Frequently Asked Questions

Nobel Biocare Oral Health Centre (NBOHC)
2151 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC

The NBOHC is situated at University Boulevard and Wesbrook Mall. The main entrance is accessed off of Wesbrook Mall, near the corner. Please note that the parking lot below the building has limited space. When parking in another location, allow additional time to arrive at your appointment.

Pay Parking
Visit the UBC Parking site for up-to-date parking information around campus.

Public Transit
UBC is easily accessible by public transit. Visit the How to Get to UBC site to plan your trip.

Monday to Friday
8:00 am - 12:30 pm and 2:00 - 5:00 pm

Treatment hours may vary according to the program.

The clinic is open during the academic year from the end of August until the end of June, although our programs have staggered finish dates.

We are generally closed from the second week in December to the first working day after the New Year. We operate an urgent care clinic for UBC patients only during this time and the summer hiatus.

• Your oral health is our priority. We provide individualized care by students and licensed, experienced supervisors in a safe and non-judgmental environment.
• All supervisors are qualified dentists and oral specialists from the community who dedicate their time to teach students relevant and modern dental techniques and promoting the profession.
• You will experience a comprehensive and collaborative approach to your treatment. We will evaluate your concerns, and if needed, specialty services are available on-site with an easy referral process.
• You are contributing to developing compassionate, competent, professional dentists and promoting the evolution of the healthcare system. Your commitment to our program is greatly appreciated.
• Most services are offered at reduced fees, approximately 20 to 40% less than those in the BC Dental Association Fee Guide.

Request a screening appointment by filling out the Patient Contact Form available at the bottom of each service area. Visit the How to Become a Patient page for details. After we review your request, you may be asked to come for a screening appointment.

The screening appointment is a visual assessment of a person’s oral health needs. We do not select patients based on their income; selection is based strictly on needs and our ability to attend to those needs depending on the educational goals of the programs at UBC.

Assignment to a dental/dental hygiene student or graduate student to commence treatment could be immediate, or treatment may not begin for a while (up to several months). The waiting period depends on when you were screened, your oral health needs, and student availability. Screening appointments take place throughout each semester.

The clinic offers urgent care services to relieve the pain of non-registered patients. This clinic runs by appointment only.

The UBC Dentistry Patient Portal is available to existing patients and allows you to conveniently update records and forms, verify your personal information, review medical and dental history and check upcoming or past appointments.

Visit the Patient Portal FAQ's for assistance with getting started.

The dental students perform a full range of general dentistry, including basic preventative, restorative work and oral surgery (extractions, including wisdom teeth).

Dental hygiene students provide dental hygiene procedures, including custom-fit sports guards (mouth guards).

The graduate programs include endodontics (root canal therapy), pediatric dentistry (children), periodontics (treatment of gum disease and gum surgery), prosthodontics (crown, bridge, partial and full dentures) and orthodontics (teeth straightening).

Yes, children requiring more advanced care are seen by the pediatric dentistry program and accepted as patients in the dental program. For more information regarding becoming a patient, contact your local health unit to see if they participate in this program.

Qualified licensed dental/dental hygiene practitioners and faculty members strictly supervise all work performed by students. However, appointment times are longer than one would normally find at a private dental office.

The clinic operates at reduced fees, approximately 20 to 40% less than those in the BC Dental Association Fee Guide. It is important to note that there are UBC fee guides for both undergraduate programs (dental and dental hygiene) and graduate programs (specialty training). The appropriate fees will apply depending on whether a student dentist/dental hygienist or a graduate student performs the treatment.

Patients with dental insurance are responsible for paying their accounts to the clinic directly. They will later be reimbursed by their dental plan, except for those with Blue Cross Insurance coverage. Patients who qualify for government assistance should obtain the necessary authorization of eligibility before treatment begins. The clinic will collect from the government agency directly.

Payment is required when treatment is complete, and we do not offer any payment plans. In the case of major dental treatment that involves fabrication at a dental laboratory (crown, bridges, etc.), half of the total fee is required before the item goes to the lab (plus a previous outstanding balance), and the other half is required upon placement of the procedure.

Dental insurance claims fall into two general categories. For more information, visit the Dental Insurance section on the How to Become a Patient page.

Please complete all sections of the Release of Records PDF form and submit the signed copy to patientrecords@dentistry.ubc.ca for processing.

The UBC Dentistry Code of Ethics represents a set of principles of professional conduct, rules and responsibilities by which students must aspire to fulfill their duties to their patients, the public, the profession, faculty, staff and fellow students.

Inviting patients to support research by donating their extracted teeth for future studies is common practice.

The scientific rationale for collecting extracted teeth for research lies in their potential as a rich source of samples to simulate a real-life situation during dental treatment. This provides researchers with valuable opportunities to study various aspects of dental treatment.

All tooth donations are voluntary and anonymous. The donors’ privacy is protected, and samples cannot be traced back to the donor’s identity.

Anyone requiring dental hygiene (dental cleaning) services who is healthy enough, has time to attend multiple appointments, and fits our teaching needs can pay the reduced fee. There is no age restriction.

The screening appointment is $20 and requires payment when accepted. As a new client in the program, the comprehensive initial exam is $10 and the dental hygiene services (dental cleaning) are $42 ($52 total). Radiographs (X-rays), if needed, are charged at 40% less than the BCDA fee guide. Upon completion of your initial dental hygiene services, clients are placed on an individualized recare (recall) interval. The recare charge is $42.

Please note: These fees are current until June 2026.

Fees are required to support the operation of our dental clinic. Unlike hospitals, the clinic is not government-subsidized and is supported by both patient and student fees. As a service to the community and because we are not looking to make a profit, our fees are typically significantly lower than those charged outside UBC. All fees are charged and paid in full at the first appointment. If you have insurance coverage, please let us know. Reception can provide you with insurance details (including the Canadian Dental Care Plan).

You will need to attend weekly appointments until care is complete. If you are unable to make this commitment, you will not be able to participate in the program as a patient. Your assigned Dental Hygiene student will schedule the number of appointments required to complete your care (approximately four to six sessions).

YES. Our students count on your attendance to complete treatment in a timely manner. We recognize that your time is precious, and so is our students’ clinic time. They rely on patients arriving on time and being flexible to stay for the 2.5 hours. If you are unable to attend your scheduled appointments at the designated time, you must give 24 hours’ notice. Two missed appointments and/or late arrivals may result in dismissal from our program.

Everything our students do is carefully supervised and checked by Registered Dental Hygienists. In addition, students do not have the same experience as dental hygienists in private practice, so procedures tend to take longer. Our goal at UBC Dentistry is to ensure that you receive quality, comprehensive care and that our students receive a positive learning experience.

Fees include a comprehensive dental exam. If you require dental treatment, you can apply online to the UBC DMD program, the Graduate program, or seek care from a community dentist.

Please note: Only patients who meet the specific requirements for the individual UBC programs will be accepted for treatment. The wait time can be lengthy.

Please call the DHDP Clinic Coordinator at 604-827-1302 or Evangeline Jonasson, Patient Coordinator, at 604-822-5668.

DHDP Clinic Sessions 2025-26

• Monday 9:00 am – 11:30 pm (Term 2); 2:00-4:30 pm
• Tuesday 9:00 am – 11:30 pm (Term 2); 2:00-4:30 pm
• Thursday 2:00-4:30 pm
• Friday 9:00-11:30 am; 2:00-4:30 pm (Term 1)

Please note: Appointment offerings vary for student groups.