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Part II .

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Dentistry and Dental Assisting Regulations

made under Sections 4, 13 and 14 of the

Regulated Health Professions Act

S.N.S. 2023, c. 15

O.I.C. 2025-125 (effective May 1, 2025), N.S. Reg. 83/2025

Table of Contents

Please note: this table of contents is provided for convenience of reference and does not form part of the regulations.

Click here to go to the text of the regulations .

Interpretation

Citation

Definitions

Regulator

Provincial Dental Board of Nova Scotia continued

Bylaw authorization

Public representatives on Board

Composition of registration and licensing panel

Scope of Practice

Scope of practice of dentistry

Scope of practice of dental assisting

Scope of practice of designations and licensing categories

Registration and Licensing

Practising licence categories

Conditional licence categories

Application and criteria for registration in practising register

Criteria for practising licence

Criteria for registration in conditional register

Criteria for conditional licence

Practice and Title Use Restrictions, Services Not Prohibited and Publication Restrictions

Restriction on practice of dentistry

Restriction on practice of dental assisting

Restriction on use of “dentist” title, description or designation

Restriction on use of “dental assistant” title, description or designation

Restriction on use of bylaw licensing category title, description or designation

Services not prohibited by Act, regulations or bylaws

Restriction on use of title or designation in advertisement or publication

Inspections

Inspector

Authority of inspector

Report by inspector

Power of inspector to remove items

Fines

Professional conduct fine maximum

Criminal Offences and Withdrawal or Suspension of Privileges

Criminal offence or suspension or withdrawal of privilege of applicant or registrant

Interpretation

Citation

1 These regulations may be cited as the Dentistry and Dental Assisting Regulations .

Definitions

2 In these regulations,

“Act” means the Regulated Health Professions Act ;

“Board” is further defined to mean the board of the Regulator;

“competency framework” means a framework approved by the Board establishing

the competencies that registrants are required to possess to practise safely and

ethically within the scope of practice of their designation or licensing category;

“Court” means the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia;

“dentistry” means services usually performed by or under the supervision of a

dentist and includes the assessment, diagnosis, management, treatment and

prevention of diseases, disorders and conditions of the orofacial complex and

associated anatomical structures;

“former Act” is further defined to mean

Chapter 3 of the Acts of 1992, the Dental

Act ;

“General Regulations” means the Regulated Health Professions General

Regulations made under the Act;

“inspector” means an inspector appointed under these regulations;

“intra-oral dental services” means services performed within the oral cavity;

“Provincial Dental Board of Nova Scotia” means the board established under

Section 13 of the former Act;

“registration and licensing decision maker” means the registrar, the registration and

licensing committee or the registration and licensing review committee, as

applicable;

“Regulator” means the Nova Scotia Regulator of Dentistry and Dental Assisting;

“title protection” means the restriction on the use of a title associated with a

particular designation or category of licence to persons who are authorized to

practise within the scope of that designation or registered and licensed in that

category of licence.

Regulator

Provincial Dental Board of Nova Scotia continued

3 The Provincial Dental Board of Nova Scotia is continued as a regulatory body under the

name Nova Scotia Regulator of Dentistry and Dental Assisting with the purpose of

regulating the professions of dentistry and dental assisting in accordance with the objects

set out in

Section 6 of the Act.

Bylaw authorization

4 The Regulator is authorized to make bylaws under clauses 12(2)(b), (c), (e), (g), (h), (i),

(k), (

l) and (

m) of the Act, in accordance with the Act and these regulations.

Public representatives on Board

5 In addition to the requirement of subsection 7(2) of the Act, the number of public

representatives on the Board must be no fewer than 3 and no more than 4.

Composition of registration and licensing panel

6 In addition to the requirements of subsection 31(1) of the Act, a registration and

licensing committee panel or a registration and licensing review committee panel

appointed to review a matter must include at least 1 registrant of the profession that the

matter relates to.

Scope of Practice

Scope of practice of dentistry

(1) The scope of practice of dentistry is the application of specialized and

evidence-based dentistry knowledge, skills and judgment that have been taught in

an approved education program or are set out in 1 or more of the following

approved by the Board:

(

a) competency frameworks;

(

b) standards of practice;

(

c) practice guidelines.

(2) The scope of practice of dentistry as described in subsection (1) includes the

performance of any or all of the following activities:

(

a) assessing, diagnosing, managing, treating and preventing diseases, disorders

and conditions of the orofacial complex and associated anatomical

structures;

(

b) performing any other services, roles, functions and activities included in the

scope of practice of the designations and licensing categories set out in the

bylaws.

