Latest News

December 17, 2025

Happy holidays from the ODA

Dear valued Members:

This is the last issue of The Composite for 2025. Thank you for reading this year! We'll continue to bring you important information in the new year. The next issue will come into your inbox on January 7, 2026. Past issues of The Composite are available on our website.

Please note that the ODA will be closed from noon on December 24, 2025, to January 2, 2026. There will be limited telephone and email support available for our members on December 27 and 30 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on December 31 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Please note: any submissions to the ODA Job & Ad Board made after December 23, 2025, will not be posted until January 5.

From everyone at the ODA, we wish you a happy and healthy holiday season.

2026 Suggested Fee Guides and passwords

In case you missed our message on Monday, the 2026 Suggested Fee Guides are now available for download. We remind you that the ODA no longer mails Suggested Fee Guide passwords. To access your password, log in to your Member Profile. You will find it under the Overview tab. You will need your password and member ID to install the Suggested Fee Guide updates provided by your software vendor. If you do not personally update your software, please share that information with the staff member responsible for it. To update your dental office software, you will need to follow the instructions that you receive from your software vendor.

New job posting rules for Ontario employers starting January 1, 2026

Members have two options through the ODA for publicly advertised job postings for associates and dental staff: the online Job & Ad Board and Ontario Dentist classifieds. The Ontario government is introducing new rules under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA), effective January 1, 2026, that will impact these postings if you are an employer with 25 or more employees. In summary, an external job posting that is advertised to the general public:

• Must include the expected compensation or compensation range for the position (unless the annual salary is greater than $200,000). The compensation range should not exceed $50,000 annually (i.e., a salary range of $35,000 to $50,000 would be acceptable, but not $35,000-$85,001).
• Must disclose whether Artificial Intelligence (AI) is used to screen, assess, or select applicants.
• Must disclose whether it is for an existing vacancy (as opposed to creating a "pool" of applicants for a future vacancy).
• Cannot require "Canadian experience."

Employers also have a duty to inform an interviewed applicant whether a hiring decision has been made within 45 days of the interview and must retain a copy of every publicly advertised job posting and associated application form for three years after public access to the posting is removed.

We strongly encourage employers to review the requirements set out in Part III.1 – Job Postings of the ESA to ensure compliance. Read the bulletin from the law firm Fasken that outlines and explains these new rules.

Beginning on January 2, the ODA will not post any member's job listing that doesn't meet these requirements. To help you navigate these new rules, we are consulting with legal and employment experts and revising our online Job & Ad Board to guide you when you submit an ad.

Questions about this topic? Contact us at [email protected] or through our Member Feedback channel.

Stronger together: Highlights from the November General Council meeting

Last month, 110 Councillors representing 38 component societies gathered for the fall interim General Council meeting. This is the central forum where society representatives ensure the diverse interests of members across Ontario are heard and help guide the direction of the Association and profession.

Dr. David Brown, President, presented his Stewardship Report to Council. This year-end recap highlights key achievements, advocacy efforts and our commitment to inclusiveness and engagement. It also looks ahead to building a stronger, unified profession and shaping the future of dentistry together. Please watch our short highlight video.

You can also learn more in our General Council Highlights, which summarize the meeting's most important decisions, discussions, and updates. Access both documents on the ODA Governance page on the website.

Registration for ASM26 starts in January!

We are excited to bring you another incredible Annual Spring Meeting (ASM) this May 7 to 9, 2026. Mark your calendars, because early-bird registration opens January 8, 2026! Registering early saves you money and gives you the best chance to sign up for the courses that most interest you. We have more than 90 courses and an incredible roster of hands-on workshops that you'll be able to choose from. The ASM26 Show Guide will be available on the ASM website in January.

Don't forget, we still have some hotel rooms left for you to book at special rates. Once the rooms are gone, they're gone. Visit the Hotels page to book your ASM26 accommodation.

Amplifying your voice: RCDSO consultations

The ODA has responded to two recent Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO) consultations regarding its updated guidelines on implant dentistry and the use of sedation and general anesthesia.

