Limited Accommodation Capacity May Affect Routine Dental Travel to Yellowknife

Public Service Announcement

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) and the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority (NTHSSA) are advising residents that the availability of medical travel accommodation in Yellowknife will be significantly reduced during the months of September and October due to exceptionally high seasonal demand and limited lodging capacity.

Residents whose dental travel is arranged through NTHSSA-managed medical travel services, including those eligible under the Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB), Extended Health Benefits (EHB), and Métis Health Benefits programs, may be asked to defer and rebook routine, non-urgent dental appointments to later in the fall if they are unable to secure private or alternative accommodations. This temporary measure allows available accommodation capacity to be prioritized for residents travelling for medical care and urgent dental treatment.

We recognize that changes to planned appointments may be frustrating and  inconvenient to those effected. We appreciate residents’ patience and flexibility during this period.

Traveling dental clinics are expected to resume in several communities in the coming months, including:

Aklavik

Fort Good Hope

Fort McPherson

Fort Resolution

Fort Simpson

Norman Wells

Paulatuk

Sambaa K’e

Tsiigehtchic

Tuktoyaktuk

Ulukhaktok

This will help bring services closer to home and reduce the need for travel for routine dental care.

What Residents Should Do

Residents travelling for routine, non-urgent dental appointments:

  • Confirm accommodation arrangements before finalizing travel plans.
  • Consider private or alternative accommodations, including staying with family or friends, if available.
  • If accommodations cannot be secured, be prepared to reschedule your appointment for a later date.

Residents travelling for urgent dental treatment or medical care:

  • Continue to work with your medical travel or benefits administrator to plan travel and accommodation arrangements.

Residents in the Beaufort-Delta Region:

  • Confirm coverage with NIHB or your private insurance provider. Eligible residents may be able to book dental appointments in Whitehorse.

For media requests, please contact:
Andrew Wind
Manager, Communications         
Department of Health and Social Services
Government of the Northwest Territories
HSSmedia@gov.nt.ca