Message from the President & Registrar - October 2023
This issue finds us reflecting back on a busy summer season for the College and looking forward to an active fall.
Message from the President & Registrar, August 2023
Throughout the summer months, the RCDSO has been focused on improving resources for the profession. One of the objectives of our strategic plan is anticipating and responding proactively to emerging issues and trends that may impact the public interest. The work outlined below helps to achieve that.
Rescinding the College's COVID-19 guidance: further information and resources
COVID-19 guidance no longer in effect
Council highlights for June 15, 2023
The 437th Council meeting of the RCDSO was a virtual meeting held via Zoom on Thursday, June 15th, 2023. The meeting was also livestreamed; a video recording of the Council session will be available on the College’s YouTube channel.
COVID guidance review
Work is currently underway to revisit RCDSO’s guidance to the profession. This process is supported by clinical staff and involves collaboration with other oral health colleges.
Message from the President & Registrar
RCDSO Consultation - Draft Standard of Practice on Virtual Care
As part of our consultation process, we are inviting all interested parties, including Ontario dentists and the public, to provide feedback on the new draft Standard.
Updates to COVID-19 guidance
COVID-19: Revised Guidance
COVID-19 Update: Revised Guidance
Council highlights for June 16, 2022
COVID-19 Update - Patient and Staff Masking
COVID-19 Update: Masking Requirements
COVID-19 Update June 6 2022
Ontario extends masking requirements in health-care settings
RCDSO News - March 2022
Council highlights for March 10, 2022
COVID-19 Update - Directives to be withdrawn
COVID-19 Update: Directive #2 Revoked
The Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) has revoked Directive #2. This change means that dentists may resume non-urgent and non-emergent surgeries and procedures effective immediately.
COVID-19 Update: “Gradual and cautious resumption of services”
The Ministry of Health’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) has clarified the recently revised Directive #2. The Directive says that “non-urgent and non-emergent surgeries and procedures will cautiously and gradually resume...” in specific settings. The College has now been told that “this would include regulated health professionals in settings outside of public hospitals, such as dentists.”
COVID-19 Update - New requirements for dentistry in response to Omicron variant
COVID-19 Update - Omicron Variant and Revised Guidance for all Ontario Dentists
Council highlights for November 18, 2021
Dentists eligible for COVID-19 booster vaccinations
Council highlights for September 17, 2021
The 427th Meeting of the Council of the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario was held on Friday, September 17, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. via Zoom and streamed live on YouTube.
Supporting COVID-19 Vaccination
COVID-19 Update: Revised patient screening guidance document
COVID-19 Update: Free N95 masks and antigen rapid tests now available
The Government of Ontario is providing 3M Aura Health Care Particulate Respirator and Surgical Masks, 1870+, N95 and Panbio COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Tests to dental professionals free of charge.
Access to these products is made possible through a partnership between the Ontario Government and Ontario Dental Association (ODA).
COVID-19 Update: New revisions to guidance
The RCDSO has updated its guidance for managing infection risks during in-person dental care.
This update reflects collaboration between Ontario’s four oral health Colleges to ensure consistent expectations for delivery of oral health care during the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 Update: Step 3 of provincial reopening
Ontario moved into Step 3 of the Provincial Roadmap to Reopen at 12:01 am today, July 16, 2021.
While the situation with COVID-19 continues to improve, dentists must continue to adhere to the enhanced precautions outlined in the College’s COVID-19: Managing infection risks during in-person dental care guidance for the in-person provision of dental care.COVID-19 Update: Step 2 of provincial reopening
COVID-19 Update: Stay-at-Home order lifted
COVID-19 Update: 2nd dose vaccinations
COVID-19 Update - Non-urgent procedures are permitted
COVID-19 Update: Province-wide Stay-at-Home order extended to June 2
COVID-19 Guidance: Antigen Point-of-Care Testing
COVID-19 Update: How Directive #2 affects dentistry
COVID-19 Update: Expanded scope of care for dentists in hospital settings
COVID-19 Update: How Directive #2 affects oral surgery
COVID-19 Update: How Directive #2 affects procedures involving sedation
COVID-19 Update: CMOH releases Directive #2 - no change to current RCDSO guidance
COVID-19 Update: Ontario extends Stay-at-Home order
COVID-19 Update: Province-wide Stay-at-Home order
COVID-19 Update
COVID-19 Update - vaccination roll-out
COVID-19 Update – maintain enhanced precautions
COVID-19 Update: State of Emergency and Stay-at-Home Order
The College’s COVID-19: Managing Infection Risks During In-Person Dental Care guidance document has been updated. In response to the provincial shutdown, dentists are required to undertake enhanced precautions when providing in-person care.