In our response to the implant dentistry consultation, the ODA is supportive, in principle, of an evidence-informed, competency-based approach to regulating implant dentistry. In our response to the sedation and general anesthesia consultation, we asked the RCDSO to ensure the new standard of practice is clear and practical.

Visit our Consultations Directory to learn more about both of these submissions. Please email any questions you may have to [email protected] or through our Member Feedback channel.

Deadline to report PLP claims approaching

As part of the RCDSO's divestiture of its Professional Liability Program (PLP) and transition to the new provider, Navacord, in 2026, any known claims or situations that could give rise to a claim (i.e., a demand for money or services) must be reported to the PLP no later than December 31, 2025, to ensure coverage under the current policy. Connect with a PLP Advisor at [email protected] or use the PLP's Report an Incident online intake form.

Continue to verify CDCP eligibility – Member Eligibility Review process is investigating discrepancies

A significant number of Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) patients are expected to receive notice letters in the coming weeks because of discrepancies identified through Health Canada's ongoing Member Eligibility Review (MER) process, for example, discrepancies between reported access to private coverage compared to T4/T4A reports. If a CDCP patient is found ineligible or unable to clarify identified discrepancies, their coverage will be terminated, and patients will be asked to repay amounts covered by the CDCP. As a result of the ODA's successful advocacy, dentists are not responsible for repayments resulting from patient errors or misrepresentations.

It is imperative to verify a patient's CDCP eligibility prior to every appointment to ensure it remains active. This can be done through Sun Life Direct or by calling the Sun Life CDCP Contact Centre at 1-888-888-8110. On our website, we have two new MER resources – one for participants and one for providers.

CDA letter to Health Canada regarding impacts of recent CDCP changes

The Canadian Dental Association (CDA), our federal advocate, and the Denturist Association of Canada (DAC) have raised concerns with Deputy Minister of Health Greg Orencsak regarding the lack of sufficient consultation with oral health stakeholders on major CDCP policy changes, despite a 2024 commitment that such engagement would occur. The retroactive implementation of these changes and absence of timely consultation has resulted in confusion and unintended, avoidable consequences for both patients and providers, including delayed treatment and significant out-of-pocket costs. Read the letters:

• November 13, 2025: Impacts of Recent Changes to CDCP Laboratory Fee Reimbursements
• December 16, 2025: Importance of Consultation on Recent CDCP Policy Changes Affecting Patient Care

Thank you to our members for their support in providing the ODA with real-world examples of the impacts of these policy changes on patients. Please continue to share examples with us at [email protected]. They help inform and advance our advocacy with Health Canada. Please ensure all patient information is removed.

Have time off? Learn more about getting involved on an ODA Committee

If you have some time off this holiday season, why not learn more about becoming a volunteer at the ODA? Visit the Volunteer Spotlights page to read about the experiences of some of our volunteers and see how valuable they say the experience is. Whether you are new to volunteering or an experienced volunteer, we need what you can contribute to the work we do on behalf of the profession. The position of Mentored Committee Member is perfect for first-time volunteers. These are one-year, non-renewable terms that allow members to experience serving on an ODA committee.

Visit the ODA Elections page for more details, online volunteer application forms, and the Call for Volunteers from the December issue of Ontario Dentist for the available positions and committee descriptions. The application deadline for Committees and Vice-President is January 26, 2026. The application deadline for the Board and Chair of General Council is March 22, 2026.

Questions? Please contact Kimberly Figueira at [email protected] or through our Member Feedback channel.

CDSPI's year in learning: Five must-read insights for dentists

This year, CDSPI's Learning Hub offered a wide range of articles, guides and profiles that resonated with dentists navigating financial decisions, career transitions, and the realities of practice ownership. From managing debt to strengthening clinic resilience and planning for major life or career changes, these pieces reflected the questions dentists are asking right now.

Together, these articles reflect the year's most meaningful conversations: financial resilience, cybersecurity, ownership readiness, and the profession's deep commitment to community care.