The Marwayne Dental Centre at Michener Centre closed permanently in April (Photo: Google Maps)

By Sheldon Spackman

frustration and concern

Family struggling since closure of dental clinic at Michener Centre

Aug 5, 2020 | 6:41 AM

The mother and of two adult handicapped sons in Red Deer is expressing anger over the closure of the dental clinic at Michener Centre and the devastating impact it’s having on her family.

Lily Breland, who lives with her sons Ryan, 46, and Daniel, 41, says they accessed the Marwayne Dental Centre for over 20 years.

“The clinic is unique as it was set up to provide dental services to disabled persons,” she explains. “Ryan and Daniel have Fragile X Syndrome with severe autism and behavioral concerns. Because of their intense anxiety issues, Marwayne was a perfect match.”

Unfortunately for Breland and her sons the clinic closed in April. But it wasn’t until she received a letter in late June that she found out about the closure.

“No reason was given for the closure and there is no re-course,” she laments. “100 clients from Michener Centre and 250 clients from the community were suddenly without this essential service. In this email, the ‘powers that be’ gave us a web page for Alberta dentists. There was no explanation, no consultation, no timelines, no transition time…no nothing.”

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“Dental services at Michener Centre began at a time when the Centre operated separately from the larger community,” Community and Social Services press secretary Diane Carter told rdnewsNOW in a statement last month. “Today, people with disabilities in Red Deer and across Alberta access many services that are readily available in their local communities, including physician, pharmacy, and dental services. Staff at Michener will assist anyone who needs help finding alternative dental providers.”

Breland, however, says she has had no luck finding a dentist in Red Deer or the surrounding area that offer IV sedation, which would be close to what her sons had at Marwayne Dental Centre.

She did find one clinic in Blackfalds that offered IV sedation and were willing to meet with her sons, but says the fit just wasn’t right.

“We arrived 10 minutes early for the appointment, but they sat in the waiting room for over half an hour getting more anxious by the minute. This clinic has three receptionists, five dentists and twice as many attendants milling about. Country and western music was twanging throughout the clinic and there was a TV above the chair. My guys cannot block things out like we can. They have no beta-blockers. It was totally overwhelming and exhausting for them but they managed to keep it together.”

That atmosphere was in sharp contrast to the Marwayne clinic Breland says had one dentist, one chair, one hygienist and quiet, classical music playing in the background.

After booking appointments for her sons at the Blackfalds clinic to give IV sedation a try, Breland says they called to inform her that AISH had refused to pay for it (about $600 per patient per visit).

“The clinic suggested we pay up front and then seek a review from AISH,” explains Breland. “We also had a chance to get to the U of A dental clinic in Edmonton. The date was set and I phoned AISH to see if they would pay for travel expenses to the city along with meals and hotel. That was declined as both guys have more than $5,000 in assets.”

(L-R) Daniel Breland and Ryan Breland. (Supplied)

Breland says the closure of the Marwayne Dental Centre has caused extreme hardship and heart ache for her and her family.

“I know my sons need regular check-ups and they are not going to get them. I’m caught between a rock and a hard place…AISH won’t cover costs without reviews, agencies won’t provide staff to go with them, so here we sit.”

Breland has emailed the province’s Disability Advocate, the Ombudsman’s office, her MLA, the NDP and everyone else she can think of, but to no avail.

“I can’t even find out who ultimately made the decision. I want Marwayne Dental Centre to open up again as soon as possible and an official apology would be a bonus.”

Breland acknowledges that dentists have the right to refuse service, but notes that unless her family and others in a similar situation can get to Edmonton or Calgary, they will be refused service in the Central Region.

“The whole of the central region is affected by this closure, not just Michener Centre clients,” concludes Breland. “People from as far away as Youngstown and Castor accessed the services offered at Marwayne. Why is the Central Region denied a service that the North and South Regions have?”