Approximately six million Canadians avoid visiting the dentist every year because of cost. If you do not have insurance or recently lost your coverage and are looking for options to continue you or your family’s dental care, Edmonton has some great resources.

Children Dental Care

• The SHINE Dental Clinic is a student run organization established through the U of A. This organization provides dental care for youth at no cost. Our own Dr. Yeung volunteered at SHINE while he was in dental school.
• U of A Orthodontic Clinic is also a good lower cost option for kids who need braces and may not have coverage or limited orthodontic coverage under their parents insurance.
• NAIT’s Dental Assisting program provides teeth cleaning and fluoride application to kids and teens for a discounted price.

Adult Dental Care

• The Boyle McCauley Health Centre offers dental care to adults who may have difficulties accessing a dental office. They provide treatment for those suffering with mental illnesses, addictions, social barriers, and financial hardships.
• NAIT’s Denturist Technology program provides dentures for patients at a lower rate. All services are provided by the students, under the supervision of a registered practitioner.
• U of A School of Dentistry takes certain patients depending on the schools educational needs for treatment. They teach in their clinics, so it is important to understand that dental care is delivered in an educational setting with faculty supervision.

All these clinics work limited hours and have some requirements prior to becoming patients. But they are great options to be able to continue to get dental care when cost is a factor.

At Sherwood Dental we believe in making dental care as accessible as possible for our patients. We offer payment plans for those without insurance and direct billing for those who wish to not pay up-front. We also accept assistance programs like Non-Insured Heath Benefits, ADSC and IFHP Refugee program. Give us a call if you have any questions regarding fees and how we can help if you're going through a financial transition.

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If you lost your job recently, your dental health is probably not on the top of mind right now. But taking care of teeth is what we do best, and we are all about YOU and your best dental care.

Okay, now that we have got you thinking about proper dental care, what steps should you take in terms of your dental health and insurance after losing your job?

1. Come in for an exam and cleaning right away

Most insurance companies have been giving employees until the end of the month or 30 days for their insurance to remain active after losing their job. It is essential that you come in for an exam and cleaning right away. You'll want to make sure your teeth are in ship shape and find out if any work needs to be done before your insurance expires.

If fillings are needed, Sherwood Dental can usually fit in these kinds of appointments in within the month. If a crown is needed, a minimum of two weeks is necessary for our dental lab to fabricate the crown.

2. Look into the insurance options available to you if you lost your job recently

There are many companies out there that offer personal plans.

• The first and most common one is Alberta Blue Cross.
• There is also a company called Manulife which has health and dental plans that you can customize to your health needs.
• Sunlife is another company with personal plans.

Lastly if people do not want to purchase a personal insurance plan, Sherwood Dental offers payment plans that can be customized with our Insurance Coordinator Angela.

If you lost your job recently, we feel for you. That stinks, really. But we encourage you to get on top of dental services and insurance options available to you right away before your benefits expire. Healthy teeth and gums while you're out of work will provide a little less to worry about until you nail your next job. Schedule your checkup with Sherwood Dental today. Call (780) 464-4166 right away!

The post Lost Your Job Recently? This Will Affect Your Dental Health and Insurance appeared first on Sherwood Dental.