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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 Note that eventually, all legacy practice resources will be rescinded and replaced by new BCCOHP standards that apply to all regulated oral health professionals.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.
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.
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Eventually, all legacy practice resources will be rescinded and replaced by new BCCOHP standards that apply to all regulated oral health professionals.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>>
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.
Practice standards and guidelines inform practitioners and the public of BCCOHP’s expectations for registrants.
Guidelines are highly recommended but – while being evidence of a standard – are not, strictly speaking, mandatory. Guidelines contain permissive language such as “should” and “may.”
Standards are, by definition, mandatory and must be applied. Standards are clearly identified by mandatory language such as “must” and “required.”
Good dental recordkeeping is critical to the practice of dentistry. It ensures continuity of care for patients and may help to reduce the likelihood of a complaint. The Dental Recordkeeping Guidelines contain the requirements for dental recordkeeping and the ownership, transfer and retention of dental records.
Documentation
Dental Recordkeeping Guidelines
Note: the sample charts/forms are no longer available for download. It is the registrant’s responsibility and left to their professional judgement to determine if the charting used in clinical practice aligns with the Practice Standards.
Key points
Dentists must now maintain complete patient records as follows:
In addition to clinical records, other records that must be retained include appointment records, lab prescriptions and invoices. Diagnostic or study models are also considered part of the permanent patient record and must be kept for the prescribed period.
Working models do not have to be retained for any specific period of time. A decision to keep working models should be based on the complexity of the case and is left to the judgment of the individual practitioner.
Exceptions: The above guidelines do not apply to minors and person under a disability. In these cases, the limitation periods do not begin running until the person turns 19 or until the disability ends.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a medical syndrome that is characterized by recurrent episodes of partial or complete upper airway obstruction during sleep. The Obstructive Sleep Apnea Standards and Guidelines identify the roles and responsibilities of a dentist treating patients with OSA.
Documentation
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Standards and Guidelines
The purpose of the Obstructive Sleep Apnea Standards and Guidlines document is to:
Standard: A dentist’s role in the treatment of OSA is adjunctive, supplementary and/or collaborative to that provided by the physician. A dentist may provide OA therapy only after receiving a written request or prescription from the attending physician, preferably a physician with advanced training in sleep medicine. Because of the increased rates of morbidity and mortality associated with OSA, a physician (family physician or sleep specialist) must assess the potential for other medical conditions, including OSA, before a dentist provides any treatment for primary snoring.
Home Testing Equipment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea
The treatment of obstructive sleep apnea requires interdisciplinary teamwork between dentists and medical practitioners.
Dentists who rent or provide home sleep apnea testing (HSAT) equipment to patients, through limited business corporations or otherwise, are reminded that the prescription or direction for the provision of overnight home sleep testing equipment must come from a registered medical practitioner. The Ministry of Health requires that anyone doing HSAT must be accredited by the College of Physicians and Surgeons’ Diagnostic Accreditation Program (DAP).
The College is frequently asked about the use of prescription drugs in dentistry. Dentists with a full, academic or restricted to specialty registration can prescribe drugs under the Health Professions Act. Dentists may need to administer drugs to provide treatment to a patient or a written prescription may be indicated afterwards. Therefore, it is essential that dental professionals know the requirements for prescribing and dispensing drugs.
The purpose of these standards is to assist registrants in regards to dispensing and prescribing drugs to ensure the safe and effective use of prescription medication.
Documentation
Prescribing and Dispensing Drugs Standards and Guidelines
The Controlled Prescription Program sets the requirements for prescribing controlled substances and was established to prevent forgeries and reduce inappropriate prescribing of selected drugs.
Duplicate prescription pads
Order a duplicate prescription pad >>
Dentists who wish to prescribe any of the monitored drugs must order their duplicate prescription pads through BCCOHP. Dentists without these pads cannot prescribe the monitored drugs. Prescription pads are personalized and numerically recorded, the prescription pad must be maintained intact in chronological order. Some practitioners may require multiple pads due to the nature of their practice, if so, you must advise BCCOHP in writing.
Dentists practising as a locum in more than one office are not required to have their practice address imprinted on the prescription scripts; however, your name and BCCOHP registration number must be imprinted. Only when you are writing the prescription must you then add the practice address and phone number of the practice where the prescription is being written.
