Rank Specific Dental Coverage?

[MCplManser]

After more than 7 years in the military receiving CF dental care for much of that time (including having my wisdom teeth pulled), last year I found out that I have a tooth up in my palate that never managed to break though. Now that I'm getting pain in the area, they've informed me that the normal course of action is to extract said tooth and possible braces to realign surrounding teeth.

Here's the kicker....Last year I traded in my leaf to become an Officer Cadet and currently working on my degree. At my latest checkup I was informed by my dental staff that because of my new found rank I'm not eligible for the procedure. I must wait 3 years or so after I get my degree to be entitled to it.

Sounds a bit odd if you ask me. I thought that being Reg Force meant the same Reg Force benefits as others. I signed on the dotted line and have at least 11 more years to go, why should the fact I am now an OCdt dictate the care I'm eligible for? I'm going to continue to dig around to see if there is actually any policy on this matter or not.

Any insight?
Thanks

 

[ModlrMike]

So can I safely presume that you went UTPNCM? If that's the case, then you're certainly being seen off. A complaint to the CO of the dental unit should sort that out in short order.

Rank has nothing to do with your entitlement to care.

 

[Pat in Halifax]

I have had serious issues since childhood (born without permanent teeth). Needless to say, every time I was posted to a new unit I was a novelty. That said, I have never heard of what you are mentioning. I had my first work done in Cornwallis (joined in '82) and even while attending St Lawrence College as an METTP. I had work done either thru a civilian there (in Cornwall) or went to Kingston.
All that said, I know things have changed in 30 years but I am wondering if their reasoning is due to any impact it may have on your schooling wrt sick leave or something along those lines.
I am sure there is someone on here in the dental community who should be able to clarify.

Pat

 

[medicineman]

Generally, the tooth fairies don't like doing prolonged dental work until they have a guarantee that the patient won't posted during the time frame proposed for treatment - braces I think, having had them myself, is the prolonged treatment.  If you're UTPNCM, you can get sent away for courses or OJT during your summers, so you're not guaranteed to be there for the entire duration of proposed treatment.  They recognise you have a problem and are willing to do something about it, but have to know nothing will interfere with it.  I've had to staff the odd letter to career managers regarding this for folks that needed or were felt to have needed orthodontic work...no deployments, no out of area courses for the duration of the treatment had to be agreed to.

:2c:

MM

 

[bridges]

If it's periodic check-ups/adjustments that are needed, is that something that could be done by a Dental O in the area where the person's on course?

 

[medicineman]

If it's periodic check-ups/adjustments that are needed, is that something that could be done by a Dental O in the area where the person's on course?

They generally like the same person doing everythig so they don't have to worry about someone else being on the same page.

MM

 

[dogger1936]

I've been asking for braces for 12 years now. Every year I get the same response. No. Fixing my teeth would be "cosmetic".

 

[bridges]

They generally like the same person doing everythig so they don't have to worry about someone else being on the same page.

MM

Makes sense; thanks.

I got the impression from the OP's comments that the supposed ineligibility was based on rank alone, whereas delays due to absences could happen at any rank level. 

A MCpl-turned-OCdt is not the same as a freshly-recruited OCdt (in several ways).  The bit about waiting until 3 years after he gets his degree is particularly strange.  I hope he follows up on this. rly:

 

[medicineman]

He's still an OCdt on the BTL - he's still subject to being attached posted for Phase Training or OJT to places other than where he is...a newly minted private would be no different unless someone could show that they'll be staying in the one location for the duration of treatment - say a long QL3 course, as some are.  Even PAT's or whatever they're called this week have no guarantee of staying put - some luck out and get OJT postings or GD postings.  It's not based on rank per se - but where you are in your career at that time.

MM

 

[Eye In The Sky]

Are braces really that "maintenence intensive" (or insert applic dental term) that they have THAT much impact on posting, deployment, etc?

If you get braces in Edmonton and then are posted to Halifax, there is no one able to keep up the work/treatment/whatever on them in Halifax?

So what happens with dentists?  If I am half way thru my time in braces that they started, they aren't able to be posted for continuity of treatment?

 

[DAA]

Two comments,"Somethings wrong in Bangkok" or "Something is wrong in the land of not quite right".

Dental service is dental service.  While the supporting Dental Det may want to have the process started and finished by the same Dental Officer for medical reasons, I don't see a problem why it can't be done.

Even if you're a transfer from NCM to Officer, that is no reason to deny you treatment.  If you wash-out on your Academic and or Occupational training prior to commissioning, you may still very well be afforded the opportunity to go back to NCM, provided a vacancy exists.  So your circumstance is definitely not the same as an "off the street" OCdt enrolment going through RMC or Civi U...which leads me to believe that you "may" be lumped in with the wrong group!

