also depends on a politicians priorities. Maybe not enough people are voicing their opinions on dental care. A majority of people deal with it by "putting off" dental check-ups. It all depends on a person's vice.

[Danny]

I haven't gone to a dental check up for years now. Nor have I went to any other medical check-ups or have gotten any needles for years now too. Not because of the cost, but because I don't think they help. I'm much healthier than when I would go for examinations or to get needles years ago. I also don't trust those x-rays not shots. I've always gotten sick from shots and felt pain from x-rays. They over do it and I have heard worse stories too...

They also scrumb to hard and damage your enamel during dental cleanings. I bet they do it so you come back to them more often. It's so tiring when everything is about profit. Isn't health the most imporant thing? I hope a better political campaign wins in the future. I'm not sure how likely that is though but it could happen. Slim chance...

[Mister Death]

I get free dental care for being unemployed. Me <---- scrounger. I'm not proud of it.

[Neo48]

I haven't had a shot or check-ups in a while as well. And I have not been terribly ill. Just needed a root canal, it was a problem that had grown since a childhood injury.

As far as them abusing your teeth...maybe you should shop around for a different dental office...hehe.

[IndispensablePeaGuy]

I get free dental care for being unemployed. Me <---- scrounger. I'm not proud of it.

Burn the unemployed!

Remember kids: The best things in life are free... but so are the worst.

Ellipsis for the win.

[Lord Khyron]

Misterdeath does have a point..

Being employed, paying insurance every paycheck then going to the dentist and finding out insurance only pays a LITTLE for the treatment and you pay the difference does suck.

Most programs will pay $400 dollars for a root canal. That leaves you the rest of the 500-900 cost left over.

Same with crowns..

Maybe you and I should become unemployed Pee.. Then we can get free dental!

It is like that where I live. Unemployed and illegals get free dental care. In the end, my taxes work to benefit them. Ridiculous.

SO what point is there for insurance if people can BE unemployed and get everything free?

I'm not supposed to support the other lazy ass and worthless humans. LOL

If Laco could read this, the situation resembles the New Order from Sword of Truth series.

The world is royally messed up.

[KexMex]

*Yawns*

Free dental care 'til I'm 20. Then it's so expensive, my teeth will abandon ship and run off into the horizon, all rotty-looking.

[Eminems]

Misterdeath does have a point..

Being employed, paying insurance every paycheck then going to the dentist and finding out insurance only pays a LITTLE for the treatment and you pay the difference does suck.

Most programs will pay $400 dollars for a root canal. That leaves you the rest of the 500-900 cost left over.

Same with crowns..

Maybe you and I should become unemployed Pee.. Then we can get free dental!

It is like that where I live. Unemployed and illegals get free dental care. In the end, my taxes work to benefit them. Ridiculous.

SO what point is there for insurance if people can BE unemployed and get everything free?

I'm not supposed to support the other lazy ass and worthless humans. LOL

If Laco could read this, the situation resembles the New Order from Sword of Truth series.

The world is royally messed up.

Have to agree with you there. Okay, I am unemployed at the moment, but as I'm a student I get nothing from the government, and still pay all my dental fees etc. etc. Pfft, when I qualify as a vet, I'll do my own dentals! Seriously though, it's a bit ridiculous.


Also Danny: How can an X-ray be painful?

[Danny]

Also Danny: How can an X-ray be painful?

It sometimes leaves a strange feeling right after you get one that starts to hurt. Then again, they x-rayed me non-stop for some reason when I busted my finger a lot time ago. They always do stuff like that, either their idoits or it's some kind of sick scheme. Well x-rays do mutate your DNA... Bah, don't they know that? They take x-rays too lightly, same with blood tests, they take so much from you. The best thing to do is not get sick, docters in most countries now-a-days will mess you up bad, seriously. It's pretty sad actually...