How should Alberta deal with rising dental fees?

Heather Yourex-West

CALGARY – The Alberta Wildrose Party says more competition, not regulations, are needed to combat rising dental fees in the province.

“It starts with allowing dentists a lot more opportunity to advertise their services and a lot more flexibility in how they want to reach out to consumers in Alberta,” Wildrose shadow Health Minister Drew Barnes said.

In a letter to Alberta Health Minister Sarah Hoffman released Wednesday, Barnes outlined a number of suggested reforms for Alberta’s dental system. Those reforms include:

• Encouraging dental offices to voluntarily post prices for common procedures online;
• Relaxing limitations on advertising currently in place in the dental profession;
• Ensure great public accountability by splitting the Alberta Dental Association and College into two distinct groups.