D-3 - Dental Act

Updated to 12 July 2000

This document has official status.

chapter D-3

Dental Act

The Minister of Justice is entrusted with the application of this Act. Order in Council 29-2016 dated 28 January 2016, (2016) 148 G.O. 2 (French), 1254.

DIVISION I DEFINITIONS

1. In this Act and the regulations made thereunder, unless the context indicates a different meaning, the following terms mean:

(a)  “Order” : the Ordre des dentistes du Québec constituted by this Act;

(b)  “Bureau” : the Bureau of the Order;

(c)  “dentist” or “member of the Order” : any person entered on the roll;

(d)  “permit” : a permit issued in accordance with the Professional Code (chapter C-26) and this Act;

(e)  (paragraph repealed);

(f)  “institution” : an institution within the meaning of the Act respecting health services and social services (chapter S-4.2) or an institution within the meaning of the Act respecting health services and social services for Cree Native persons (chapter S-5);

(g)  “roll” : the list of the members in good standing of the Order prepared in accordance with the Professional Code and this Act.

1973, c. 49, s. 1; 1974, c. 65, s. 81; 1977, c. 5, s. 229; 1992, c. 21, s. 148; 1994, c. 40, s. 298; 1994, c. 23, s. 23.

DIVISION II THE ORDRE DES DENTISTES DU QUÉBEC

2. All the dentists qualified to practise dentistry in Québec constitute a professional order called the “Ordre professionnel des dentistes du Québec” or the “Ordre des dentistes du Québec”.

1973, c. 49, s. 2; 1977, c. 5, s. 229; 1994, c. 40, s. 299.

3. Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Order and its members shall be governed by the Professional Code (chapter C-26).

1973, c. 49, s. 3.

4. The head office of the Order shall be at Montréal or at any other place in Québec determined by regulation of the Bureau adopted pursuant to paragraph f of section 93 of the Professional Code (chapter C-26).

1973, c. 49, s. 4; 1994, c. 40, s. 300.

5. Every proceeding directed against the Order must be served upon the secretary or one of his assistants, at the head office of the Order.

1973, c. 49, s. 5.

DIVISION III THE BUREAU

6. The Order shall be governed by a Bureau consisting of a president and 24 directors.

1973, c. 49, s. 6; 1994, c. 40, s. 301.

7. Twenty directors shall be elected in the manner provided for in this Act and in the Professional Code (chapter C-26).

Four other directors shall be appointed by the Office des professions du Québec, in the manner provided in the Professional Code.

1973, c. 49, s. 7; 1974, c. 65, s. 109; 1994, c. 40, s. 302.

8. (Repealed).

1973, c. 49, s. 8; 1994, c. 40, s. 303.

9. Elections for the office of president shall be held every four years on the first Monday in October if the president is elected by a general vote of the members entered on the roll, or at the first meeting of the Bureau after that date if the president is elected by the elected directors.

When the president is elected by the elected directors, the Bureau shall be deemed to be regularly constituted, notwithstanding that the number of directors is reduced by one.

1973, c. 49, s. 9; 1999, c. 40, s. 101.

10. Elections for the office of elected director shall be held on the first Monday in October every two years.

They shall provide for the replacement of those elected directors whose term is about to expire.

1973, c. 49, s. 10.

11. The choice of the directors appointed by the Office des professions du Québec shall be made at the same time as the elections for elected directors.

When this choice is made, provision shall be made to replace the appointed directors whose term is about to expire.

1973, c. 49, s. 11; 1974, c. 65, s. 109.

12. The president and the directors shall be elected or appointed, as the case may be, for a term of four years.

1973, c. 49, s. 12.

13. At the first meeting of the Bureau following the last Monday in October of each year, the elective members of the Bureau shall by secret ballot designate from among their number a vice-president and two members who shall be members of the executive committee.

The vice-president shall be ex officio a member and the vice-president of the executive committee.

At the same meeting, another member of the executive committee shall be designated by secret ballot of the members of the Bureau from among the members appointed by the Office.

1973, c. 49, s. 13; 1974, c. 65, s. 82.

14. If the president is absent or unable to act, he shall be replaced by the vice-president.

1973, c. 49, s. 14; 1999, c. 40, s. 101.

