Standards, Guidelines and Advisories
The Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario’s Standards of Practice, Guidelines, Practice Advisories and Best Practices articulate the legal, professional and ethical obligations that apply to dentists practising in Ontario. These documents inform Ontario dentists and the public of our expectations for the profession.
Dentists are obligated to maintain the standard of practice of the profession and must adhere to the expectations we set out in the documents below. A dentist who fails to comply with a RCDSO document and/or the generally accepted standard of practice of the profession may be acting in a manner that could result in allegations of professional misconduct.
Ontario dentists must, at minimum:
- Familiarize themselves with, and have a clear understanding of, Standards of Practice and other documents that are applicable to their practice
- Maintain their skills and knowledge through continuing education and the review of evidence-based literature
- Reach out to the Practice Advisory Service if they are unsure how to meet relevant requirements.
Standards Modernization
We are improving the way we develop and communicate expectations for Ontario dentists.
Beginning in 2023, we are making the following changes:
- RCDSO’s expectations and guidance for the profession will be streamlined into two document types: 1) Standards (these articulate mandatory expectations for practice) and 2) Resources (these include recommendations, clarification, or companion documents such as FAQs)
- Implementing process improvements for the review and development of Standards and Resources to ensure they are comprehensive, evidence-informed, transparent and inclusive. We will invite all interested parties to participate in Public Consultations for all new and revised Standards and Resources
- Standards and Resources will be presented in a simplified, direct, and plain language format.
- We will use the terms ‘must’ and ‘required’ to articulate our mandatory expectations. Ontario dentists are obligated to comply with these expectations
- Where we use the terms ‘advised’ or ‘recommended’, dentists can use reasonable discretion when applying these expectations to practice.
As we update existing documents, you will receive communications from the College and see them posted our website.
Standards of Practice
- Amalgam Waste Disposal
- Dental CT Scanners
- Diagnosis & Management of Temporomandibular Disorders
- Infection Prevention and Control in the Dental Office
- Performance of Intra-Oral Procedures that are Not Controlled Acts by Preventive Dental Assistants, Level II Dental Assistants and Registered Dental Hygienists
- Requesting Magnetic Resonance Imaging & Referring to Physician Specialists by Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
- Use of Sedation and General Anesthesia in Dental Practice
- Virtual Care
Guidelines
- Conflict of Interest
- Dental Recordkeeping
- Educational Requirements & Professional Responsibilities for Implant Dentistry
- Electronic Records Management
- Medical History Recordkeeping Guide
Practice Advisories
- Change of Practice Ownership
- Professional Use of Social Media
- Informed Consent Issues Including Communication with Minors and with Other Patients Who May Be Incapable of Providing Consent
- Maintaining a Professional Patient-Dentist Relationship
- Most Responsible Dentist
- Postgraduate Education: Responsibilities of the Faculties
- Practice Names
- Prevention of Sexual Abuse and Boundary Violations
- Professional Advertising
- Release and Transfer of Patient Records
- Technical Service Corporations
- Use of Complementary and Alternative Therapies in Dental Practice