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Practice Resources for Denturists

Profession-specific resources provide important information for oral health professionals in meeting BCCOHP expectations. These profession-specific resources are to be read and considered in conjunction with the Professional Standards for the Oral Health Team (effective June 30, 2025). 

Oral health professionals are responsible for reading BCCOHP’s news and publications to ensure they are aware of current expectations, and are accountable for understanding and interpreting any limits or conditions that might appear in Ministry Regulations and BCCOHP Bylaws regarding restricted titles and scope of practice.  

Many of these resources listed below were developed by the legacy colleges before the amalgamation of BC’s four oral health regulatory colleges in 2022 and the introduction of BCCOHP’s Professional Standards for the Oral Health Team. The following legacy documents remain applicable while BCCOHP is in the process of rescinding and replacing legacy resources. Note that eventually, all legacy practice resources will be rescinded and replaced by new BCCOHP standards that apply to all regulated oral health professionals. Learn more and review the inventory of documents being replaced by these new standards here>> 

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. 

Professional Standards for the Oral Health Team in effect as of June 30, 2025

BCCOHP’s unified Professional Standards for the Oral Health Team are now in effect for all oral health professionals. These comprehensive new standards outline the minimum expectations for ethical conduct, performance and professional behavior for all oral health professionals in BC. They are designed to support professional accountability and help ensure consistent, competent care across the professions.

Cover page for the Professional Standards for the Oral Health Team

Read the new Professional Standards >>

View a video series about the Professional Standards for oral health professionals here >>

Learn about the standards development project >>

Eventually, all legacy practice resources will be rescinded and replaced by new BCCOHP standards that apply to all regulated oral health professionals. Learn more and review the inventory of documents replaced by these new standards here>>

Practice Standards and Guidelines

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Note: The legacy College of Denturists of BC referred to the denturist association’s infection prevention and control guidelines.

Read the Denturist Association of Canada document here. >>

Rationale

Infection prevention and control is an important part of safe patient care. BCCOHP’s practice standards state,

A registrant must demonstrate, at all times, a level of knowledge which ensures the adequate protection of the public. Areas of requisite knowledge are:

  • sterilization and infection control
    • demonstrate aseptic techniques and environmental controls to ensure adequate hygienic environment.

Denturists must maintain the standards of practice of the profession and, accordingly, must ensure that appropriate infection prevention and control procedures are carried out in their practices.

Policy Statement

The British Columbia College of Oral Health Professionals has adopted the Denturist Association of Canada’s infection control recommendations as the acceptable standards for infection prevention and control in a denturist’s practice.

Read the summary document here. >>

On February 24, 2020, the Ministry of Health announced amendments to the regulations (scope of practice statements) for dental hygienists, dental technicians, denturists and dentists. One significant change that may affect the provision of services provided by denturists is the amended definition of prescription.

The Denturists Regulation now defines a prescription as “an authorization, issued by a person who is authorized under the Act to prescribe a partial denture or overdenture, to dispense a partial denture or overdenture for use by a named individual”.

What is an authorization?

An authorization is permission or authority to do something.

Who is authorized to prescribe a partial denture or overdenture?

Dentists are authorized under the Health Professions Act to prescribe a partial denture or overdenture as part of the patient’s treatment plan. The dentist and denturist must work collaboratively to ensure the treatment options are appropriate.

Prescription Guidance

1.    Prescriptions for dispensing a partial denture or overdenture to a patient may be written or verbal.

The authorization can be provided by a written prescription from the dentist for the patient or over the phone following the collaborative care discussions between the dentist and the denturist.

2.    Prescriptions must be based on collaborative discussion and decision- making amongst the patient and the oral healthcare team.

The decision to prescribe a partial denture or overdenture will be based on collaborative discussion and decision-making amongst the patient, the denturist and the dentist. This process will serve to enhance collaborative care amongst the entire dental team. Collaborative care includes pre-treatment assessment of the patient and review of the patient’s medical record by all parties, and determination through discussion between the denturist and dentist of the patient’s needs for and expectation of the partial or overdenture. The denturist and the dentist each must take responsibility according to their scope of practice.

If the prescription requires a dental technician to assist with the development of a partial denture or overdenture, the dental technician must review the prescription and be included in the discussion with the rest of the oral healthcare team and the patient.