15. In addition to the duties contemplated in section 86 of the Professional Code (chapter C-26), the Bureau shall:

(a)  advise the Minister of Health and Social Services on the quality of dental care provided in the centres operated by the institutions and the standards to be followed to improve the quality of such care;

(b)  (paragraph repealed);

(c)  (paragraph repealed);

(d)  (paragraph repealed).

1973, c. 49, s. 15; 1985, c. 23, s. 24; 1992, c. 21, s. 149, s. 375; 1994, c. 40, s. 304.

16. In the performance of the duties assigned to it by paragraph a of section 15, the Bureau may have inquiries made into the quality of the dental care provided in the centres operated by the institutions and may constitute a committee of inquiry for that purpose.

1973, c. 49, s. 16; 1992, c. 21, s. 150, s. 375.

17. It is forbidden to hinder in any way a member of a committee of inquiry constituted under section 16 in the performance of his duties, to mislead him by concealment or false declarations or refuse to provide him with any information or document relating to an inquiry which he holds under this Act.

Every person who contravenes this section is guilty of an offence and liable to the penalties provided in section 188 of the Professional Code (chapter C-26).

1973, c. 49, s. 17.

18. The Bureau may inquire into any matter relating to the ethics of dental practice, the discipline of the members of the Order or the honour and dignity of the profession.

For the purposes of such inquiry, the Bureau shall delegate a member of the Order who shall have the right to obtain from any dentist, institution or patient all the information he considers useful, and professional secrecy may not be invoked by any of them.

In the case of refusal to answer or to produce a document related to the inquiry, the Order may obtain, on motion duly served on the person interested, an order of the Superior Court equivalent to an order for contempt of court.

1973, c. 49, s. 18; 1992, c. 21, s. 375.

18.1. The Bureau shall, on request or on its own initiative, send the information obtained by a committee of inquiry, the professional inspection committee, the syndic or the assistant syndics, to the council of physicians, dentists and pharmacists established for the institution to which a dentist contemplated in an inquiry is attached, that it believes useful to the exercise of the functions of the council.

1981, c. 22, s. 36; 1984, c. 47, s. 209; 1992, c. 21, s. 151, s. 375.

19. In addition to the duties provided in sections 87 to 93 of the Professional Code (chapter C‐26), the Bureau shall by regulation:

(a)  determine from among the acts contemplated in sections 26 and 27 those which, under certain prescribed conditions, may be performed by classes of persons other than dentists;

(b)  (subparagraph repealed);

(c)  determine the standards for the form and content of verbal or written prescriptions made by a dentist.

The Bureau shall, before passing a regulation under subparagraph a of the first paragraph, consult the Office des professions du Québec and the professional orders to which the persons contemplated in the regulation belong or, if there are no such orders, the representative bodies of such classes of persons.

Sections 95.2 and 95.3 of the Professional Code apply to any regulation adopted pursuant to subparagraph c of the first paragraph.

1973, c. 49, s. 19; 1974, c. 65, s. 109; 1994, c. 40, s. 305; 2000, c. 13, s. 57.

20. (Repealed).

1973, c. 49, s. 20; 1974, c. 65, s. 109; 1989, c. 29, s. 1; 1994, c. 40, s. 306.

21. (Repealed).

1973, c. 49, s. 21; 1983, c. 54, s. 35; 1994, c. 40, s. 306.

22. (Repealed).

1973, c. 49, s. 22; 1994, c. 40, s. 306.

DIVISION IV

Repealed, 1994, c. 40, s. 307.

1994, c. 40, s. 307.

23. (Repealed).

1973, c. 49, s. 23; 1994, c. 40, s. 307.

24. (Repealed).

1973, c. 49, s. 24; 1985, c. 21, s. 96; 1988, c. 41, s. 88; 1993, c. 51, s. 72; 1994, c. 16, s. 50; 1994, c. 40, s. 307.

25. (Repealed).

1973, c. 49, s. 25; 1994, c. 40, s. 307.

DIVISION V PRACTICE OF DENTISTRY

26. Every act the object of which is the diagnosis or treatment of any deficiency affecting the teeth, mouth, maxillae or adjacent tissue in human beings constitutes the practice of dentistry.

