Practice Standards and Guidance

Our practice-related resources provide important guidance for oral health professionals in meeting the standards of practice. Oral health professionals are responsible for reading BCCOHP’s publications to ensure they are aware of current news and of BCCOHP policies, standards and guidelines.

Oral health professionals are reminded that they are ultimately accountable and responsible for understanding and interpreting any limits or conditions that might appear in Ministry Regulations and BCCOHP Bylaws regarding restricted titles and scope of practice. Please reach out to BCCOHP’s Professional Practice team if you have any questions regarding the provision of any aspect of practice or defined restricted activities.

One of the foundational ways that BCCOHP protects the public is by setting standards for the delivery of safe and patient-centred oral health care.

BCCOHP Standards Project Update

BCCOHP is working to create new standards for all regulated oral health professionals.

All standards and guidance documents and other practice resources previously ported over to BCCOHP from the legacy oral health colleges upon amalgamation on September 1, 2022, are currently under review by the Standards and Guidance Committee. Where there are questions of currency, relevance, and/or statutory alignment with current Ministry of Health regulations and BCCOHP Bylaws, those documents have not been rescinded but are being removed from BCCOHP’s public website to allow further consideration by the Board. A list of documents under review can be found here.

Learn more about the standards development project >>

Have your say about the draft Professional Standards for the Oral Health Team. Consultation will remain open until January 20, 2025. >>

Use the tabs below to find out profession-specific standards and guidance.

Certified dental assistants

Learn more about practice standards and guidance for CDAs.

Dental hygienists

Learn more about practice standards and guidance for dental hygienists.

Dental technicians

Learn more about practice standards and guidance for dental technicians.

Dental therapists

Learn more about practice standards and guidance for dental therapists.

Dentists

Learn more about practice standards and guidance for dentists.

Denturists

Learn more about practice standards and guidance for denturists.

Critical Incident Report

Cases resulting in the need for patient resuscitation, emergency transfer, referral and/or admittance to hospital, or death, must immediately be reported to BCCOHP’s Registrar by phone (672-202-0448, toll-free within Canada: 1-888-202-0448).

You must also submit a Critical Incident Report to the Registrar’s office.

This report is essential as it provides immediate and accurate information for all concerned parties.

To request a paper copy, please contact us.

Critical Incident Report Form