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COVID-19 Updates: Taking steps to return to normal.
The dental fee guide is a helpful tool for Albertans.
Dental costs in Alberta are the highest in Canada. The goal is to bring fees more in line with other provinces in the years ahead.
In 2018, the Alberta Dental Association and College introduced Alberta's first dental fee guide in 20 years. The guide's recommended fees for the most common dental procedures were 8.5% lower, when compared with 2016 rates.
Dental fee guides increase transparency, which encourages competition and reins in costs over time. In other provinces, the vast majority of dentists align their fees with their province's fee guide. The fee guide will be reviewed annually.
The fees in the dental guide are recommended, but are not mandatory. Dentists continue to set the fees they charge for services. Some will charge more than the fee guide, some will charge less.
Because dentists charge different prices, you may wish to shop around. To help you compare, the guide includes:
To avoid unexpected costs:
You can ask about the dentist's fees before any dental service is provided. You can contact more than one dentist to ask if they charge according to the fee guide.
As a dental consumer, you have the right to:
When choosing a dentist, consider the following:
Questions you may wish to ask your dentist:
Treating and preventing dental problems is an important part of your overall health.
Have a dentist treat problems with your gums and teeth as soon as possible so they don't become more serious.
Untreated dental issues are linked to a number of other health issues, including respiratory disease. Other health issues, such as diabetes, can put you at risk for gum disease.
You can also prevent dental problems by getting regular checkups from your dentist and practising daily oral hygiene.
Dental services are available for low-income Albertans through government-sponsored supplementary health benefit programs:
Low-cost dental care for Albertans who do not qualify for low-income programs may be available through the following organizations:
In 2016, a review of dental fees in Alberta found that fees are higher and rising faster than in other jurisdictions across Canada, all of which have a fee guide. Two reports were produced from this review:
For questions or concerns about dental fees or dental services, contact:
Alberta Dental Association and College
Toll free: 1-800-843-3848
Email: [email protected]
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