1973, c. 49, s. 26.

27. Notwithstanding any other general law or special Act, dentists shall be qualified to prescribe medication for the purposes contemplated in section 26, to take impressions and occlusions and to test, set, adjust, replace and sell removable or fixed devices.

For the purposes of this section the words “removable devices” mean detachable dental prostheses to replace natural teeth and the words “fixed devices” mean fixed prostheses added to or set in natural teeth.

1973, c. 49, s. 27.

28. A dentist may, in the practice of his profession, give advice that may prevent diseases of the teeth, mouth or maxillae and promote means to ensure dental health.

1973, c. 49, s. 28.

29. (Repealed).

1973, c. 49, s. 29; 1994, c. 40, s. 308.

30. The Bureau may issue, on the conditions it determines, a temporary permit to any person who does not fulfil the conditions for issue of the permit, but is engaged as a professor of health sciences in a university of Québec. Such permit shall be valid for the term of the engagement of such person as a professor, but shall not exceed one year, except with the authorization of the Government, when the public interest so requires.

1973, c. 49, s. 30; 1994, c. 40, s. 309.

31. The Bureau may grant on the conditions it determines, to any person who does not fulfil the conditions for issue of the permit, a restrictive permit which shall be annual and renewable.

The holder of such permit shall not perform professional acts other than those specifically authorized by his permit.

1973, c. 49, s. 31; 1994, c. 40, s. 310.

32. (Repealed).

1973, c. 49, s. 32; 1994, c. 40, s. 311.

33. (Repealed).

1973, c. 49, s. 33; 1994, c. 40, s. 311.

34. Every dentist may use the medication, substances and instruments that he may need in the practice of his profession and administer and prescribe medication to his patients.

He may also issue attestations relating to the supplying of medication.

1973, c. 49, s. 34.

35. No dentist may have a direct or indirect interest in an undertaking for the manufacture or sale of any dental prosthesis. If an interest in such an undertaking devolves to him by succession or otherwise, he shall dispose of it immediately.

However, a dentist may have one dental technician as an employee.

1973, c. 49, s. 35.

36. No person may practise dentistry under a name other than his own.

Nevertheless, dentists shall be allowed to practise their profession under the name of one or two or more of the partners. The name of any partner who has ceased to practise his profession may appear in the name for a period of not more than three years from the date he ceased to practise, provided his name appeared in the name at the time he ceased to practise.

1973, c. 49, s. 36; 1989, c. 29, s. 2.

37. No dentist may be compelled to declare what has been revealed to him in his professional character.

1973, c. 49, s. 37.

DIVISION VI ILLEGAL PRACTICE OF DENTISTRY

38. Subject to the rights and privileges expressly granted by law to other professionals, no person may perform one of the acts described in sections 26 and 27 unless he is a dentist.

This section shall not apply to the acts performed:

(a)  by a person in accordance with the provisions of a regulation adopted pursuant to paragraph h of section 94 of the Professional Code (chapter C-26);

(b)  by a person belonging to a class of persons contemplated in a regulation adopted pursuant to subparagraph a of the first paragraph of section 19, provided he performs them under the conditions prescribed in the regulation;

(c)  by students within the framework of a training program for persons other than dentists and contemplated in the regulation passed under subparagraph a of the first paragraph of section 19.

1973, c. 49, s. 38; 1983, c. 54, s. 36; 1994, c. 40, s. 312.

39. Every person who contravenes section 38 is liable, for each offence, to the penalties provided in section 188 of the Professional Code (chapter C-26).

1973, c. 49, s. 39.

DIVISION VII

This Division ceased to have effect on 17 April 1987.

40. (This section ceased to have effect on 17 April 1987).

1982, c. 21, s. 1; U. K., 1982, c. 11, Sch. B, Part I, s. 33.

REPEAL SCHEDULE

In accordance with section 17 of the Act respecting the consolidation of the statutes (chapter R-3), chapter 49 of the statutes of 1973, in force on 31 December 1977, is repealed, except sections 40 to 49 and 51, effective from the coming into force of chapter D-3 of the Revised Statutes.