Costs, coverage and tooth pain, answered plainly.

The cost depends on what treatment you need and which dentist you see, because dentists set their own fees. The BC Dental Association publishes a Suggested Fee Guide each year, but it is only a guide. Our team follows that guide and lists common fees on our fees page so you can see what to expect before your visit.

No, dentists in BC set their own fees. The BC Dental Association publishes an annual Suggested Fee Guide, but dentists are not required to charge those amounts. Our practice follows the BC Dental Association guide and publishes common fees on our fees page.

The "80/20" pattern usually refers to how some private dental insurance plans pay a percentage of the cost—for example, 80% for basic care like fillings and 50% for major work like crowns. What your plan pays depends on your specific plan. The Canadian Dental Care Plan does not work this way; it uses co-payments based on adjusted family net income instead (no co-payment under $70,000, 40% from $70,000 to $79,999, and 60% from $80,000 to $89,999).

There is no official "2-year rule" for dentists in Canada or BC. The closest fact is that in British Columbia, Healthy Kids dental benefits and dental coverage for people on income or disability assistance both renew every two calendar years. What your plan covers and how often depends on your specific insurance or program.

In BC, children under 19 in families eligible for MSP supplementary benefits may qualify for Healthy Kids basic dental care if they are not on income or disability assistance. People on BC income or disability assistance can get basic dental coverage with limits. BC's Medical Services Plan covers dental or oral surgery only when it is medically required to be done in hospital, not routine care like fillings or cleanings.

Dental offices choose whether to accept CDCP patients, so it varies by practice. Our team accepts the Canadian Dental Care Plan and bills the plan directly, showing any co-payment in writing before treatment. CDCP covers diagnostic and preventive services, basic services like fillings and root canals, major services like crowns and dentures, and some oral surgery; co-payments depend on adjusted family net income (none under $70,000, 40% from $70,000 to $79,999, 60% from $80,000 to $89,999). Dental implants are not covered, and some services need preauthorization first.

Routine dental care in Canada is not covered by public health insurance, so there is usually a cost. Some BC residents may qualify for government programs: children under 19 in families eligible for MSP supplementary benefits may get Healthy Kids basic dental care, and people on BC income or disability assistance can get basic dental coverage with limits. Our team bills insurance and government plans directly where the plan allows, and we show any patient portion in writing before treatment.

If your adjusted family net income is under $90,000 and you meet the other requirements, you may qualify for the Canadian Dental Care Plan, which covers many services with lower or no co-payments for lower incomes. The Community Dental Access Centre in Vernon is a non-profit reduced-cost clinic, and the Kelowna Gospel Mission Community Dental Clinic offers sliding-scale care for people on low incomes. The BC Dental Association also keeps a list of reduced-cost dental clinics in the province.

A hospital emergency department treats dental pain mainly with pain relief and gives antibiotics when an infection has spread (for example with fever or spreading swelling), then refers you to a dentist within about a day. Treating the tooth itself, such as an extraction, is generally done by a dentist. For facial swelling, fever, trouble breathing or swallowing, go to the nearest emergency department or call 9-1-1.

Most dental offices in Vernon, including ours, see patients by appointment. If you have dental pain, call our office first and say it is pain, so the team can look for the right appointment for you; see our dental pain page. The Community Dental Access Centre in Vernon is a non-profit reduced-cost clinic you can contact as well.