Dental Patient Complaints

All dental patients have the right to expect professional care from their dentist and the right to determine what care they choose to accept. If you have concerns with the professional care you have received and are dissatisfied, first discuss your concerns with your dentist. If you are still unhappy after his/her explanation, you should contact the College of Dental Surgeons of Saskatchewan and state you would like to file a formal complaint.

The College's role is to regulate the profession to ensure the safety of the public in dental health matters. All complaints are handled in strictest confidence.

What happens to my complaint?

Upon receiving a call, the College Office forwards to the patient all necessary forms to file a complaint. Included is a release form, which allows the College access to the patient's dental information.

Upon receiving the signed and completed forms, the College Office requests the dentist to respond specifically to the written patient complaint.

The complaint is reviewed by members of the Mediation Committee or Professional Conduct Committee of the College of Dental Surgeons of Saskatchewan. Depending on the relevant information provided, the Committee may request either the dentist or the patient to meet with them to further discuss the issues. Sometimes the Committee may need to examine the patient's mouth before any recommendations for resolving the dispute can be made.

The Mediation or Professional Conduct Committee usually will inform the patient and the dentist of their recommendations regarding the dispute within 4-6 weeks after the College receives the written forms.

If either Committee has concerns with the quality of care provided, unprofessional conduct or suspected criminal actions, the complaint will be referred to the College of Dental Surgeons Discipline or Quality Assurance Committees. If corrective action is warranted, the College has the authority to impose penalties ranging from mandatory continuing education courses to upgrade skills to suspension or loss of license.

What can I expect as an outcome of a complaint?

The mediation process is designed to help you and your dentist resolve any misunderstandings. Most complaints are resolved to the patient's satisfaction. Sometimes the dentist may be asked to reimburse the patient for costs or arrange other treatment. While the majority of dentists follow the Mediation Committee's recommendations, the College does not have any legal authority to enforce a recommendation upon patients, third party carriers or dentists.

If, after using the mediation process, you are still dissatisfied with the restitution from your dentist, you may want to seek legal advice. Please note that under the Statute of Limitations Act, there is a limited time frame during which you can initiate civil court actions. Please ask your lawyer on how this Act affects your circumstances.

The College's role is to regulate the profession to ensure public safety. As such, the College cannot enforce financial settlements or recommendations made by its Committee members except as provided by the existing legislation.

The College has no authority to discipline dentists who currently practice outside the province of Saskatchewan. Any complaints involving this dentist should be addressed to the provincial licensing board where the dentist in question currently practices.