Dental Hygiene Act, 1991

Bills that amended this Act0

No published amendment links yet for this Act.

Sections36

• 1Definitions

  1 In this Act, “College” means the College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario; (“Ordre”) “Health Professions Procedural Code” means the Health Professions Procedural Code set out in Schedule 2 to the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991; (“Code des professions de la santé”) “member” means a member of the College; (“membre”) “profession” means the profession of dental hygiene; (“profession”) “this Act” includes the Health Professions Procedural Code. (“la présente loi”) 1991, c. 22, s. 1.

• 1.
• 2Health Professions Procedural Code

  2 (1) The Health Professions Procedural Code shall be deemed to be part of this Act. 1991, c. 22, s. 2 (1). Terms in Code (2) In the Health Professions Procedural Code as it applies in respect of this Act, “College” means the College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario; (“ordre”) “health profession Act” means this Act; (“loi sur une profession de la santé”) “profession” means the profession of dental hygiene; (“profession”) “regulations” means the regulations under this Act. (“règlements”) 1991, c. 22, s. 2 (2). Definitions in Code (3) Definitions in the Health Professions Procedural Code apply with necessary modifications to terms in this Act. 1991, c. 22, s. 2 (3).

• 2.
• 3Scope of practice

  3 The practice of dental hygiene is the assessment of teeth and adjacent tissues and treatment by preventive and therapeutic means and the provision of restorative and orthodontic procedures and services. 1991, c. 22, s. 3.

• 3.
• 4Authorized acts

  4 In the course of engaging in the practice of dental hygiene, a member is authorized, subject to the terms, conditions and limitations imposed on his or her certificate of registration, to perform the following: 1. Scaling teeth and root planing including curetting surrounding tissue. 2. Orthodontic and restorative procedures. 3. Prescribing, dispensing, compounding or selling a drug designated in the regulations. 1991, c. 22, s. 4; 2009, c. 26, s. 4 (1). Section Amendments with date in force (d/m/y) 2009, c. 26, s. 4 (1) - 15/12/2009

• 4.
• 5Additional requirements for authorized acts

  5 (1) A member shall perform a procedure under the authority of paragraph 1 of section 4 in accordance with any requirements prescribed in the regulations, and may perform such a procedure, (a) on the member’s own initiative, if none of the contraindications prescribed in the regulations to performing the procedure are present, and if the member ceases the procedure if any of the prescribed contraindications to continuing the procedure are present; or (b) if the procedure is ordered by a member of the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario. 2007, c. 10, Sched. B, s. 4 (1). Same (2) A member shall not perform a procedure under the authority of paragraph 2 of section 4 unless the procedure is ordered by a member of the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario. 2007, c. 10, Sched. B, s. 4 (1). Additional requirements for authorized acts (2.1) A member is not authorized to perform an…

• 5.
• 6College established

  6 The College is established under the name College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario in English and Ordre des hygiénistes dentaires de l’Ontario in French. 1991, c. 22, s. 6.

• 6.
• 7Council

  7 (1) The Council shall be composed of, (a) at least nine and no more than 12 persons who are members elected in accordance with the by-laws; (b) at least eight and no more than eleven persons appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council who are not, (i) members, (ii) members of a College as defined in the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, or (iii) members of a Council as defined in the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991; and (c) two persons selected, in accordance with a by-law made under section 12.1, from among members who are faculty members of an educational institution in Ontario that is authorized to grant diplomas or degrees in dental hygiene. 1991, c. 22, s. 7 (1); 1998, c. 18, Sched. G, s. 27 (1, 2). Who can vote in elections (2) Subject to the by-laws, every member who practises or resides in Ontario and who is not in default of payment of the annual membership fe…

• 7.
• 8President and Vice-President

  8 The Council shall have a President and Vice-President who shall be elected annually by the Council from among the Council’s members. 1991, c. 22, s. 8.

• 8.
• 9Restricted titles

  9 (1) No person other than a member shall use the title “dental hygienist”, a variation or abbreviation or an equivalent in another language. 1991, c. 22, s. 9 (1). Representations of qualification, etc. (2) No person other than a member shall hold himself or herself out as a person who is qualified to practise in Ontario as a dental hygienist or in a specialty of dental hygiene. 1991, c. 22, s. 9 (2). Definition (3) In this section, “abbreviation” includes an abbreviation of a variation. 1991, c. 22, s. 9 (3).

• 9.
• 10Repealed

  10 Repealed: 2021, c. 25, Sched. 25, s. 9. Section Amendments with date in force (d/m/y) 2021, c. 25, Sched. 25, s. 9 - 03/06/2021

• 10.
• 11Offence

  11 Every person who contravenes subsection 9 (1) or (2) is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine of not more than $25,000 for a first offence and not more than $50,000 for a second or subsequent offence. 2007, c. 10, Sched. B, s. 4 (2). Section Amendments with date in force (d/m/y) 2007, c. 10, Sched. B, s. 4 (2) - 04/06/2007

• 11.
• 12Council Regulations

  12 (1) Subject to the approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council and with prior review by the Minister, the Council may make regulations, (a) specifying drugs that a member may use in the course of engaging in the practice of dental hygiene; (b) prescribing requirements for performing scaling teeth and root planing, including curetting surrounding tissue, which requirements may include the educational and experiential qualifications that must be obtained in order for a member to undertake those procedures on the member’s own initiative; (c) prescribing contraindications to a member performing or continuing to perform on the member’s own initiative the procedures of scaling teeth and root planing, including curetting surrounding tissue; (d) designating drugs that a member may prescribe, dispense, compound or sell in the course of engaging in the practice of dental hygiene; (e) regulat…

• 12.
• 12.1By-laws

  12.1 The Council may make by-laws respecting the qualifications, selection and terms of office of Council members who are selected. 1998, c. 18, Sched. G, s. 27 (4). Section Amendments with date in force (d/m/y) 1998, c. 18, Sched. G, s. 27 (4) - 01/02/1999

• 12.2Minister regulations

  12.2 Subject to the approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, the Minister may make regulations exempting a person from subsection 9 (1) or (2) and setting conditions on such an exemption. 2025, c. 11, Sched. 10, s. 3. Section Amendments with date in force (d/m/y) 2025, c. 11, Sched. 10, s. 3 - 01/01/2026

• 13.
• 13Transitional

  13 A person who, on the day before this Act comes into force, was registered as a dental hygienist under the regulation entitled “Dental Hygienists” made under the Health Disciplines Act shall be deemed to be the holder of a certificate of registration issued under this Act subject to any term, condition or limitation to which the registration was subject. 1991, c. 22, s. 13.

• 14.
• 14., 15.
• 14., 15

  14., 15 Repealed: 2007, c. 10, Sched. B, s. 4 (5). Section Amendments with date in force (d/m/y) 2007, c. 10, Sched. B, s. 4 (5) - 04/06/2007

• 15.
• 16

  16 Omitted (provides for coming into force of provisions of this Act). 1991, c. 22, s. 16.

• 16.
• 17

  17 Omitted (enacts short title of this Act). 1991, c. 22, s. 17. ______________

• 17.