Calgary dentist pleads guilty to fraud for billing $126K in phoney insurance claims

A Calgary dentist whose business was found to be the highest billing clinic in Canada for root canals pleaded guilty to fraud this week on what was to be the first day of an eight-day trial.

Dr. Alena Smadych admitted to defrauding both Sun Life and Blue Cross insurance companies out of more than $125,000.

The College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta confirmed Smadych is no longer working. 

"The CDSA protects and serves the public interest," reads a statement provided to CBC News. "The public interest is protected as Dr. Smadych has ceased practising."

'Strange billing practices'

The dentist was first charged with fraud in November 2023. A second charge was laid in April 2025.

At the time of the offences, Smadych was the owner of the All About Family Dental Clinic on Elbow Drive. She sold it to another dentist in February.

The investigation began after Sun Life identified "strange billing practices" back in September 2021, according to the agreed statement of facts (ASF) read aloud during the plea by prosecutor Gregory Whiteside. 

Sun Life determined Smadych's office was the highest billing general dentistry clinic for root canals in Canada. 

The investigation also found the clinic direct-billed the insurance company for repeat root canal and fillings.

Large spikes in claims showed up in the clinic's billings at the end of each calendar year. On Dec. 24, 2020, the clinic had $19,000 in claims for 17 patients, with Smadych as the sole billing dentist. 

Falsified records

Sun Life's audit of Smadych's claims uncovered 51 fraudulent claims over a six-year period totalling a loss of $96,965.46.

"Smadych provided Sunlife falsified records related to the majority of the claims, including X-rays, in order to attempt to cover up the fraudulent claims," according to the ASF. 

After the Sun Life fraud was discovered, the Calgary Police Service got involved and alerted other insurance providers working with the All About Family Dental Clinic.

Blue Cross investigators launched their own audit and found fraudulent claims totalling a $29,307.68 loss. 

A psychological pre-sentence report was ordered.

Defence lawyer Alain Hepner said his client is working on paying restitution, "hopefully before the end of June."

Justice Gord Wong will hear sentencing arguments after that report is completed.