Returning prescription pads
Dentists must return all partially and fully unused prescription pads to BCCOHP offices (by XpressPost or courier) for shredding if any of the following occur:
Lost or stolen prescription pads
In the case of lost, stolen or forged prescription pads registrants must:
Learn more about lost or stolen prescription pads >>
Additional prescription information
Resources
Wellness program The wellness program (see Health Matters section on this page) assists dentists, dental therapists or CDAs who are facing addiction or any health issues that could affect their ability to provide safe patient care. Questions about the wellness program? |
All general dentists and certified specialists administering sedation and general anesthesia must adhere to the requirements outlined in BCCOHP’s relevant standards and guidelines.
Keep up to date on sedation and GA news here >>
Documentation
| Standards & Guidelines | Addenda |
|---|---|
Minimal and Moderate Sedation Services (non-hospital facilities)
|
|
| December 2016 addendum (updated September 2019) |
| December 2016 addendum (updated September 2019) |
Register your sedation qualifications / apply for facility authorization
General dentists and certified specialists who intend to provide moderate sedation, deep sedation or general anesthesia must have their qualifications approved by BCCOHP.
Facilities where deep sedation and/or general anesthesia will be administered must first be inspected and authorized.
Questions?
Learn more about sedation and anesthesia here. If you have questions, please contact us.
The Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines provide oral health care providers with the knowledge of principles and standards to inform and properly implement necessary infection prevention and control measures in a safe and effective manner.
The legacy College of Dental Surgeons of BC’s Board approved the Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines at its May 2012 meeting, and the document was distributed to dentists and CDAs with the summer 2012 Sentinel.
Documentation
Protection of the public is better served by putting standards into place proactively rather than having to react in the event of an infection control incident.
The IPAC guidelines reflect current knowledge of the transmission of infection, and how to prevent and control it, as well as the expectations of the public and government. Wherever possible, the recommendations are based on data from well-designed scientific studies. In the absence of scientific evidence, certain recommendations are based on strong theoretical rationale, suggestive evidence or opinions of respected authorities. Some requirements are provincially and federally legislated.
The guidelines are a living document that will be updated as necessary. Dentists, dental therapists and CDAs are expected to continue to use their professional judgment in implementing them.
The IPAC guidelines were approved by the legacy CDSBC Board at the May 2012 meeting and went into effect immediately. All dentists and CDAs received a copy of the guidelines shortly after. BCCOHP now expects all dentists to implement the IPAC guidelines in their dental offices.
No. You may need to reorganize your sterilization area to facilitate organization and processing, i.e. with clear separation of clean and dirty areas with separate sections for receiving, cleaning and decontamination; preparation and packaging; sterilization; drying/cooling; and storage (p.24).
Equipment that is used to clean, disinfect or sterilize (e.g., ultrasonic washers, washer-disinfectors, sterilizers) must meet standards established by Health Canada. If your current sterilizer does not meet the time, temperature and other operating parameters recommended by the manufacturer of the sterilizer, you will need to have your sterilizer repaired or replaced (p.24).
If you are replacing your sterilizer, we recommend purchasing one with current features such as recording devices that print out cycle time, temperature and pressure (p.29).
Note: If you are using a vapo-sterilizer/chemi-clave sterilizer, there are stringent air quality controls for exposure to biological and chemical agents made under the Workers Compensation Act. See p. 24 in the guidelines for more information.
BCCOHP does not promote or endorse any specific infection control products, equipment or manufacturers. BCCOHP recommends purchasing equipment and products that will enable oral health professionals to meet the requirements of the IPAC Guidelines.
There are different options available for implementing this requirement. You can purchase your own biological monitoring system, there are commercial sterilization monitoring companies that provide this service, and there are services provided by various dental sundries suppliers that may be utilized.
Not unless your professional judgment determines that it is clinically appropriate to use a safety-engineered needle in a particular circumstance. The College’s position is based on the WorkSafeBC report “Preventing Needle Stick Injuries and the Use of Dental Safety Syringes” (2010), which found that additional design modifications are required prior to recommending universal use of currently available models of safety-engineered syringes/needles (p.19)
As with many things in the IPAC Guidelines, you must use your professional judgment. The guidelines state that if a product is received from the manufacturer who has guaranteed the instrument’s sterility, it need not be sterilized prior to initial use. Newly purchased non-sterile critical and semi-critical items must be inspected and processed according to manufacturer’s instructions prior to use. Any product that comes in a clean state that the manufacturer indicates is ready for use does not need to be sterilized provided that it is used directly from the new package (p.24).
