In this section, you’ll find answers to questions that the public frequently asks the Office of the Syndic – Ordre des dentistes du Québec. These FAQs are intended as first-line support and do not apply to all circumstances. Do not hesitate to contact us for further information.

Questions

Although few resources are available at this time, certain conditions may make you eligible for a specific assistance program. To find out more, visit Dentacces.ca (in French only).

To find out which dental services are covered under the public plan, you can contact the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec or consult their website.

When you make your appointment, it is important to check whether the dentist you wish to consult participates in the Quebec health insurance plan, since a minority of dentists do not.

It is important to know that filing a request for an inquiry with the Office of the Syndic is not the appropriate recourse for obtaining compensation if you feel you have suffered harm as a result of professional malpractice committed by a dentist. Instead, you should contact the civil courts. Once again, if possible, we encourage you to talk to your dentist first, to express your dissatisfaction and receive answers to your questions.

If you believe that a dentist has failed to meet their ethical obligations, i.e., the duties imposed on them by their profession, you can submit an inquiry request to the Office of the Syndic. If possible, before doing anything else, we invite you to talk to your dentist, to express your dissatisfaction and receive answers to your questions.

Please consult the form designed by the Ordre des dentistes du Québec to help you file an inquiry request regarding a dentist.

The Ordre des dentistes du Québec does not provide consultation services. Consequently, we cannot receive you at our offices to examine you or provide you with treatments.

If you are dissatisfied with a treatment you received, we encourage you to talk to your dentist first to express your dissatisfaction. You can also take steps to get a second opinion from another dentist. To help you find a dentist (generalist or specialist), please visit the Find a dentist page.

Since the success of a treatment can be influenced by many factors beyond dentists’ control, and since each person responds differently to treatments, dentists cannot offer a guarantee on the dental care they provide.

If a treatment is unsuccessful, discuss it with your dentist first. Even if the dentist cannot offer you a guarantee on the treatment provided, they must always do everything they can to provide you with the best possible treatment.

It is the dentist’s responsibility to determine the frequency, type and number of x‑rays needed to properly examine your teeth and mouth. X-rays help diagnose problems or abnormalities that would otherwise go unnoticed during clinical examination alone.

As with any other procedure, x-rays require your consent. If you have any questions or concerns about having x-rays taken, please let your dentist know. They will explain to you why the proposed x-ray is required and relevant for the assessment.

It is important to understand that a dentist may not be able to perform the recommended treatment or follow up properly if the necessary x-rays cannot be taken. In this case, the dentist may be justified in refusing to treat you or continue as your dentist.

It is up to the dentist to determine and set their own fees based on the services provided. The Ordre des dentistes du Québec does not establish fee schedules and it is difficult for us to provide you with information about the fees that a dentist charges.

Although there are fee guides that dentists use as a reference when determining fees, their use is optional.

Accordingly, the ODQ cannot express an opinion on either the cost estimate or appropriateness of a treatment plan recommended by a dentist.

The dentist must inform you in advance of the approximate cost of their services. In addition, the fees invoiced must be fair and reasonable, i.e., proportionate to services rendered and justified by the circumstances.

If a change must be made to a treatment plan for which an agreement has already been established, the dentist must inform you as soon as possible of any additional fees incurred by this change.

To determine the cause of your pain or the treatment required to alleviate it, you should consult a dentist in private practice. An Ordre des dentistes du Québec representative cannot make a diagnosis or suggest treatment.

A dental exam must first be performed to determine the cause of the pain and make a diagnosis. The dentist will then be able to recommend the appropriate treatment for your condition.

If you experience pain following treatment, we recommend that you contact your dentist to inform them of your condition and give them the opportunity to provide you with the necessary care.

You can obtain a copy of your dental records and all accompanying documents, including x-rays, from your dentist. To do so, you need to send your dentist a written request, ideally by email or regular mail, with your signature. You can also ask for your file to be transferred to another dentist.

The dentist will then have 30 days to give you a complete copy of your file or to transfer it. A reasonable fee may be charged to cover the cost of photocopying, transcribing or transmitting the file, in which case you will be informed of the approximate amount to be paid before these procedures are undertaken.

The Ordre des dentistes du Québec cannot recommend a particular dentist. However, there is a tool (in French only) on its website to help you find a general dentist or a specialist. Simply, visit the Find a dentist page, enter your selection criteria (e.g., name of a dentist, city or specialty) and launch the search. By clicking on the names of the dentists listed, you will obtain their full contact information.