Frequently Asked Questions - New Practice Setup and Changing Practice Locations

Yes, if you wish to use a practice name for your office, apply to the College for approval by completing and submitting a Practice Name Registration Application Form. You can also review the College’s Practice Advisory on Practice Names.

You must have an ISO approved amalgam separator if you will be placing, repairing and/or removing amalgam in your practice. Review the College’s Standard of Practice for Amalgam Waste Disposal. Compliance with these requirements must be confirmed when completing your annual licence renewal.

Dental offices in Toronto are required to submit a Proposed Pollution Prevention (P2) Plan with the City. Further information is available a on the City of Toronto website.

Yes, you should advise the College of your new practice location or any changes to your practice address by contacting the Registration department in writing or updating your member profile on the College’s Member Resource Centre.

To incorporate your professional practice, you must apply for and obtain a Health Profession Corporation (HPC) Certificate of Authorization issued by the College. Read more about the HPC application process and requirements.

Before installing X-ray equipment, you must submit plan drawings to the X-ray Inspection Service of the Ministry of Health Ministry and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) for approval. Visit the  MOHLTC website for information and application forms.

You will also need to:

• set up appropriate daily quality assurance protocols for all X-ray equipment. Protocols vary for both conventional and digital X-ray equipment;
• ensure dental assistants in your practice are HARP certified and permitted to take X-rays.

Contact the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s X-ray Inspection Service at 416-327-7937 for more information.

Read the College’s FAQs on Dental Radiographs.  

If you are planning to administer, or you are planning to have someone else administer, oral moderate sedation, parenteral moderate sedation, deep sedation and/or general anesthesia in your office, you will require a facility permit. Any provider administering oral moderate sedation, parenteral moderate sedation, deep sedation and/or general anesthesia must have authorization from the College.

Effective April 1, 2020, dentists administering minimal sedation, including nitrous oxide and oral minimal sedation, must also have authorization from the College.

Read more about the College’s sedation program and review the Standard of Practice for the Use of General Anesthesia in Dental Practice.

Any professional advertising copy or website content should comply with the College’s Practice Advertising Guidelines.

You will need to submit an application for approval to the College to prescribe, order or take dental CTs or install a CT scanner in the office. Read more about the College’s Dental CT application process.

Confirm that all dental personnel working in your practice are currently registered and in good standing with their respective regulatory colleges.

• Dental associates: Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario 
• Dental hygienists: College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario 
• Denturists: College of Denturists of Ontario 
• Nurses: College of Nurses of Ontario 
• Physicians: College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario 
• Respiratory therapists: College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario 

All dental offices using electronic records must comply with the College’s Guidelines for Electronic Records Management.

You should be familiar with all of the College’s Standards of Practice, Guidelines and Practice Advisories.

To submit dental insurance claims electronically, please contact a CDAnet Service Representative at 1-800-267-9701 for further information. You may register for this service on the Canadian Dental Association website.

To share personal health information electronically with dentists, other health professionals or patients, consider using a secure web-based portal such as the CDA’s Secure Send Service. More information on Secure Send can be found on the Canadian Dental Association website.

All dentists and dental practices must comply with the College’s Standard on Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC). Read more information on IPAC in the dental office, including a sample policy manual and public health guidelines.

Related article: Immunizations Essential Part of Infection Prevention and Control Program

The College recommends that each dental office has a written medical emergency protocol and a percutaneous injury protocol in place. These protocols should be periodically reviewed. You must also have an up-to-date medical emergency drug kit.

FAQs on medical emergencies
Related article: Preparing for a medical emergency in the dental office

You must maintain a drug register to dispense controlled drugs for your patients in the office. Click here for a sample drug register.

Your practice may need to register for a GST/HST number. Please contact your accountant for further information.

Carefully evaluate your office and personal insurance requirements and ensure that you have sufficient coverage. This should include office contents, business interruption, life, disability and, commercial general liability insurance. Contact your insurance broker for further information.

Information on how to obtain malpractice insurance information can be found on the Professional Liability Program website.