BCCOHP’s mandate is protection of the public, and these guidelines promote protection of both the public and oral health care providers. Spatter or spray from dental procedures can contaminate the fabric of scrubs/uniforms and lab coats, and can lead to cloth-borne transmission of pathogens to people and surfaces.
It is the dentist’s responsibility to develop a policy that uniforms and scrubs worn during patient care procedures should not be worn outside the dental office (p.20).
BCCOHP policies contain information which should be considered by dentists in the care of their patients.
The Blood-Borne Pathogen Policy addressed the legacy College of Dental Surgeon of BC’s (CDSBC) requirements for registrants who are infected/affected with Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV.
Read legacy CDSBC’s Blood-Borne Pathogen Policy (PDF).
The policy encourages a safe working environment and maximizes the use of measures to prevent blood-borne viral transmission to patients. The determining factor between what actions a registrant must take and whether they can safely practise is whether they are providing, or assisting with, “exposure-prone” procedures.
In the event of a registrant-to-patient blood exposure during an exposure-prone procedure, both the registrant and the patient should be tested for blood-borne viruses, and the registrant must immediately file a Critical Incident Report with BCCOHP. This applies to all BCCOHP registrants.
Legacy CDSBC also had a policy statement on the Treatment of Patients Living with HIV/AIDS (PDF).
BCCOHP assists dentists, dental therapists or CDAs who are facing addiction or any health matters that could affect their ability to provide safe patient care*.
Under section 33 (4) (e) of the Health Professions Act, the inquiry committee may, on its own motion, investigate a registrant regarding a physical or mental ailment, an emotional disturbance or an addiction to alcohol or drugs that impairs his or her ability to practise the designated health profession.
All health matters are treated confidentially in a separate stream from BCCOHP’s regular complaints and discipline process.
Upon receipt of expert medical advice, the registrant may be asked to voluntarily withdraw from practice until such time as they have been determined fit to practice. Our aim is to see the individual recover and return to work in a sustainable way. BCCOHP works with registrants to determine a pathway back to safe practice.
If you are (or know of) a BCCOHP registrant suffering from a health matter, please contact BCCOHP’s Monitoring department using our contact form.
*a number of health matters may fit into this category of altered physical and/or cognitive competency.
BCCOHP registrants and their families can access additional assistance and support through the following programs:
Dentist Wellness Program (BCDA) previously DPAP
The Dentist Wellness Program (DWP), created in partnership with Doctors of BC’s Physician Health Program, offers counselling and support services from a team of clinical counsellors.
Learn more on the BCDA Member Site or access DWP 24/7:
Phone: 1-800-661-9199 ( Toll free)
Member Assistance Program (CDSPI)
The Members’ Assistance Program (MAP) provides confidential, no-cost support for all dentists, dental staff and their immediate family members. MAP services help to prevent and manage personal or professional issues that can affect physical, emotional or financial well-being. Short-term counselling support, professional guidance, resources and referrals are available.
Learn more on the CDSPI website or access MAP 24/7 by:
Phone: 1-844-578-4040
Online: workhealthlife.com (enter CDSPI as your organization when prompted)
Mobile app: MY EAP
There is growing recognition by health regulators that addiction is a disease for which recovery pathways exist, and that those recovery pathways should be separate from complaints and discipline. BCCOHP operates in this manner and works with registrants seeking treatment. The way BCCOHP deals with health matters is confidential.
If you suffer from an addiction/dependency disease, you have a duty to protect the safety of patients and legal/ethical obligation to cease practice immediately and notify BCCOHP in confidence through Manager, Monitoring and Compliance, Moninder Sahota’s direct phone line: 672-202-0448 (ext. 5345).
Additionally, if you are aware of another registrant’s addiction/dependency, it is your professional, ethical and legal duty to report it to BCCOHP.
What will happen next?
BCCOHP’s collaborative approach to treatment and monitoring guides registrants through treatment and provides a pathway back to safe practice. The essential elements of the addiction recovery pathway typically include:
1 | Practitioner’s agreement to voluntarily withdraw from practice until deemed medically fit to return (failing a voluntary agreement, BCCOHP has the ability to take action under the Health Professions Act – section 35) – Counselling support is available through the MAP and DWP Programs – Access to practitioners able to step in as locums (to maintain the practice on behalf of the practitioner while undergoing treatment) can be accessed through the BCDA |
| 2 | Assessment by a physician with addiction medicine expertise recognized by BCCOHP |
| 3 | Treatment (in accordance with expert recommendations) |
| 4 | Post-treatment assessment and planning for return to work |
| 5 | A formal agreement with BCCOHP to fulfill certain conditions for return to practice (and during continued practice) |
| 6 | Upon return to work, a period of ongoing monitoring by the addiction medicine expert and the treatment team, which includes monitored return-to-work protocols |
What happens if I relapse?
