The $180.00 Denture This excerpt from the book "Uppers and Downers" explains how Dentists made and broke their promise to provide low cost dentures to the residents of Ontario. U.S. visitors to this site wishing to give support to U.S. Denturists can contact this site: www.usdenturist.com.

I think the Government was at a stage where it would have liked to put an end to this waging conflict. If Dentistry could meet, or better the Denturist's price for dentures, then with a little political showboating they could nip Denturism in the bud and return to the status quo, with Dentistry ruling the roost.

We shall jump ahead to July 4, 1973, to a letter to Dr. Moran, President of the Ontario Dental Association, from Dr. Potter, Minister of Health. I think this letter somewhat confirms the "trade off theory" discussed earlier.

"As you are aware, a most important feature of Bill 246, an Act to provide for licensing and practice of Denture Therapists, was the indication that quality dentures would be available to the people of Ontario at $180.00 per set. I have personally indicated to you and members of your Board that this is a most serious commitment to the people of the Province insofar as Government is concerned. I am more than a little concerned therefore, by the number of comments and inquiries reaching me and other Government members apparently indicating that this policy has been accepted rather reluctantly by some members of your profession, and the service anticipated to be provided have not been available in an entirely satisfactory manner. The remaining portion of the Bill will be proclaimed on July 6, 1973. This, of course will place increased emphasis on the successful operation of the whole program. I sincerely hope that you and your associates will do everything possible to assure that the services in question will be readily available throughout the Province. The immediate placement of those persons qualifying as Denture Therapists under the legislation will be most important. I cannot stress too strongly my deep concern in this regard, because if the Dental Profession is unable to satisfy the need for dentures under this arrangement, we, as a Government will have no option but to reconsider the whole matter and make other arrangements which achieve this objective. I have appreciated very much the efforts that the officer of your association have made to achieve a suitable implementation of these policies. I do trust that you can influence your total membership in supporting to the fullest this important program. I am enclosing for your information a copy of the press release to be issued on Thursday, announcing the proclamation of the remaining sections of Bill 246."

It was now quite apparent, that Dr. Potter had extreme doubts about Dentistry's $180.00 denture commitment. Dentistry had done a snow job on him. He must have felt somewhat betrayed.

Dr. Potter's concerns were quickly conveyed to all the Dentists in Ontario. A memorandum was sent to all members of the Ontario Dental Association from Dr. R.L. Moran, President of the Association. I won't quote it in full, just the pertinent parts. The letter was dated July 13, 1973.

"As you know from reports and from the enclosed Dental action newsletter, the Government of Ontario has now proclaimed Bill 246 and the first Denture Therapists have joined the dental team.

When Health Minister Potter announced proclamation of the Bill, he wrote to me advising that he is "more than a little concerned by the number of comments and inquiries reaching him and other Government members apparently indicating that our low cost denture service has been accepted rather reluctantly by some members of our profession, and the services anticipated to be provided have not been available in an entirely satisfactory manner." Dr. Potter went on to state that if the Dental Profession is unable to satisfy the need for dentures under the low cost service, that it will reconsider the whole matter and make other arrangements which could achieve this objective. As President of the Association, I would encourage and expect that every Dentist participating in the low cost service will, in accordance with the terms of the legislation make the low cost service available to patients without any discouragement as to the quality of the denture, and without any unreasonable delay. I expect that if any such instances occur, the Ontario Dental Association is likely to be apprised of this fact and in turn, this information will be relayed to the Royal College of Dental Surgeons.

We are now in the final chapter of our endeavour to turn back attempts by unqualified persons to practice dentistry in Ontario. Political considerations have frequently overshadowed dental health consideration. The Dental Profession's low cost dental service meets both the political and dental aspects of the problem. The service is now successfully meeting the Government's criteria of quality service at a reasonable cost. The unity the membership has displayed during this recent crisis has impressed both your Governors and the members of the executive council. We believe this unity is unparalleled by any other profession in the Province, for this unity the membership is to be admired, it will serve us well in our future negotiations on behalf of the Ontario Dental Association."

"the unity the membership has displayed"

That observation was obviously made by a person who could not face reality. The reality was, there was very little "unity" amongst the practicing Dentists. Their ever pressing quest for the buck, did not compute with a $180.00 denture. This was very charitable, but bad business. Dr. Moran was not facing the fact that Dentistry had made a promise, and was not living up to that promise. On July 12, 1973, Dr. Moran wrote to Dr. Potter enclosing the letter we have just reviewed. He goes on to comment on the other "part of the deal", Dentistry's answer to the Denturist, the "Denture Therapist." So now we had the $180.00 denture and the Denture Therapist, the illegitimate twosome conceived under dubious circumstances by Dentistry and Dr. Potter. All in an attempt to destroy the legitimate heir to the "Denture Domain", the Denturist.

It becomes more obvious as one reads through the documentation, that the fate of Denturists, as an independent practitioner, lay in the hands of Dentistry. Dentistry's promise to Government to supply the general public with a $180.00 denture would be the death knoll for Denturists. Many references are made to the Government's willingness to initiate pressure upon Denturists if Dentistry stood by its commitment.

There's a very informative memorandum to Dr. R.S.Khazen, Director Health Promotion branch, from Dr. R.E. Feasby Senior Consultant Public Health Dentistry, to the attention of Mr. T. Grice office of the Ministry of Health, dated October 22, 1973.

"Dr. Ryan and I have sat in with the Minister during his discussions in August with the executive of the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario and the Ontario Dental Association concerning the administration of the Denture Therapy Act.

I understand the Ministry to say that enforcement of the act would follow demonstrations by the two Provincial Dental organizations that the low cost denture service was available across the Province.

Discussion also brought out the requirement for the RCDS to obtain information that persons had infringed the Ontario Dentistry Act, and that the Attorney General would be asked to assist in prosecutions of Denturists for illegal practice of Dentistry."

Believe it or not, Denturist clinics in Ontario were raided by the police. Read about it here.

Read more articles on Denturism in Ontario.