(3) The scope of practice of dentistry also includes health promotion, research,

education, inter-professional collaboration, consultation, management,

administration, advocacy, regulation or system development that is related to the

activities and application of specialized and evidence-based dentistry knowledge,

skills and judgment described in subsections (1) and (2).

Scope of practice of dental assisting

(1) The scope of practice of dental assisting is the application of specialized and

evidence-based dental assisting knowledge, skills and judgment

(

a) under the supervision of other regulated health professionals as required by

these regulations, the bylaws or the standards of practice; and

(

b) that have been taught in an approved education program or are set out in 1

or more of the following approved by the Board:

(

i) competency frameworks,

(ii) standards of practice,

(iii) practice guidelines.

(2) The scope of practice of dental assisting as described in subsection (1) includes the

performance of any or all of the following activities:

(

a) assisting in the provision of intra-oral dental services set out in the bylaws

or standards of practice while under the supervision of a licensed dentist or

licensed dental hygienist who is physically present within the office

premises while the licensed dental assistant engages in the practice of dental

assisting;

(

b) providing oral health and hygiene instruction;

(

c) providing dietary counselling related to oral health;

(

d) performing any other services, roles, functions and activities included in the

scope of practice of the designations and licensing categories set out in the

bylaws.

(3) The scope of practice of dental assisting also includes health promotion, research,

education, inter-professional collaboration, consultation, management,

administration, advocacy, regulation or system development that is related to the

activities and application of specialized and evidence-based dental assisting

knowledge, skills and judgment described in subsections (1) and (2).

Scope of practice of designations and licensing categories

9 Under clauses 12(2)(

k) and (

l) of the Act, the Regulator may make bylaws setting out all

of the following:

(

a) the scope of practice of each designation and licensing category established

(

i) in these regulations, and

(ii) in the bylaws;

(

b) the title protection authorized for each designation and licensing category

established in the bylaws.

Registration and Licensing

Practising licence categories

10 The following are the practising licence categories for dentistry and dental assisting:

(

a) dentist practising licence;

(

b) dental assistant practising licence;

(

c) any other category of practising licence established in the bylaws.

Conditional licence categories

11 The following are the conditional licence categories for dentistry and dental assisting:

(

a) dentist conditional licence;

(

b) dentist academic licence;

(

c) dentist graduate student licence;

(

d) dental assistant conditional licence;

(

e) any other category of conditional licence established in the bylaws.

Application and criteria for registration in practising register

(1) An application required by

Section 34 of the Act must be completed in the form

required by the registrar.

(2) In addition to the completed application, an applicant for registration in a practising

register must submit all of the following to the registrar:

(

a) proof satisfactory to the registration and licensing decision maker that the

applicant meets all of the following criteria, except if any or all of the

criteria are waived under

Section 59 of the Act:

(

i) they are a graduate of 1 of the following:

(

A) an education program approved for registration in the practising

register in which they seek to be registered,

(

B) an education program that, in the opinion of the registration

and licensing decision maker, is equivalent to an education

program approved for registration in the practising register in

which they seek to be registered,

(

C) an education program that, together with the applicant’s

additional education and experience and in the opinion of the

registration and licensing decision maker, provides the

applicant with the competencies to practise in the scope of

practice of registrants in the practising register in which they

seek to be registered,

(ii) they have successfully completed any examinations required by the

Board for registration in the practising register in which they seek to

be registered,

(iii) they have completed a competence assessment, if directed to do so

by the registration and licensing decision maker,

(iv) they have successfully completed any bridging education required for

registration that was determined to be necessary by a competence

assessment,

manner prescribed by the registrar,

(vi) they are a Canadian citizen or legally entitled to live and work in

Canada,

(vii) they have the capacity, competence and character to safely and

ethically engage in the practice of the profession in which they seek

to be registered without conditions or restrictions,

(viii) they have no outstanding complaints, prohibitions, conditions,

agreements or restrictions originating from the Regulator or any other

registration or licensing authority that would preclude registration in

a register other than a conditional register,

(ix) they are the person named in the documentation submitted in support

of the application,

(

x) under the requirements of the Act, these regulations and the bylaws,

they are eligible for a practising licence that corresponds with the

practising register in which they seek to be registered,

(xi) they meet any additional criteria for registration in a practising

register set out in the bylaws;

(

b) the applicable fee, within the time determined by the registrar and using a

method acceptable to the registrar.

(3) The processing under

Section 36 of the Act of an application and its associated

information, documents and fee described in subsections (1) and (2) must be

completed by the registrar as soon as practicable.

(4) A review and decision under Sections 37 and 38 of the Act regarding an

application must be completed by the registration and licensing committee as soon

as practicable.

