For the Public

Certified Dental Assistants: support the oral health care team in the delivery of safe oral health care.  

Dental Hygienists: provide preventive dental care (e.g., teeth cleaning) and educate patients on recommended oral hygiene practices (e.g., brushing, flossing, etc.). 

Dental Technicians: fabricate dental prosthetics (dentures/crowns/orthodontic appliances) and other oral devices prescribed by dentists. Upon receipt of a written request from a denturist, a dental technician may also make and alter dentures. 

Dental Therapists: provide preventive and basic restorative dental care under the supervision of a dentist (usually in remote communities and employed by First Nations Health Authority). 

Dentists: diagnose, treat, and prevent oral health issues.  

Denturists: fabricate, fit, maintain, and repair dentures. 

BCCOHP’s mandate is to protect the public, and a key part of this work is setting clear expectations for safe, patient-centered oral health care. 

Our standards for the oral health team establish the minimum requirements for conduct, performance, and behaviour that all oral health professionals must meet to practice in BC. These standards focus on preventing harm, ensuring accountability, and promoting consistent, competent care. Read more about our standards >> 

Note: Work is ongoing to develop updated Practice Standards, which are additional requirements for high-risk areas of oral health care, such as sedation and infection prevention and control. Learn more about this work on our Standards Project webpage >> 

BCCOHP maintains a public register where you can verify whether an oral health professional is allowed to practise in BC, what services they can provide, view disciplinary actions against them, and more. Search the Public Register >> 

If you have concerns about the care you receive from an oral health professional, learn how to file a complaint and what to expect during the process: Learn About the Complaints Process >> 

 At BCCOHP, we are committed to ensuring patients and the public in BC have access to safe oral health care delivered by competent professionals. Health equity and anti-discrimination are an area of strategic focus outlined in our 2024-27 Strategic Plan.  

Not everyone in BC experiences the health system the same way. Differences in access to care, information, and support can lead to unequal health outcomes. Health equity means ensuring everyone has a fair opportunity to achieve their best health. 

As part of our commitment to health equity, BCCOHP runs a research program to obtain insights from patients and members of the public: the Voice of the Oral Health Patient. Use the interactive tools below to explore our research insights: 

• Voice of Patient Dashboard >> 

• Oral Health Equity Dashboard >> 

This research helps us better understand the diverse experiences and barriers faced by the public as it relates oral health care in BC. We are committed to using these findings to improve access to safe, competent care that promotes equitable outcomes for all. 

Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility

“Upholding Indigenous rights and promoting reconciliation through the regulation and delivery of oral health care” is a strategic focus outlined in our 2024-27 Strategic Plan.   

We commit to taking concrete steps to promote system change and dismantle racism. To support this work, we have built out a project to enhance cultural safety and humility in BC’s oral health sector and address systemic racism. 

Learn more about our commitment to cultural safety and humility >>