NEW COMPLAINTS PAGE
Note: This page is a “playground” for admin to learn the mechanics of editing the website.
Policies on Requirements for Registration and Licensing of Dentists
In May of 2025 when the Provincial Dental Board of Nova Scotia migrated under the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA), the Board adopted these policies which reflect the Regulations and Policies in place under the repealed 1992 Dental Act.
Internationally-trained Dentists and Dental Hygienists Applying to be Registered as Dental Assistants in Nova Scotia
If you are an internationally-trained dentist or dental hygienist and wish to be licensed as a dental assistant in Nova Scotia, you must follow the instructions on this page On that page you will find this checklist.
Important
- In addition to submitting your application, you will need to request that a letter or certificate or letter of standing is sent to us from anywhere you have been previously licensed as a health professional.
- You will need to obtain and include with your application a certified copy of your graduation certificate or diploma from your dentistry or dental hygiene program.
NSRDDA STATUTORY COMMITTEES
Click below to learn more information about each of our Statutory Committees, including:
-
-
- the purpose of each Committee,
- the commitment frequency for each Committee,
- the current “vacancy rate” for positions on each Committee, and
- the Terms of Reference for each Committee.
-
COMPLAINTS COMMITTEE
PURPOSE: to consider and dispose of complaints filed against NSRDDA registrants in accordance with applicable legislation, regulations, and Bylaws.
COMMITTMENT FREQUENCY: High
VACANCY RATE: Low
PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT COMMITTEE
PURPOSE: to hold formal hearings into allegations of professional misconduct, incompetence, or incapacity involving NSRDDA registrants when such allegations are not resolved at the level of the Registrar or the Complaints Committee.
COMMITMENT FREQUENCY: Low to high (depending on panel formation and nature of case)
VACANCY RATE: Low
REGISTRATION AND LICENSING COMMITTEE
PURPOSE: to consider applications (for registration, licensing, or renewal of a license) referred to the Committee by the Registrar if the Registrar determines that there is an issue regarding whether the applicant meets the criteria for registration, licensing or renewal of a licence, or whether conditions or restrictions should be imposed.
COMMITMENT FREQUENCY: Low
VACANCY RATE: High
TERMS OF REFERENCE for the Registration and Licensing Committee
REGISTRATION AND LICENSING REVIEW COMMITTEE
PURPOSE: to provide an impartial review process for applicants who are dissatisfied with decisions made by the Registrar or the Registration and Licensing Committee regarding their registration or licensure status.
COMMITMENT FREQUENCY: Low
VACANCY RATE: Low
TERMS OF REFERENCE for the Registration and Licensing Review Committee
PRACTICE REVIEW COMMITTEE
PURPOSE: to conduct practice reviews in accordance with the Regulations, the direction of the Board and the terms of reference.
COMMITMENT FREQUENCY: Low
VACANCY RATE: Low
FITNESS-TO-PRATCISE COMMITTEE
PURPOSE: to to hold hearings and make determinations in cases where a registrant’s physical or mental capacity may impair their ability to practise safely and competently.
COMMITMENT FREQUENCY: Low
VACANCY RATE: High
REINSTATEMENT COMMITTEE
PURPOSE: to review applications for reinstatement of registration or licence following a revocation or resignation authorized under the RHPA-NS of a registrant’s registration or licence.
COMMITMENT FREQUENCY: Low
VACANCY RATE: High
Complaints and Investigations
The role of the NSRDDA, as the dental regulator in Nova Scotia, is to ensure that dentists and dental assistants who provide care to Nova Scotians are safe, competent, and ethical. One of the important ways we fulfill this role is through investigating complaints.
Our complaint process is legislated by the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA).
If you have a complaint about a different type of oral health professional (such as a dental hygienist, a denturist, or a dental technologist) you should contact the regulatory body for those professions.
We can investigate
Under the RHPA, we have the authority to investigate complaints concerning allegations of the following:
Professional misconduct, such as
- Failing to maintain the standards of practice,
- Failing to adhere to the Regulator’s Code of Ethics,
- Abusing a person verbally, physically, or sexually,
- Misappropriating property belonging to a patient or employer,
- Abandoning or neglecting to provide care to a patient,
- Failing to exercise appropriate discretion with respect to the disclosure of confidential information,
- Falsifying records, or
- Publishing communication that is false, fraudulent, deceptive, or misleading.
Incompetence, which means means a lack of competence demonstrated in the care of a patient that rendered the registrant unsafe to practise.
Conduct unbecoming the profession, which is conduct in a registrant’s personal or private capacity that tends to bring discredit upon registrants or their profession. This might include:
- Criminal activity
- Fraud, or
- While identifiable as a health professional, publishing information contrary to current evidence-based practice which could mislead or harm the public.
Incapacity, meaning a registrant has or had a medical, physical, mental or emotional condition, disorder or addiction that
- renders or rendered the registrant unable to practise with competence, or
- that endangers or may have endangered the health or safety of patients
See Section 2 of the RHPA for a complete definitions of professional misconduct, incompetence, conduct unbecoming the profession, and incapacity.
We cannot investigate
Under the RHPA, we do not have the authority to:
- Direct or coordinate your dental care,
- Give you advice about treatment options,
- Suggest a dentist for you,
- Establish the fees for dental treatment,
- Invervene in fee disputes,
- Require refunds to patients,
- Deal with insurance coverage, insurance claims or administrative procedures related to insurance,
- Require individual dentists to participate in government-funded dental programs, or
- Investigate complaints related to dental hygienists, denturists, dental technologists, or other health professionals beyond dentists and dental assistants.
Other things to note
- Under provincial legislation, information obtained through regulatory processes (such as complaints) cannot be used in other civil proceedings such as law suits.
- The respondent to the complaint (the dentist or dental assistant) will be notified of the complaint so that they can respond.
- Except in rare circumstances, the respondent will be informed of the identity of the complainant (you).
Confidentiality
The complaint process is confidential. All involved in the process (including you, our staff, and committee members) are required by law to keep confidential all information received through the complaint process.
At the conclusion of the investigation, information about the complaint will be published in accordance with the Regulated Health Professions Act. However, the complainant will not be identified.
Before you file a complaint
Step 1 - Consider speaking with your dentist
If you are unhappy with an aspect of your dental care, we encourage you, if possible, to talk about your concerns directly with your dentist. However, if you are not comfortable doing this or you are not satisfied with the outcome, you can certainly contact us.
Step 2 - Find the best place to report your concern
Review the “We can investigate” and the “We cannot investigate” sections above to determine if your concern may be addressed by filing a formal complaint. If you are unsure, we can also guide you.
File a complaint online
Access the online complaint form
Mail or fax complaint
Click here to download and print a PDF complaint form
Call or email us
Call us (902) 420-0083 or email us (reception@nsrdda.ca) and we will send you a form.
Your Title Goes Here
Your content goes here. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings.
Your Title Goes Here
Your content goes here. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings.
Your content goes here. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings.
Your content goes here. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings.
Licence Renewal Deadline
Day(s)
:
Hour(s)
:
Minute(s)
:
Second(s)
