An RCDSO matter usually starts with a patient complaint or mandatory report, followed by a College investigation and a decision by the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee (ICRC). Most complaints resolve at that stage. Only the most serious matters are referred to a formal Discipline Committee hearing, where outcomes range from a reprimand to licence suspension or revocation.
- Most RCDSO matters begin with a patient complaint or a mandatory report from an employer, hospital, or another regulated health professional.
- The College investigates and the dentist is normally given an opportunity to respond in writing before the ICRC decides the outcome.
- Only a minority of complaints are referred to the Discipline Committee — most resolve earlier, through no action, a caution, or a remediation requirement.
- A discipline hearing is a formal, court-like proceeding with disclosure, witnesses, and legal argument on both sides.
- The College is represented by its own lawyer at a hearing, so a dentist facing one should be represented too.
- Outcomes at a hearing can range from a reprimand to terms on your certificate to suspension or revocation of your licence to practise.
How an RCDSO Complaint Starts
A matter before the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO) typically begins with a written complaint from a patient or member of the public, or a mandatory report from an employer, hospital, insurer, or another regulated health professional who is legally required to report certain concerns. However it begins, a complaint is filed with your regulatory college and the same investigation and review process follows.
The Investigation Stage
Once a complaint or report is received, the College notifies the dentist of the allegations and gathers relevant evidence — clinical charts, radiographs, billing records, and witness statements. The dentist is normally given an opportunity to provide a written response before any decision is made.
The ICRC decides based on the written investigation file, including your own response. Getting legal advice before you respond can materially affect whether the matter resolves early or escalates toward a hearing.
The ICRC Decision
The Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee (ICRC) reviews the completed investigation and decides the outcome. It can conclude no further action is necessary, issue a caution, require a remediation program, or refer the matter onward. Our companion guide explains what a caution, SCERP, or undertaking actually means and how each differs from a full discipline finding.
The ICRC process is designed to screen complaints. Many resolve with education, a caution, or a finding that no further action is warranted, without ever reaching the Discipline Committee.
Referral to the Discipline Committee
Where the ICRC refers a matter to professional discipline, the Discipline Committee hears evidence about the case the ICRC has sent it. This step is reserved for the most serious concerns — allegations that, if proven, would significantly affect a dentist’s fitness to practise or patient safety.
What Happens at the Hearing
A discipline hearing resembles a civil trial. Both sides exchange disclosure in advance, pre-hearing conferences and motions may address procedural issues, and the College is always represented by its own lawyer. Witnesses, including expert witnesses on clinical standards where relevant, give evidence before a panel that issues a written decision.
A Toronto dentist is referred to discipline after a complaint alleging inadequate informed consent before a procedure. With legal representation, the dentist challenges the sufficiency of the College’s evidence at the hearing and negotiates a resolution involving a remediation program and practice monitoring, rather than contesting every allegation at a full contested hearing.
Possible Outcomes
If the Discipline Committee finds professional misconduct or incompetence, penalties can range from a reprimand, to a specified continuing education or remediation program, to terms and conditions on the dentist’s certificate of registration, to suspension or revocation of the licence to practise dentistry anywhere in Ontario, including Toronto and the GTA.
Facing an RCDSO complaint or discipline hearing? Call our Toronto regulatory defence lawyers at 416-274-2222 for a confidential consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most commonly through a written complaint from a patient or member of the public, or through a mandatory report that an employer, hospital, insurer, or another regulated health professional is required to file about certain conduct or competence concerns.
The College notifies the dentist of the allegations, gathers clinical records and other evidence, and normally gives the dentist an opportunity to provide a written response before the ICRC decides how the matter proceeds.
The Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee reviews the completed investigation and decides the outcome. Most complaints resolve at this stage — through no further action, a caution, or a remediation requirement — without proceeding to a formal Discipline Committee hearing.
It resembles a court trial: both the College and the dentist present evidence and witnesses, often supported by legal counsel, before a panel of the Discipline Committee, which issues a written decision on the facts and any penalty.
You can, but the College is always represented by its own lawyer at a hearing. Given what is at stake for your licence, most dentists in this position retain experienced legal representation.
Penalties range from a reprimand, to specified continuing education or remediation, to terms and conditions on your certificate of registration, to suspension or, in the most serious cases, revocation of your licence to practise dentistry in Ontario.
Yes — the investigation stage, including your written response to the initial complaint, is often the single most important opportunity to keep a matter from ever reaching a discipline hearing.