Gary Sawatzky | Chief Operating Officer , ARTA

We have all been affected by the inflationary pressures in the marketplace — whether it ’ s the higher food prices , gasoline prices , or travel to vacation destinations . This inflationary pressure is also resulting in higher medical costs for those benefits covered by the ARTA Benefit Plans — especially Dental Care .

The dental landscape across Canada varies significantly when it comes to dental fees . Each province publishes a dental fee guide that provides recommended fees for various dental procedures and services . Dental insurance companies and benefit plan sponsors often use that guide as a benchmark for determining reimbursement levels for dental care . Outside of Alberta , virtually all dentists charge according to the rates contained in their respective provincial fee guides . Currently in Alberta , approximately half of general dentists charge according to the current Alberta Dental Association ( ADA ) dental fee guide . This means that Alberta dentists charge varying prices for dental services , with the vast majority of the remainder charging higher rates than those published in the fee guide .

Earlier this year , the Alberta Dental Association — the organization responsible for publishing the Alberta Dental Fee Guides — announced they were increasing their fees by 6 % for 2023 . This announcement follows an increase of 4.6 % increase for 2022 , for a double-digit increase over two years . Even with the increases ARTA made to Dental Care rates effective November 1 , 2022 , the plan is still spending more on claims than it is bringing in via premiums .

The dental fee guide increase for 2023 and the fact that only about half of the dentists base their charges on the fees published in the ADA ’ s Alberta Dental Fee Guides means that while ARTA ’ s benefit plans will pick up most of the costs for your dental care work , you could be paying higher out-ofpocket expenses compared to the dental fee guide ’ s suggested rates .

albertadentalassociation . ca / alberta-dental-fee-guides

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