FAQs

Absolutely! We welcome new patients seven days a week, with flexible hours to suit your busy schedule. Booking is easy – you can use our online booking system for a quick appointment or give us a call at 778-484-2256 (CALM).  

The first step to becoming a new patient at Care Dental is scheduling a New Patient Exam + Cleaning. This comprehensive examination also includes a 3D Oral Health Scan and a bite map.  

If you’re looking for a quick cleaning or a touch-up, you can also book a deep clean appointment.  

Care Dental provides emergency Care to all members of the community, whether a patient of record or not.     

Absolutely. Care Dental works directly with most insurance companies, ensuring you only pay your portion at the time of the appointment. Our Care team reviews estimates beforehand to avoid billing surprises. Keep in mind that it’s the patient’s responsibility to understand their insurance coverage and limits.   To use our direct billing option, we require a credit card on file to cover any residual balances or overages.  

Care Dental accepts cash, debit, MasterCard, Visa, as well as offering payment plans and financing through LendCare. Payment is due at the time of service. For pre-payments, residual balances, or deposits, we also accept e-transfers to [email protected]. 

Yes! Care Dental has partnered with LendCare to offer financing options from 0% on approved credit. Applying is quick, requires basic information, and won’t affect your credit rating.  

Rebooking with adequate notice is never a problem. We require 2 business days’ notice to reschedule or cancel an existing dental booking and 3 business days for bookings of 2 hours or longer. Fees may apply for short notice cancellations, and cancellation or rebooking requests must be made by phone during business hours. 

No, Care Dental does not charge more than other dental practices. Although dentists in British Columbia are able to set their own fees, Care Dental adheres to the recommended fees outlined in the Annual Dental Fee guide published by the British Columbia Dental Association.  This means that although we feel that you get more, we don’t think that you should have to pay more for it. 

We understand dental anxiety, and Care Dental strives to change perceptions. From a friendly welcome to a calming atmosphere, cozy blankets, and Netflix during treatment, we focus on making your visit comfortable. Sedation options are also available for additional support.  

Absolutely! Care Dental is a family dental practice, and we warmly welcome children. From fun slippers and iPads with educational games to Netflix in the dental chair, we aim to give your children the best experience. 

We recommend scheduling your child’s first dental appointment before the age of one or when their first tooth becomes visible. 

Yes, Care Dental accepts patients with Ministry coverage, although direct billing to the Ministry is not available. Patients are responsible for paying for all dental services at the time of treatment, and Care Dental provides claim forms for easy submission. 

Estimates of what your insurance will likely are provided at check-out by our team, but unforeseen balances may occur due to the complexity of insurance plans. Care Dental works to process claims electronically, but variations between insurance companies and plans can lead to discrepancies. Patients are informed of any residual balances, and payment plan options are available.  It’s important to remember that your insurance plan is your insurance plan, and that although we provide experience and guidance that there are many things that your insurance company will not share with us that could impact our estimates.   We get it right most of the time and strive to get it right all of the time, but sometimes, especially if its your first couple of visits, we don’t have the full picture.   At all times, full payment is the responsibility of the patient and although we direct bill, we do not assume any responsibility for what your insurance company will remit to us on your behalf.  

Cleaning frequency is assessed at your first appointment, with six-month intervals being the average. Recommendations may change based on individual factors like periodontal health. 

Brush softly at a 45-degree angle, covering the front and back of your teeth and paying attention to the gum line. Brush at least twice a day, and consider brushing after meals.  

Regular checkups, cleanings, and mouthwash contribute to a healthy smile. Proper cleaning protects teeth from decay, and swift action to address decay or gum disease is recommended.  

YES – Care Dental accepts patients and offers direct billing to the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP).

How can I book an appointment?

You can book your appointment online 24/7 or by calling us at 778-484-2256 (CALM).

How does the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) help?

The CDCP helps alleviate financial barriers to accessing oral health care for eligible Canadian residents. For details on coverage and eligibility, please visit Canada.ca

What do I need to know before my CDCP visit to Care Dental?

• Currently, Care Dental only accepts CDCP visits at our Care Dental Pandosy Village Location. We offer extended hours, including weekends, and ample free parking.
• All patients must provide a credit card or valid Visa Debit number in order to confirm their booking. Please review our short-notice cancellation or missed booking policy
• In order to bill to the CDCP, bring a copy of your valid CDCP benefits card and government-issued photo-identification to your visit. We will verify your eligibility and identification before providing care.
• We will provide you with a written disclosure of the total price of your visit before delivering dental services. Any co-pay as well as any balance billing will be collected before dental services are provided.

What is a “co-pay”?

A co-pay (or co-payment) is the amount due from you that is not reimbursed by the insurance company. For example, if a dental service costs $100 and is covered at 50%, we would collect $50 from the CDCP and $50 from you. The $50 that you pay is the “co-pay”.

What is “balance billing”?

Most dentists in British Columbia follow the fee guide set by the BC Dental Association. Care Dental adheres to this fee guide to determine prices for dental services. The CDCP reimburses up to a maximum determined by the CDCP fee matrix, which could be either the same as or less than the BCDA fee guide for that same service. If the CDCP fee matrix maximum is less than the BCDA fee guide, we will balance-bill you for the difference in advance of providing the service. For example:

• BCDA fee guide for a hypothetical dental service is $100.
• CDCP fee matrix for the same dental service is $90, and you are covered at 70%.
• Your Payment breakdown in this example:
  • CDCP pays $90 * 70% = $63
  • Your co-pay due before service: $90 – $63 = $27
  • Your Balance bill due before service: $100 – $90 = $10
  • Total: CDCP pays $63, and you pay $37 ($27 co-pay + $10 balance bill).

Absolutely! Care Dental offers a collaborative one-stop approach, allowing patients to switch between locations for convenience.   

Care Dental provides emergency care seven days a week, making it a primary referral source for Kelowna, Penticton, and Kamloops General Hospitals. We’re here for the community when others can’t be.  

Feel free to contact us via email at [email protected] or by telephone at (778) 484-2256. We appreciate every question and are here to provide answers.