The Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program provides routine dental care free for those over 65 years old and who meet eligibility requirements. The program is targeted to help low-income seniors.
The program was disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic but officials published information about it restarting. The statement said dental care providers are looking at their communities and monitoring COVID-19 statistics as they restart non-emergency dental treatments.
Those who are enrolled can call your local health unit to find out who is offering services under the program in your area. Those who think they are eligible can apply for the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program.
Who is eligible?
It’s important to note that not every senior citizen can participate in the program as there are residence and income requirements. The first requirement is that you be 65 years old and older. Other requirements are that you be an Ontario resident, meet income requirements, and have no other dental benefits.
Income requirements are that you have a net annual income of $22,000 or less if you are single and a combined net annual income of $37,100 for a couple.
Eligible seniors must have no other dental benefits including private insurance or programs from any other government program. This includes the programs Non-Insured Health Benefits, the Ontario Disability Support Program, and Ontario Works.
You can apply by mail or online. Married and common-law couples must submit separate applications. Gather information like your birthdate, your Ontario address, your Social Insurance Number (SIN), or Temporary Taxation Number (TIN), and prove you filed your taxes last year.
Those who don’t have a SIN or didn’t file taxes last year need to complete an application through a guarantor form. You must apply by mail with the help of a guarantor. A guarantor can confirm your identity, age, and Ontario residence. A guarantor must be older than 18 years old and a Canadian citizen. You can use one guarantor per household even if a couple is applying.
Guarantors are professionals who are practicing in their field and in good standing with the related provincial regulatory organisation including people like chiropractors, nurses, pharmacists, doctors, psychologists, veterinarians, lawyers, professional accountants, social workers, and teachers, among others.
The easiest way to apply for the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program is to apply online. You can do that by completing the online application, printing out the consent form, and mailing the consent form within 30 days to the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program, Station P, P.O. Box 159, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 257.
Those who want to apply by mail can download and print the application form or get one from their local public health unit. Fill it out and mail it to the same address.
Once you apply, someone will contact you by phone or mail if something else is needed. Those approved will get a welcome package and dental card sent by mail. It expires July 31 so you must renew eligibility yearly.
The welcome package gives information about accessing dental services, booking appointments, and what documents you need to bring to your dental appointment. You will need to show your program card at the dentist’s office to get services.
What the Program Offers
The Ontario Senior Dental Care Program offers routine dental services for free to eligible senior citizens. This includes check-ups, scaling, fluoride, and polishing, fixing cavities, repairing broken teeth, X-rays removing teeth or abnormal tissue, anesthesia, treating pain and infections, and periodontics.
The program has limits on some dental procedures and your dentist in the program can tell you what those limits are in your situation.
Renewing Coverage
Those who haven’t renewed are encouraged to do so. Those approved now will need to renew yearly to maintain coverage under the program. Renewing is easy. Eligibility is verified automatically for most. You should receive a notification in the mail. It should tell you whether you remain eligible or how to reapply. You will be required to reapply if you used a guarantor for the previous year or didn’t file taxes for the most recent tax years determining your eligibility.
This program is a good way to keep up with oral health as it provides for exams and a ton of preventive services that senior citizens need.
Plus, it pays for some other critical needs that can stop pain and help seniors keep their teeth or improve chewing function. It’s a way to expand services to ensure everyone has access to oral health care.
Questions?
Those with questions bout the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program can call 416-916-0204 or contact your local public health unit. We are also here to answer your questions and guide you through the process.
We look forward to serving those through this program. Those already approved can call us for an appointment now!
