College of Dental Surgeons of BC

The College of Dental Surgeons of BC (CDSBC) is a public interest regulator that regulates 3,300 dentists and 5,700 certified dental assistants (CDAs) under the Health Professions Act. CDSBC sets requirements to practice; establishes, monitors and enforces standards of conduct and care; monitors the continuing education of registrants; investigates complaints; and where necessary disciplines registrants who fail to live up to their professional standards obligations.

CDSBC deals with complaints regarding standards of care or conduct, which includes clinical issues as well as non-clinical matters such as patient communication, ethical issues or informed consent. Whether a complaint is submitted by another healthcare professional, a patient or a dental staff member, the primary focus of CDSBC’s complaints process is on the protection of the public. The complaints process includes the use of alternate dispute resolution mechanisms and remediation as potential approaches to protect the public while improving the conduct and practice of registrants.