Requesting Reconciliation of Fee Accounts
Before initiating a formal procedure, we suggest contacting your dentist directly to request clarification on the fees charged.
If the disagreement persists and you believe the fees are unfair, unreasonable, or disproportionate to the services provided, you may submit a request for fee reconciliation with the Syndic’s Office, in accordance with the Règlement sur la procédure de conciliation et d’arbitrage des comptes de l’Ordre des dentistes du Québec.
A request for conciliation regarding an account or part of an account for professional services that has not been paid may still be submitted to the syndic after the 60-day deadline, provided it is submitted before the client is served with a legal claim for the recovery of that account.
If a dentist and a client have agreed on a treatment plan spread over multiple sessions and payable in several instalments or invoices, the 60-day period begins from the date of the most recent invoice or instalment due. The conciliation request may cover all invoices issued or payments due within the year preceding the request.
If a decision by the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec or another insurer fully or partially denies reimbursement of an invoice more than 60 days but less than one year after it was received by the client, the conciliation request must be submitted to the syndic within 30 days following the date of that decision.
Requesting Arbitration (if reconciliation fails)
If reconciliation does not lead to an agreement, you may request arbitration of the fee within 30 days of receiving the Syndic’s report.
Filing a Compensation Claim for Malpractice
To seek compensation for harm caused by a dentist, you should first attempt to resolve the issue directly with the dentist. If no satisfactory agreement is reached, you will have to turn to the civil courts to initiate a professional liability action.
We recommend consulting a lawyer for appropriate legal advice.