Do I Need a Referral to See a Denturist in BC?

This article is general information. Your own care plan depends on an assessment of your mouth.

You do not need a referral to see a denturist in British Columbia. You can pick up the phone and book an appointment yourself, the same way you would with a dentist or a family doctor.

Plenty of people in Vernon and Kelowna put off getting new dentures for years because they think they need a dentist to send them first, or they no longer have a regular dentist. Here is what a denturist actually does, the few times another professional is part of the picture, and the myths that keep people from booking. We are the team at Kasper Denture Clinic, and we hear these questions every week.

Denturist or dentist: who does what?

A denturist is a registered oral health professional whose whole practice is dentures. In BC, denturists are regulated by the BC College of Oral Health Professionals, the same college that oversees dentists and dental hygienists.

That focus covers the full life of a denture:

• assessing your gums and jaw for a denture
• scanning or taking impressions, then designing your teeth
• making the denture in a dental lab
• fitting it and adjusting your bite
• relining, rebasing and repairing it over the years

A dentist looks after natural teeth, fillings, gum disease and extractions. Oral surgeons handle more complex extractions and place dental implants.

When your dentist or oral surgeon gets involved

There are a handful of situations where another professional is part of your care. When that happens, we coordinate with them so you are not stuck in the middle.

1. Teeth need to come out. A dentist or surgeon does the extractions, and we time your immediate dentures so they are ready the same day.
2. You want implants. The implants are placed by a dentist or oral surgeon, then we make the implant dentures that clip onto them. If you are still deciding, our comparison of snap-in implant dentures and All-on-X walks through the options.
3. You are getting a partial. A partial clips onto your natural teeth, so we may ask that those teeth were checked recently and are healthy enough to hold it.
4. We spot a health concern. If something in your mouth needs a dentist, we tell you and point you to one.

Why booking directly makes sense

Skipping the referral step is not just allowed, it usually makes the whole process smoother. Since you do not need a referral to see a denturist, you deal directly with the person who designs, makes and fits your dentures.

• Less waiting. There is no separate appointment to get sent over, so you can often be seen within days.
• One point of contact. The same denturist handles your assessment, your fitting and every adjustment after.
• Clearer costs. You get the estimate straight from the clinic that makes the denture, with no middle step.
• Coverage still applies. Insurance and CDCP pay for denture services whether or not a dentist sent you.

Four myths that stop people from booking

Myth: I need my dentist’s permission. Fact: you can book with a denturist directly at any time.

Myth: denturists only fix broken dentures. Fact: we make new full dentures, partials and implant dentures from start to finish.

Myth: my insurance will not pay for a denturist. Fact: most dental plans and the Canadian Dental Care Plan pay for denture services from a denturist. Our guide to CDCP coverage for dentures explains who qualifies.

Myth: no teeth means no checkups. Fact: your gums and jawbone keep changing shape, so dentures need regular checks and relines to keep fitting comfortably.

What your first appointment looks like

Your first visit is a free consultation with Jason Kasper, a registered denturist with 24 years of experience. Bring your current dentures, even if they are broken or sitting in a drawer, along with your insurance details or CDCP card and a list of any medications. We ask what is bothering you, look at your gums, any remaining teeth and how your current dentures fit, and walk you through your options.

Before you leave, you have a clear plan with the steps, the timeline and the cost, and we have checked what your insurance or CDCP will pay. If extractions or implants are part of it, we contact your dentist or surgeon and plan around their appointment.

How long it takes to get new dentures

Most patients have their new dentures in about 3 visits. Because we design dentures digitally and make them in our own lab in Vernon, there is no waiting weeks for an outside lab, and repairs and relines are handled in-house too. If teeth need to come out first, the timeline depends on your extraction date, and we work around it so you are never left without teeth.

Book your free consultation, no referral needed

Call our Vernon denture clinic, Kelowna denture clinic or Lake Country clinic and tell us what is going on. You can also send us a message and our team will find a time that works for you.

Written by the team at Kasper Denture Clinic, a family run denture clinic serving Vernon, Kelowna and Lake Country since 1974.