 

[medicineman]

Are braces really that "maintenence intensive" (or insert applic dental term) that they have THAT much impact on posting, deployment, etc?

If you get braces in Edmonton and then are posted to Halifax, there is no one able to keep up the work/treatment/whatever on them in Halifax?

So what happens with dentists?  If I am half way thru my time in braces that they started, they aren't able to be posted for continuity of treatment?

Good question - I don't make the rules or pay the bills - they do...as the person would likely be getting sent to a civilian orthodontist, are you going to TD them out to see the patient when they leave?  Doubt it.  The stuff costs money, time and pain to the patient - missing a monthly or every other monthly adjustment will slow down the treatment and cause alot of grief for the soul who's getting it done.  Let's look at it another way - if a member had a medical condition that required specialist follow up on a monthly basis, with someone who knew them well and what the plan for the way ahead was, would you post them?  No, as they'd be on a restrictive medical category and likely at the JPSU.  You don't really get a dental category per se, other than deployable, deployable within 'x' number of days or total junk.  As orthodontics is rarely something that is a life threatening "need to be done thing" and therefore wouldn't in and of itself stop a deployment, they need to be able to guarantee the person isn't going anywhere, so they will get their treatment done successfully, on time and by the same person.  Not all dentists, BTW, are orthodontists, though many do some work if they can.  The CFDS is busy enough (or certainly was most bases I worked at when I was in) doing the routine stuff there is without having to get involved with orthodontic treamtment...hell, I had to have a root canal done and a new crown put on, something I thought was pretty routine for a GDDO - I was referred to a civilian dentist to get it done since the GDDO's were too busy to do anything other than my Phase 1/2 and tell me I needed a root canal - doubt much they'd have much time for braces. 


MM

 

[Eye In The Sky]

missing a monthly or every other monthly adjustment will slow down the treatment and cause alot of grief for the soul who's getting it done.  Let's look at it another way - if a member had a medical condition that required specialist follow up on a monthly basis, with someone who knew them well and what the plan for the way ahead was, would you post them?  No, as they'd be on a restrictive medical category and likely at the JPSU.

Tks for the post MM, and especially considering the text in yellow (I've never had and don't know anyone with braces) which I didn't even know was part of the deal, now it makes sense.  I had no idea it was that involved or that regular Dental Officers didn't do the procedure.

Learn something new every day around here.

 

[medicineman]

EITS - No worries - I had braces for 4 gruelling years, I just kinda assumed people knew that you had to get them tightened/adjusted fairly regularly to make the teeth go where you want them to.  I knew the odd GDDO that did do some orthodontic work, but there is always the issue of what happens if, like you said, they get posted or TD'd or something and nobody is around to take over.  I've actioned a couple of these to career managers, and even had a few colleagues have to go through the same thing, to get their mouths fixed properly.

MM

 

[Blackadder1916]

. . . . .  I'm going to continue to dig around to see if there is actually any policy on this matter or not.

One such policy that may be applicable is the CF Spectrum of Care.  However, don't approach it as if it is an "entitlement" document or a description of the "medical and dental insurance" members receive.

At first reading of your post, it seemed odd that you were told that you had to wait until you conpleted your degree.  But then, I had a quick glance at your profile and past posts and it became somewhat clearer.  As an ROTP OCdt at RMC (even one who CT'ed from the reserves) you likely fall into the same boat as all other ROTP types (and all other serving members for that matter).

http://www.forces.gc.ca/health-sante/pub/soc-gds/dsl-sdr-eng.asp

Spectrum of Care - Dental Care Limitations

Limitations on the type, level and frequency of services are applied by the senior dental authority based on selection criteria and guidelines developed by the Director Dental Services on behalf of the Director General Health Services. These limitations are designed to ensure that a comprehensive range of appropriate dental services are provided to entitled personnel based on professionally assessed need. For entitled CF members, major restorative, prosthodontic, orthodontics and surgical services are usually limited to members with:

1. three or more years of completed service; and
2. sufficient time remaining in their current terms of service to complete the procedures and the required follow-up.

Major orthodontic services are limited to the treatment of a functional disability related to malocclusion.

While I don't know how the highlighted policy is currently applied, in the past (when I was still serving) the three years of service was considered to mean time in the Regular Force and not during periods of subsidized university education at the beginning of one's service.  Judging from your experience it appears that things haven't changed much.

 

[Wookilar]

I ran into a similar dental problem in Kingston after I switched. I was not given the rank reason (as if being an OCdt didn't suck enough really) but it was explained (as above) due to the length of treatment and the fact that I would miss so much of it due to courses every summer.

However, my issues were not causing me any real amount of pain. I would think that exceptions would be made when dealing with pain levels.