3.    Oral healthcare providers must have the education, knowledge and skills to authorize and fill the prescription.

When a dentist creates a prescription, they must only authorize or request procedures with which they are familiar. This ensures that they are aware that the authorization or request is reasonable under the prevailing conditions, and that they would be able to assist with the management of circumstances that may occur during the completion of the prescription. If they are unfamiliar with the procedures or conditions potentially addressed by the prescription, the dentist should refer the patient to a practitioner with experience providing that service.

When a denturist receives a prescription, they must confirm that they understand the content of the prescription, and that they have the education, training, acquired skills, equipment and materials to undertake that portion of the work or treatment for which they will be responsible. If a denturist does not have the required competencies, they should refer the patient to another practitioner with experience providing that service.

4.    Denturists must examine the patient to ensure they are in suitable condition for treatment.

The denturist must examine the patient to ensure they are in suitable condition for the treatment to be undertaken. Where circumstances appear to be unsuitable for placement of a prosthesis, a discussion with the prescribing dentist is necessary. For example:

  • teeth that appear to have been inadequately prepared to receive a partial denture;
  • the presence of mobile teeth that have not been stabilized; or
  • inflamed oral tissues that have not been sufficiently prepared for receipt of a removable prosthesis.

A dentist may choose to issue a prescription for a given patient to cover a specific timeframe (e.g. three to six months). If this is the case, it is expected that the denturist will review, update and document the patient’s medical status as well as revisit and determine the need for the partial denture or overdenture prior to dispensing. The denturist must engage the prescribing dentist in discussion should any changes be required.

5.    Patient records must include thorough documentation of those discussions and decisions, including the authorization by the dentist.

It is expected the patient’s treatment record will include:

  • The name of the denturist and dentist involved in the treatment.
  • The type of denture being prescribed.
  • The reason and/or rationale for the need to prescribe the partial denture or overdenture.
  • Documentation about the prescription. If the dentist provides a verbal prescription, the denturist must document this in the patient record and sign it. If the dentist has provided a written prescription for the patient, a signed copy must be included in the patient’s record.
  • Any modifications to the prescription, whether written or verbal.

Reference documents:

  • Ministerial Order M041 with amendments to regulations for Dental Hygienists, Dental Technicians, Dentists and Denturists (February 24, 2020)
  • Health Professions Act: Denturists Regulation
Disclaimer

This document was developed by the former College of Denturists of BC before the amalgamation of BC’s four oral health regulatory colleges in 2022 and the introduction of BCCOHP’s Professional Standards for the Oral Health Team (Professional Standards), effective June 30, 2025. The Professional Standards define the minimum expectations for professional and ethical conduct, performance, and behaviour for regulated oral health professionals in BC.

While BCCOHP is in the process of rescinding and replacing all legacy practice resources with unified standards, this document remains applicable.

RationaleTo ensure that registrants of the British Columbia College of Oral Health Professionals (BCCOHP) meet the standards related to patient recordkeeping. In addition, for registrants to review their current recordkeeping practices to confirm they comply with the recommendations outlined in this Guideline.
Guideline Statement

Registrants must meet the professional, ethical and legal patient recordkeeping requirements as outlined in BCCOHP’s bylaws.

To ensure that proper patient records are being kept, registrants should adhere to the following principles:

  • Each entry must be dated and written in permanent ink or be in an acceptable electronic format.
  • All written information must be
  • Entries are not to be altered, but added as an amendment with changes/corrections, date of amendment and signature/initials.
  • Sign or initial after each entry, whether electronic or paper
  • Do not write offensive or gratuitous Only include information that is relevant to the patient record.
  • Document the following (at minimum):
    • treatment plan and estimated cost of the treatment
    • risks or limitations of the treatment
    • all discussions and decisions that were made
    • relevant medical history
    • patient progress
    • investigations and results
    • consent and referrals

Confidentiality and Security

Under the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) of BC, rules and procedures have been established for the collection, use and care of patient personal information.

Part 8.02 (2) of BCCOHP’s bylaws state that you must collect, dispose, and disclose patient information in accordance with PIPA, maintain the confidentiality of patient information, and ensure it is safely and securely stored and disposed of.

Registrants must keep patient records for a period of 16 years from the date of the last recorded entry.

Disclosure of Patient Records

Personal information or records of a patient cannot be disclosed unless:

  • you have express consent from the patient
  • you are required to disclose by the Court
  • you are required to disclose by statute
  • it is in the interest of public safety

Personal Protection

The presence of complete, up-to-date and accurate patient records are vital in protecting registrants and their practice against a complaint or clinical negligence.