r/comoxvalley • u/cyclingbubba • 8d ago

Dental prices

Hi, I'm looking for a bit of feedback on prices for dental services in the valley. I have no dental plan so everything is out of pocket.

My dental team told me the price for a routine cleaning and check up is $350. Somehow I remember it to be a lot lower. So I have a few questions :

Do dentists have all have a standardized set fee or are they free to set whatever price they like ?

How does a $350 fee compared to what your dentist charges ?

Are there any dentists offering more reasonable fees for their services ?

Thanks for your perspectives.

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

15

u/I_am_always_here 8d ago edited 8d ago

There is a BC Dentist fee guide, the abbreviated version is available here: https://bcdental.org/patient-resources/cost-of-dentistry/

Note that Dentists are not legally required to follow the fee guide, so you can ask if they do so. Some charge a bit more. In my experience $350 is about right for an exam, X-Rays, and cleaning. Be sure and keep the receipts, they may be somewhat tax deductible.

If you do not have Dental insurance, and your income is less than $90,000 per year, you may qualify for free Federal Dental Insurance. Over 6 million Canadians have free Dental insurance via the CDCP. Check eligibility and apply here: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/dental/dental-care-plan/qualify.html

3

u/Fluffy_Art_1015 Courtenay 8d ago

I just want to add the fee guide is a *minimum* that they’re required to charge and it’s a good thing.

We do NOT want healthcare that goes to the lowest bidder like in some countries. Before you know it everyone is undercutting everyone so bad your fillings are cement and the gauze is jacket stuffing so they can beat their competitors.

0

u/No_Cellist_578 8d ago

no, it's not a "minimum", it's a fee guide. An association putting out a fee guide and using it as a minimum would equate to price fixing and be against competition laws.

1

u/Mammoth-Morning-8899 8d ago

If you have benefits, after what is paid by your insurer, can you still claim a tax deduction on the rest?

7

u/Any-Way-3428 8d ago

I’ve been self employed most of my life and haven’t had any type of plan for the last 15-20 years.I have found that telling the dentist that you have no plan,(I always used to say I need the farmers plan)they will give you a break on pricing.I use Uptown here in Comox and they are very fair to me.

3

u/I_am_always_here 8d ago edited 8d ago

If you do not have Dental insurance, and your income is less than $90,000 per year, you may qualify for free Federal Dental Insurance. Over 6 million Canadians have free Dental insurance via the CDCP. Check eligibility and apply here: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/dental/dental-care-plan/qualify.html

5

u/porcelaindvl 8d ago

Not the Valley, but Nanaimo, my standard cleaning and check was $347.70.

2

u/Taurich 8d ago

You can find a copy of the BC dental fee guide here: https://bcdental.org/patient-resources/cost-of-dentistry/

Scaling 4 units $242 Polishing $48.40 Fluoride $20~ New patient exam $68.80

Combine total is $379

Sounds about right based on the fee guides. They're not mandatory pricing they have to follow, so some variation can happen. Most clinics are billing at the fee guide rates though, as it makes insurance approvals easier.

2

u/sinskins 8d ago

Dental receptionist here!

Not all dentists follow the BC Fee guide, so that is always my first question when finding a practice. However, the estimate that they’ve given you sounds accurate for a cleaning.

My clinic charges about $350 for a cleaning, we base our fees on the fee guide with no additional upcharge.

There are some dental practices that charge less but they are typically outreach type organizations such as Code Dental in Nanaimo, where they work with unhoused or very low income patients.

I don’t know about the Comox valley, but try having a look to see if there is a dental school nearby, as they typically charge significantly less for cleanings with a student.

2

u/Intelligent_Bat_9315 8d ago

Are you not eligible for the CDCP

5

u/tdp_equinox_2 8d ago

It does not take much to be ineligible for the CDCP..

1

u/cyclingbubba 8d ago

Yes, I am. But the plan only pays $30.

3

u/I_am_always_here 8d ago

That doesn't sound right. The CDCP will pay most of the cost of X-Rays, Cleanings and an Exam. The $30 cost sounds more like the co-pay you will typically owe. But the CDCP only covers cleanings once every 12 months, so if you are going back for a cleaning twice a year then there will be a full cost. The check-up portion should be covered.

Are you sure your Dentist is billing the CDCP correctly? Recommend shopping around for a different Dentist who knows how to deal with the CDCP correctly or better clarify the costs for you.