Your Dental FAQs

We offer direct billing for dental procedures and the following payment options:

• Credit card
• Debit
• Cash
• Cheque
• eTransfer

A dental plan can help you cover some of the costs of your dental care. However, it is important to understand that your dental plan may not cover all of your treatment needs.

The treatment and services covered and the percentage of coverage can vary widely based on the plan. Ask your employer for a plan booklet. In particular, be aware of:

• Plan limits: Does your plan have a yearly maximum based on a fixed dollar limit (i.e. $1000 total coverage) or the frequency of services provided (i.e. units of scaling or recall exams)?
• Percentage of coverage: What percentage of each treatment is covered? For instance, many standard dental plans will cover 80% for preventive dental services (exams, X-rays, cleanings and fillings) and 50% for other procedures (crowns, bridges, veneers and dentures). It is rare for a plan to cover 100% of services.
• Fees covered for each procedure: Dental plans reimburse based on the plan fee schedule; this may differ from your dentist's fee. For instance, if your plan's schedule is $100 for a particular procedure (pays 80% of this fee) but your dentist charges $120 for the same procedure, your dental plan will still only cover 80% of $100, or $80. You will need to pay any remaining costs, in this case, $40.

You can reduce your hygiene appointment costs by practicing good dental health habits at home: brush and floss daily, limit sugary drinks and snacks, and don't smoke.  

It is also important to diagnose problems before they become more complex and costly. Dental disease is progressive and, unlike a cold, will not resolve itself. The cost of prevention is always far less than the cost of neglect.  

Talk to your dentist. Discuss your treatment options with your dentist and the associated costs before proceeding with treatment.  

Ask if your dental office follows the suggested fee guide. A dental office may bill some, or all services, based on the suggested fee guide. Check with your office and ask for an estimate before proceeding with treatment. 

The Alberta Dental Association (ADA) produces an annual suggested fee guide for dentists in Alberta. This document outlines over 1,400 dental codes and code descriptors related to specific elements of dental treatment. It also provides suggested fees that serve as a guide only; dentists are not required to follow the guide or any fee schedule.

Many dental plan carriers will base plan coverage on fees and codes within this guide. In some cases, the coverage is based on the previous year's guides. Note: Dental plan providers do not work with the ADA to develop the guide.

Lacombe Dental Clinic follows the current Alberta Fee Guide.

How often you go for dental exams depends on your oral health needs. The goal is to catch small problems early. We may suggest that you visit more or less often depending on how well you care for your teeth and gums, problems that need to be checked or treated, how fast tartar builds up on your teeth, and so on.

Ask yourself:

• Do I floss every day?
• Do I brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and follow my dentist's instructions on how to brush properly?
• Do I eat a well-balanced diet, including food from all food groups, and limit sweets and sticky foods?
• Do I smoke?
• Do I have a history of cavities or gum disease?
• Is my overall health good?

The answers to these questions are all factors that affect your oral health. They will help you and your dentist decide how often you need to visit for dental exams.

It's also worth noting that you should not determine your need for dental care on what your dental plan covers.

How often you need to have x-rays also depends on your oral health. A healthy adult who has not had cavities or other problems for a couple of years probably won't need x-rays at every appointment. If your dental situation is less stable and your dentist is monitoring your progress, you may require more frequent x-rays.

If you are not sure why a particular x-ray is being taken, just ask us. Remember that dental x-rays deliver very little radiation; they are a vital tool for your dentist to ensure that small problems don't develop into bigger ones.

It's important to get an early start on dental care, so your child will learn that visiting the dentist is a regular part of health care. The first step is to choose a dentist for your child.

It may be your own dentist or one who specializes in treating children (a pediatric dentist). Simply call Lacombe Dental Clinic to find out at what age we prefer to see young patients for the first time. The CDA encourages assessing infants within 6 months of the eruption of their first tooth or by one year of age.

It's important to make the first visit a positive experience for your child - one reason why it's best to visit before a problem develops. If you think there is a problem, however, bring your child to the dentist right away, no matter what age.

If you are a nervous dental patient, ask your spouse or another family member to take the child to the appointment. If your child senses you are nervous, they may feel nervous too. 

When you talk to your child about going to the dentist, explain what will happen without adding things like "it won't hurt" or "don't be scared."

Be sure to get an early start on regular dental care at home. Start cleaning your child's mouth with a soft, damp cloth before teeth come in and continue with a soft toothbrush once they have their first tooth. Limit the number of sugary treats you give your child, and focus on healthy food choices.