Risk Management Advisories

Dental Injuries Children In Need of Treatment

very year, schools report a high number of student injuries resulting in damage to teeth. When this injury occurs on school premises or at school activities, the parents often look to the Board for compensation of the dental bill, especially if the parent did not purchase Student Accident Insurance or do not have dental insurance through their employment. In most cases, there is no Liability on the part of the school, so OSBIE will not compensate the parents for these expenses.

There have been a considerable number of claims generated simply because the parents did not take the Student Accident Insurance and do not have any dental coverage and cannot afford the dental repairs to their child's teeth. It has come to our attention that there is a program available through the Ontario Ministry of Health to assist such individuals.

You are probably familiar with the program called "Children in Need of Treatment" (CINOT) which enables Health Unit staff to check the student's teeth and provides care for those in need who cannot afford such treatment.

This program will also pay for dental treatment if an eligible child has an injury and suffers dental pain, bleeding or injury. The program will not cover repairs for cosmetic reasons only. It also will not cover the future costs of crowns or caps. The program is only for students up to and including Grade 8.

The following criteria must be met in order for a student's family to qualify:

1. They have no dental coverage either through a dental insurance plan or Student Accident Insurance
2. The family is not eligible for dental care under a social assistance program
3. The cost of dental work would create a financial hardship for the parents.

The Ministry does not require that parents undergo any type of "Means Test". The parents simply indicate to their dentist that they require this assistance and the dentist can then get the necessary forms from the local Health Unit. The Ministry will reimburse the dentist, but not the parents, It is important that parents know that this program exists perhaps by means of a form letter sent home with every student who suffers injury to his/her teeth at school.

Payment of these dental bills through CINOT would eliminate a number of claims against the Boards under the Liability Policy and reduced claims means reduced costs to the School Boards. We suggest that schools promote the purchase of Student Accident Insurance, which is a low-cost program with good accidental dental benefits.