The Ontario Dental Association Fee Guide releases the new rates that members of their Association are encouraged to charge. The overall increase for 2012 is 2.54%.
Typically, there is an increase across the board for dental services performed by general practitioners. The increase is a weighted average, which is based on the frequency of procedures occurring in the average Ontario dental practice. Translation – 2.54% is not the increase applied to each procedure code. Rather, some services will increase by 4.4% and others will remain nearly unchanged at 0.23%.
The ODA determines the weighted average increase based on the frequency of procedures performed in the average general dental office. As noted earlier, the Ontario Dental Association Fee Guide provides suggested fees, however dentist are free to set their fees based on the circumstances within their own practice.
The following chart summarizes the fee increases by service category. The categories are as follows:
|
Details of Increase |
|
|
Service Category |
Percentage Cost Increase |
| Diagnostic |
0.86% |
| Preventive |
3.24% |
| Restorations – Amalgam |
4.40% |
| Restorations – Composite |
3.28% |
| Crowns |
0.23% |
| Endodontics |
1.59% |
| Periodontics |
1.06% |
| Prosthodontics – Fixed |
1.44% |
| Oral Surgery |
4.67% |
| Other |
1.76% |
For the past 18 years, Chris Pryce of Human Capital Benefits has been advising employers on all aspects of managing employee benefits programs and related products. If you have any questions, you can contact Chris at 416.924.8280 or by email at chrispryce@www.humancapitalbenefits.com