Dr. Alena Smadych, a Calgary dentist, pleaded guilty to fraud this week, admitting to falsely billing insurance companies for over $126,000. This plea came on what was scheduled to be the first day of an eight-day trial. Smadych's clinic, All About Family Dental, was identified as the highest billing clinic in Canada for root canals.

The College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta confirmed that Smadych is no longer practicing. "The CDSA protects and serves the public interest," a spokesperson stated. "The public interest is protected as Dr. Smadych has ceased practicing."

Smadych was first charged with fraud in November 2023, with a second charge following in April 2025. At the time of the fraudulent activities, she owned the All About Family Dental Clinic on Elbow Drive, which she sold to another dentist in February.

The investigation into Smadych began after Sun Life identified "strange billing practices" in September 2021. According to the agreed statement of facts read by prosecutor Gregory Whiteside, Sun Life found that Smadych's clinic was the highest billing general dentistry clinic for root canals in Canada. The investigation revealed that the clinic had direct-billed the insurance company for repeat root canals and fillings, with significant spikes in claims occurring at the end of each calendar year.

On December 24, 2020, the clinic submitted $19,000 in claims for 17 patients, with Smadych as the sole billing dentist. An audit by Sun Life uncovered 51 fraudulent claims over a six-year period, resulting in a loss of $96,965.46. The audit indicated that Smadych provided falsified records, including X-rays, to cover up the fraudulent claims.

Following the discovery of the fraud, the Calgary Police Service became involved and alerted other insurance providers associated with the clinic. Blue Cross conducted its own audit, which revealed additional fraudulent claims totaling a loss of $29,307.68.

A psychological pre-sentence report has been ordered, and defense lawyer Alain Hepner stated that Smadych is working on paying restitution, "hopefully before the end of June." Justice Gord Wong will hear sentencing arguments after the completion of the report.