CDSA Dentist Complaints in Alberta: What Dentists Should Know

Understanding the CDSA complaints process

What's distinctive about the CDSA complaints process

• Complaints Director may resolve, mediate, investigate, or refer directly to a Hearing
• Independent Ombudsman reviews CDSA processes annually and reports publicly
• Governed under the omnibus Health Professions Act
• Expert assessor reports can be commissioned before any hearing referral
• Wide discretion at the intake stage

What triggers complaints against dentists in Alberta

How a CDSA complaint typically moves

1. 1

   Complaint received and acknowledged

   The regulator receives the written complaint, assigns a file number, and sends a written acknowledgement to the complainant and the dentist.

2. 2

   Notice to the dentist

   You are sent the complaint and supporting materials, and invited to provide a written response. The regulator's complaints staff is typically your point of contact.

3. 3

   Investigation

   An investigator gathers records, may interview witnesses, and asks targeted questions. You have a duty to cooperate but you are entitled to counsel.

4. 4

   Written response from the dentist

   You submit a written response addressing each allegation with supporting documentation. This is usually the single most important document on the file.

5. 5

   Review by the Complaints Director (Professional Conduct Department)

   The Complaints Director (Professional Conduct Department) reviews the file on the record. It can take no action, issue advice or a caution, accept an undertaking, require remediation, or refer the matter forward.

6. 6

   Possible referral to the Hearings Tribunal

   Serious matters or unresolved factual disputes may be referred to the Hearings Tribunal for a formal hearing on the merits.

Possible outcomes

Practical tips for dentists in Alberta

• Read the regulator's notice carefully. Your deadline, the scope of the allegations, and the specific information requested are spelled out in it.
• Notify your professional liability insurer the same day you receive the complaint — coverage typically includes legal representation.
• Preserve all relevant records immediately: clinical notes, billing data, schedules, and any text or email communications with the patient or colleagues.
• Do not contact the complainant directly. Communicate only through the regulator or through counsel.
• Be calm, factual, and chronological in your written response. The committee reviews the file on the record; the quality of that document drives the outcome.