COVID-19 Update – Province-wide shutdown
The Government of Ontario announced a Province-wide shutdown which will go into effect Saturday, December 26, 2020, at 12:01 a.m.
COVID-19 Update – New lockdown areas
Council Highlights for November 17, 2020
Council Highlights - November 17, 2020
COVID-19 Update: Dental offices remain open
The RCDSO has confirmed that health care providers, including dental offices, can remain open in public health regions declared to be in “lockdown”. All current RCDSO guidance remains in effect.
COVID-19 Update: New Regional Restrictions
COVID-19 Update: Changes to thresholds
COVID-19 Update: enhanced regional precautions
The RCDSO continues to strongly recommend that all dental offices in red or orange public health areas - currently, Toronto, Ottawa, York and Peel Regions (previously referred to as ‘hot zones’) - use enhanced precautions for aerosol-generating procedures.
RCDSO 2021 Membership Fees
COVID-19 Update: Province to add York Region to list of "hot zones"
COVID-19 Update – new provincial measures
COVID-19 Update – Regional approaches to AGPs
PIDAC is now recommending that, in regions of Ontario where COVID-19 transmission levels are ‘not low’, dentists should use precautions when performing AGPs as if their patients were positive - even if they screen negative.
COVID-19: Amended Guidance on managing infection risks during in-person dental care
COVID-19 Update: AGP and PPE in the dental office
COVID-19: Memo from the CMOH re: Aerosol-Generating Dental Procedures
The Chief Medical Officer of Health has issued a memo regarding precautions for health workers in dental settings where aerosol-generating dental procedures (AGDPs) are conducted.
The College's Guidance on managing infection risks during in-person dental care follows Directive #2 from the CMOH. Our May 31 guidance remains in effect and is available on our website by clicking here.
Council Highlights - June 18, 2020
COVID-19 Update: Stage 2 reopening
COVID-19 Update: A note on our guidance
COVID-19: Amended Guidance on managing infection risks during in-person dental care
COVID-19: A Message from RCDSO President
COVID-19 Update: New Directive from CMOH
The Chief Medical Officer of Health has advised the College that Directive #2 has been amended.
COVID-19: Managing infection risks during in-person dental care
COVID-19 Update: Message from RCDSO President
COVID-19: Guidance for the Use of Teledentistry
The College released guidance on emergency screening of dental patients using teledentistry on March 26, 2020.
This updated version permits dentists to use teledentistry for some non-essential services as appropriate, while maintaining physical distancing.
COVID-19 Update: Message from RCDSO President
Returning to practice: planning and considerations
Updated guidance on emergency and urgent care during COVID-19
Download PDF version of our guidance.
Dental practices offering emergency services - COVID-19 pandemic
COVID-19 Update - Continuity of Care
COVID-19 Update - MOH Request for Ventilators and PPE
COVID-19 Update - N95 masks
COVID-19 Update - Ministry of Health PPE Survey
RCDSO COVID-19 Update - March 30, 2020
COVID-19 Update - Request from Ministry of Health
RCDSO Update - March 26, 2020 (COVID-19)
UPDATED March 23: Guidance on true emergency situations during COVID-19 pandemic
Considering the current pandemic situation, the College is updating its guidance regarding the management of emergencies.
RCDSO Update - March 20, 2020 (COVID-19)
RCDSO Update - March 19, 2020 (COVID-19)
RCDSO Update - March 18, 2020 (COVID-19)
A message to all dentists in Ontario - COVID-19 Pandemic
In accordance with our mandate to act in the public’s interest and in hearing the numerous comments made to us by members, in consultation with hospitals and public health and others, we are offering to the membership the following measures and guidelines in response to the COVID–19 pandemic.