Mandatory reporting for dentists
Dentists and other regulated health professionals in Ontario have a legal and professional duty to report specific concerns about themselves or other healthcare professionals to the appropriate regulatory College. This process—known as mandatory reporting—is essential for protecting the public and maintaining professional standards.
When You Must Report
To a Regulatory College:
Sexual abuse: If you reasonably believe another dentist or regulated health professional has sexually abused a patient, report to their College within 30 days—or immediately if ongoing risk
is suspected.
Self-reporting: You must disclose charges, convictions, bail conditions, findings of professional negligence or malpractice, or disciplinary actions by other regulatory bodies.
Employment actions: If you terminate, suspend, or restrict a regulated health professional’s privileges due to misconduct, incompetence, or incapacity—even if they resign—you must report this within 30 days.
To Other Authorities:
Children’s Aid Society: Immediately report suspected child abuse or risk of harm.
Medical Officer of Health: Report suspected or confirmed communicable diseases promptly.
Long-Term Care/Retirement Homes: Report suspected abuse, neglect, or misconduct involving residents immediately to the Retirement Home Regulatory Authority.
Federal Minister of Health: Report lost or stolen controlled substances within 10 days.
Information and Privacy Commissioner (IPC): Report privacy breaches that meet IPC’s criteria and submit annual breach statistics.
Sedation/Anesthesia Providers: Report serious adverse events (Tier I) or other incidents (Tier II) to the RCDSO.
If you’re unsure whether a situation requires reporting or what details to include, consult legal counsel or contact the Practice Advisory Service (PAS). Reporting timelines vary—some must be made immediately, others as soon as possible, and some within 30 days.
Take our educational module for more information and examples of oral health care-related reporting scenarios.
Mandatory reporting is not just a legal obligation. It upholds professional standards, protects patients, and reinforces public trust in the healthcare profession. By understanding what must be reported, when, and how, dentists can fulfill their responsibilities.
For more detailed guidance, please consult the mandatory reporting requirements on our website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who do I report to? How do I report?
- First, determine which regulator has jurisdiction. Each regulator’s webpage will have information on where to direct your mandatory report.
- For RCDSO, email mandatoryreport@rcdso.org. Staff will acknowledge your report and may request more information or updates from you.
- The College is required to post certain information on our public register. You must provide timely updates regarding mandatory reports, including any changes to the charges, release conditions, or findings, so that our register remains up to date.
What should I include in my report?
- The RHPA specifies what information must be included in mandatory reports.
- You cannot report on information protected by a publication ban.
What if the patient doesn’t want me to report?
- You may have a duty to report sexual abuse of a patient even if you cannot obtain the patient’s expressed consent to identify them or they refuse it.
- In some cases, when there is a duty to report, limited disclosure of confidential health information may be permitted by law. For example, when a threat to safety outweighs a right to privacy. You can consult a lawyer for advice.
- Document, document, document.
What if I’m not 100% sure about the issue, event, or circumstances?
- Seek legal advice. Contact PAS. Reassess your considerations and any advice you received if new information arises.
- You are responsible for reporting, where required, but you cannot control the outcome of any report. Your report may or may not result in a formal investigation or an Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee outcome.
Do I have to report if I think someone else may have done so already?
Your reporting obligations remain unchanged even if others may have fulfilled their own duty to report. Don’t presume someone else will or has reported.
What happens after I report?
- You may have an ongoing obligation to file reports in some circumstances.
- College staff may contact you for additional information or updates.
- If you receive unwelcomed contact because of having filed a mandatory report, seek legal advice, contact PAS, and/or consider updating the College staff who responded to you.