How to choose a dentist in Richmond, BC

From DTC Dental Treatment Center, a family dental clinic in Terra Nova, Richmond. We wrote this checklist for anyone choosing a dentist, including people who end up choosing another office.Skip to DTC's answers

The checklist: 12 things to check

• Close to home, work or school: most people come in for a checkup and cleaning about every six months, so a 10-minute trip beats a 30-minute one. Check the parking and the nearest bus stop too.
• Hours you can keep: if you work weekdays, look for evening or Saturday hours, and ask which days the office is closed.
• Taking new patients: ask how soon you can get a first checkup.
• Direct billing: an office that bills your insurance directly saves you paying the full fee and waiting for a refund.
• CDCP: if you have the Canadian Dental Care Plan, ask whether the office accepts it, bills it directly, and charges anything above the CDCP fee. You should know any extra cost before you agree to treatment.
• Clear fees: ask what the fees are based on. The BC Dental Association (BCDA) publishes a suggested fee guide, and each office decides whether to charge more. Ask for a written estimate before any treatment.
• Your language: describing pain in your own language matters, especially for older parents. Ask which languages the team speaks.
• Emergencies: ask whether they see same-day emergencies, for new patients too, and what to do when they're closed.
• Care under one roof: kids' checkups, root canals, wisdom teeth, implants, dentures and clear aligners in one office mean fewer referrals and one set of records.
• Comfort: if you're nervous, ask whether they explain each step first and whether sedation is available.
• Recent reviews: read the last few months of reviews, not only the star rating, and notice whether the office replies.
• Licence: every dentist in BC must be registered with the BC College of Oral Health Professionals. You can look a dentist up on the College's public registry.

Questions to ask when you call a dental office

• Are you taking new patients, and how soon is the first available checkup?
• Do you bill my insurance, or CDCP, directly?
• Will I get a written estimate before treatment?
• With CDCP, will I pay anything beyond my co-payment?
• Which languages does your team speak?
• Are you open evenings or Saturdays? Which days are you closed?
• If I have a toothache, can you see me the same day?
• Can you book my family on the same day?
• Where do I park, and is there a bus stop nearby?

If you have the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)

CDCP is the federal dental plan for residents who have no access to private dental insurance and an adjusted family net income under $90,000. Many Richmond offices accept it, but they don't all bill it the same way. The plan pays at its own fee list, and an office may bill you the difference if its fee is higher. The Government of Canada tells patients to ask about any extra costs before treatment.

• Ask: do you accept CDCP and bill it directly?
• Ask: will I pay anything beyond my co-payment?
• Bring: your CDCP member ID, a piece of ID, your coverage start date and your co-payment level.

At DTC we accept CDCP and bill it directly, and we cover the gap above the CDCP fee on eligible treatments. How CDCP works at DTC, step by step

If you have private dental insurance

Ask the office to bill your insurer directly, and ask for an estimate before larger treatment so you can see what your plan is expected to pay. Plans differ, for example in the percentage they pay and their yearly maximum, so check your own plan's rules.

If you don't have dental insurance

Ask what the fees are based on and whether there's a markup on the fee guide. Ask for a written estimate first. If you might qualify for CDCP, check the four federal requirements before you book: it can change what you pay.

Language and families in Richmond

In the 2021 Census, about half of Richmond residents could hold a conversation in a Chinese language, and about 1 in 10 could not hold a conversation in English or French. If you, or a parent you book for, are more comfortable in Mandarin, Cantonese, Farsi or another language, put that near the top of your list.

Booking for children and grandparents? Ask whether the office sees all ages and can book family members on the same day.

How to switch dentists

1. Book your first visit with the new office and tell them you're switching.
2. Ask your old office to send your recent x-rays and records to the new one, so your new dentist can see your history.
3. Bring your insurance or CDCP details and a list of any medications.
4. Mention any treatment that's in progress or any tooth that's bothering you.

How DTC answers this checklist

If another office fits your checklist better, that's a good outcome too. If DTC fits, call (604) 238-6666 or send a request below and we'll call you back.

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