Addiction is a chronic brain disease with a complex etiology and a tendency for relapse; however, success rates for professionals who enter a structured program are high. The data for physicians who undergo rigorous standards of treatment and monitoring indicates that 5-year abstinence rates from substance abuse disorders are in excess of 80 per cent, which far outperforms other treatment programs*.
Should relapse occur:
*Six lessons from State Physician Health Programs to Promote Long Term Recovery: DuPont, M.D. and Skipper, G.E. 2012; Journal of Psychoactive Drugs Vol. 44(1), 72-78
All health professionals who are regulated under B.C.’s Health Professions Act (HPA) have a professional, ethical and legal responsibility to report any unsafe practice of any other regulated health practitioner.
The duty to report under the HPA applies across professions. This means that a professional who belongs to one regulatory college is legally required to report a professional from any regulatory college (including their own).
Regulated health practitioners are legally required to report if they believe on reasonable and probable grounds that another regulated health practitioner’s continued practice of their profession might constitute a danger to the public. This may cover a wide range of conduct.
For example, practitioners are obligated to report when they have a good reason to believe that the public is in danger as a result of another practitioner suffering from a physical or mental ailment, an emotional or cognitive disturbance, or an addiction to drugs or alcohol that impairs their ability to practice.
Sexual misconduct must also be reported. Where concerns about sexual misconduct are based on information provided by a patient in the context of a professional – patient relationship, the consent of the patient or their parent/guardian must be obtained before making the report.
Where a professional is hospitalized for psychiatric care or treatment, or for treatment for addiction to alcohol or drugs, and is therefore unable to practice, the chief administrator of the hospital or private facility, and every treating physician, is obligated to report the professional to the regulatory body with which they are registered.
It can be a difficult decision to decide whether to report a colleague to their regulatory body. A duty to report can be triggered by “reasonable and probable grounds” that a reportable situation exists. Such grounds exist when a health professional believes there is a reliable basis for their suspicion and when a reasonable person in our society would also believe that the evidence supports such a belief.
If a health professional is concerned, they should contact the college of the professional in question to obtain clarification about the situation, or to determine if it is necessary to make a formal report. Making an inquiry (without specifying the name of the practitioner) does not automatically turn into a formal report.
In non-emergency circumstances that concern potentially substandard practice, it may be appropriate to contact the professional directly for clarification before deciding whether a report to their regulatory college is necessary. BCCOHP occasionally receives complaints from dentists about colleagues that are founded on simple misunderstandings that could have easily been clarified without the need to report to BCCOHP.
No. The HPA provides immunity to health professionals who comply with the duty to report as long as the report is made in good faith and is based on reasonable and probable grounds.
A health professional is in violation of the law if they do not meet their legal, professional or ethical responsibility to report a practitioner under the HPA’s duty to report requirements.
In addition, the practitioner may be subject to disciplinary measures taken by their regulatory college and may also be the subject of a complaint filed by the college to which the professional with the impairment, ailment, addiction or ethical issue belongs.
It is understandable that a professional may wish to protect their identity when reporting a fellow practitioner, as this may be an uncomfortable situation; however, the duty to report is a legal obligation that is necessary for the protection of the public and no regulatory college can guarantee anonymity when a report is made.
Regulatory bodies investigate and assess reports submitted under the duty to report based on the protection of the public, the maintenance of public confidence in professions and the legitimate expectations of complainants, professionals and the public that allegations will be fairly assessed and investigated.
While public safety is always the primary concern, B.C.’s health regulators also strive to respect the dignity and privacy of the health professional. Appropriate treatment and medical monitoring may be put in place if warranted.
Where you are required to make a formal report, you must submit the report in writing to the regulatory body with which the health professional is registered. Practitioners are advised to contact the college of the individual they are reporting to discuss the format and procedure for submitting their concern.
In a situation where several practitioners share a concern, they may submit one report. However, the report must be signed by all the practitioners submitting it.
You can find information about duty to report in the following sections of the HPA: