Understanding Lab Fees

Laboratory Fees Patient Fact Sheet Just as with any other commercial purchase, it is important that consumers of dental services understand how their invoice is calculated. As a consumer of dental services, it is in your best interest to be informed about all aspects of your oral health care, including fees charged by your dentist.

While most of your dental fees relate directly to the work performed by members of the dental office team, laboratory work is frequently performed by a third party – a dental technologist or dental lab – whose fees are independent of your dentist’s.

What is a laboratory fee?

A laboratory fee is the amount charged for making dental appliances, such as crowns, bridges, or even a plastic night guard, worn to keep you from grinding your teeth while sleeping. Appliances themselves are made only under the supervision of a dentist or registered dental technologist.

Who determines lab fees?

While a dentist may supervise the production of appliances, the laboratory fees charged for them are set largely by registered dental technologists, many of whom are represented by The Associate of Dental Technologists of Ontario (ADTO). This organization recently published a suggested fee guide for its members.

The ADTO’s suggested fees may be adopted by the laboratory used by your dentist. The suggested fees may differ from those that some dentists, patients and

insurance companies are accustomed to paying. As with any dental fee, some dental plans may not absorb the difference for affected laboratory procedures if the fee you are charged is higher than the one in the suggested fee guide. This means patients may be faced with increased out-of-pocket cost for the laboratory portion of the dental work. Your dentist has no control over these costs, which are the responsibility of the patient.

How are lab fees related to the services my dentist performs?

By Ontario law, dentists must separate their fees from commercial laboratory fees on any invoice or statement of account provided to a patient. Also, by law, your dentist is not allowed to “charge a laboratory fee for a dental appliance that is more than the commercial laboratory cost actually incurred.” *

What if I think lab fees are too high?

Laboratory fees are not under the control of your dentist. The ODA encourages dentists and their patients to regularly discuss all aspects of their ongoing oral health programme, including its costs, especially before any work is done.

Your dentist’s first consideration is achieving the highest level of oral health for you. However, if cost of treatment becomes a factor, an alternative treatment path should be discussed with your dentist.

*Professional Misconduct Regulations. The Dentistry Act, 1991.