Dental Insurance
Our Calgary and Cochrane dentists now offer direct billing of insurance plans to simplify the treatment process for you and your family. Are you in search of a new dental clinic that can efficiently coordinate your dental insurance benefits with your required dental treatment?
Understanding Dental Insurance Benefits
Dental Insurance Plans
A dental insurance plan serves as a means to assist in covering the costs of dental treatments. In numerous instances, employers offer health and dental benefits to encourage overall well-being. However, it should not be the sole determinant in making health-related decisions. Being informed about the coverage provided by your dental insurance plan empowers you to maximize the available benefits, thereby promoting the health and well-being of your teeth and mouth.
Patient Education
The primary aim in creating a treatment plan is to prioritize your needs. We provide you with various options and educate you about these choices. Initially, we do not base our decisions on what is covered by insurance benefits. After addressing your questions and concerns, we proceed to develop a treatment plan aligned with your preferences. Following that, we engage in a discussion about the treatment's coverage with your dental insurance.
Treatment Plans
It is crucial to distinguish between a treatment plan and your dental insurance plan. Unlike a dental insurance plan, your treatment plan is a personalized approach to address your specific dental health needs. It functions as your roadmap for enhancing oral health and should not be limited by what your dental insurance plan covers.
The Alberta Dental Fee Guide
The Alberta Dental Fee Guide is a fee schedule established by the College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta and the Alberta Government. While most dental insurance providers adhere to this guide, some plans may follow a lower fee schedule. We will assist you in asking the appropriate questions when dealing with your dental insurance provider.
Read more: Alberta Dental Fee Guide →
Important Dental Insurance Questions
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Plan Amount
This is the maximum dollar amount that the insurance provider will pay within the coverage period, typically a year, also referred to as the Annual Maximum Dollar Limit.
It commonly falls in the range of $1,000 to $3,000 per year, with the possibility of separate limits for teeth alignment (orthodontic treatment) and major procedures (crowns, bridges, etc.).
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Rollover Date
This is the date when the dental plan benefit amount is typically renewed, usually on December 31st, although it may vary among different insurance providers.
This, along with the benefit amount, assists us in crafting a treatment plan to optimize the use of your dental benefits. We can also assist you in planning your treatment around this date to ensure you receive the necessary care.
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Plan Fee Guide
Although the majority of dental insurance benefit providers align with the latest Alberta Dental Fee Guide, it is beneficial to verify their adherence to it.
Some insurance benefit providers may adhere to a different fee guide, making it crucial to identify such variations early in the process.
Patient Focused Dental Treatment
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Dental Check-up
Our dentists will examine your mouth and teeth using dental x-rays and by inspecting the surfaces of teeth and soft tissues in the mouth. We will make notes of any concerns to discuss our findings.
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Explanation
After identifying and educating you about any issues, we provide treatment options and their associated costs. This is an ideal opportunity to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of the treatment.
We believe it's crucial to provide you with the information necessary to make an informed decision about your health
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Treatment Plan
Once you've chosen the treatment that suits you best, we will develop and code a treatment plan for the care you desire. We can then submit a
Pre-Determination of Benefits request to your dental insurance provider. In many cases, an electronic query with your dental insurance plan can provide details within minutes.
Understanding Dental Treatment
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Treatment Estimates
You always have a right to know the cost of treatment before consent to proceed. We can always provide an Treatment Estimate so you know the cost of treatment before proceeding.
We welcome second opinions or ask questions about treatment estimates. We follow the Alberta Dental Fee Guide for all dental treatments.
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Procedure Codes
Treatment Estimate will also list the treatment codes that are used to refer to fees in The Alberta Dental Fee Guide. This schedule of codes is use to describe dental services by all dental clinics in Alberta.
For reference, review the table below for treatment codes and a comparison of how our our costs against the Alberta Dental Fee Guide. Some offices don’t follow this fee guide for major treatments like Crowns, Bridges, Dentures and Dental Implants.
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Pre-Determination
A Pre-Determination (of Benefits) is either an electronic or paper request to your dental insurance to verify treatment eligibility and benefit amounts. This process varies from one insurance to the next.
Some providers will provide immediate electronic results. Sometimes, it will either be mailed to the clinic or you. More commonly now, the response from your insurance may be found in the online account of your dental insurance.
Alberta Blue Cross Login
Green Shield Canada Login
Sunlife Login
Canada Life Login
Comparison of Our Fees against Alberta Dental Fee Guide
| Code | Treatment Description | 2023 Alberta Dental Fees | 2023 Harvest Dental Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01103 | New Patient Examination | $116.66 | $116.66 |
| 02144 | 4 Bitewing X-Rays (Check for Cavities) | $102.80 | $102.80 |
| 11113 | 3 Units of Scaling (Cleaning) | $231.63 | $231.63 |
| 11101 | 1 Unit of Polishing | $68.79 | $68.79 |
| 12113 | Fluoride Treatment (Varnish) | $33.33 | $33.33 |
| 23112 | Front Tooth White Filling (2 Surfaces) | $187.84 | $187.84 |
| 23322 | Molar Tooth White Filling (2 Surfaces) | $242.45 | $242.45 |
| 33121 | Root Canal Treatment 2 Canals; non-difficult) | $1,108.48 | $1,108.48 |
| 71101 | Tooth Removal/Extraction (uncomplicated) | $154.42 | $154.42 |
| 71201 | Tooth Removal/Extraction (complicated) | $278.49 | $278.49 |
Dental Treatments
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Invisalign® Aligners
Align teeth with clear aligners that move teeth without metal braces. Treatments from $149 per month. Learn more: What is Invisalign®?
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Emergency Care
Toothaches, Chipped Teeth and Jaw Pain. We have seen them all and welcome new patients. Learn more: Emergency Dental Care >
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Teeth Whitening
In-Office (90 min), Custom Take Home Kits, Dental Cleanings and Porcelain Veneers to improve teeth colour. Learn more: How to Whiten Your Teeth
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Replace Teeth
Replace teeth with Dental Implants, Bridges or Partial Dentures. See how we can restore your smile. Learn more: What are Dental Implants?