Criteria for practising licence

(1) In addition to the completed application in a form approved by the registrar

required by

Section 35 of the Act, an applicant for a practising licence must submit

all of the following to the registrar:

(

a) proof satisfactory to the registration and licensing decision maker that the

applicant meets all of the following criteria, except if any or all of the

criteria are waived under

Section 59 of the Act:

(

i) they meet the registration criteria in subclauses 12(2)(a)(iii), (iv), (v),

(vi), (vii) and (ix),

(ii) they are registered in the practising register that corresponds with the

licensing category for which they are seeking a practising licence,

(iii) they have professional liability insurance or another form of

malpractice coverage or liability protection in the form and amount

set by the Board,

(iv) they meet the requirements of the continuing competence program

for the licensing category for which they are seeking a practising

licence,

(

v) they meet the currency of practice requirements for the licensing

category for which they are seeking a practising licence,

(vi) they have no outstanding complaints, prohibitions, conditions,

agreements or restrictions originating from the Regulator or any other

registration or licensing authority that limit their ability to practise,

(vii) they have completed any assessments or education required by the

Board for the licensing category for which they are seeking a

practising licence,

(viii) they meet any additional criteria for issuing a practising licence set

out in the bylaws;

(

b) the applicable fee, within the time determined by the registrar and using a

method acceptable to the registrar.

(2) The processing under

Section 36 of the Act of an application and associated

information, documents and fee described in subsection (1) must be completed by

the registrar as soon as practicable.

(3) A review and decision under Sections 37 and 38 of the Act regarding an

application must be completed by the registration and licensing committee as soon

as practicable.

Criteria for registration in conditional register

(1) The registrar must enter the name of a person who meets all of the following in a

conditional register:

(

a) for an existing registrant in a practising register, they have

(

i) agreed to conditions or restrictions that limit their ability to practise,

(ii) had conditions or restrictions that limit their ability to practise

imposed on them as a result of a regulatory process;

(

b) for an applicant for registration in a register, they meet all of the following

requirements:

(

i) all of the criteria for registration in a practising register, other than the

criteria in subclauses 12(2)(a)(vii), (viii), (

x) and (xi), and except as

provided in subsection (4),

(ii) they have the capacity, competence and character to safely and

ethically engage in the practice of the profession in which they seek

to be registered with conditions or restrictions,

(iii) they have either

(

A) agreed to conditions or restrictions that limit their ability to

practise, or

(

B) had conditions or restrictions that limit their ability to practise

imposed on them as a result of a regulatory process,

(iv) under the requirements of the Act, these regulations and the bylaws,

they are eligible for a conditional licence that corresponds with the

conditional register in which they seek to be registered,

(

v) any other requirements for registration in a conditional register set

out in the bylaws,

(vi) they have paid the applicable fee, within the time determined by the

registrar and using a method acceptable to the registrar.

(2) The processing of an application under

Section 36 of the Act for an applicant

described in clause (1)(

b) must be completed by the registrar as soon as

practicable.

(3) A review and decision under Sections 37 and 38 of the Act regarding an

application made by an applicant described in clause (1)(

b) must be completed by

the registration and licensing committee as soon as practicable.

(4) An applicant who has not passed the examinations required for registration, but

who otherwise meets the requirements of subsection 15(1), may be granted

conditional registration by the registration and licensing decision maker pending

the passing of the registration examinations.

Criteria for conditional licence

(1) The requirements to be met for issuing a conditional licence under

Section 43 of

the Act are as follows:

(

a) for a person who is an existing registrant holding a practising licence, they

have

(

i) agreed to conditions or restrictions that limit their ability to practise,

(ii) had conditions or restrictions that limit their ability to practise

imposed on them as a result of a regulatory process;

(

b) for an applicant for a licence, they meet all of the following requirements:

(

i) all of the criteria for registration in a practising register, other than the

criteria in subclauses 12(2)(a)(vii), (viii), (

x) and (xi), and except as

provided in subsection (4),

(ii) they are registered in a conditional register that corresponds with the

licensing category for which they are seeking a conditional licence,

(iii) the requirements for a practising licence in subclauses 13(1)(a)(iii)

and (vii),

(iv) they have the capacity, competence and character to safely and

ethically engage in the practice of the profession in which they seek

to be licensed with conditions or restrictions,

(

v) any additional criteria for issuing a conditional licence set out in the

bylaws,

(vi) they have either

(

A) agreed to the registration and licensing decision maker’s

imposition of conditions or restrictions that limit their ability to

practise, or

(

B) had conditions or restrictions that limit their ability to practise

imposed by the registration and licensing decision maker or a

statutory committee;

(

c) for all applicants, they have paid the applicable fee, within the time

determined by the registrar and using a method acceptable to the registrar.

(2) The processing of an application under

Section 36 of the Act for an applicant

described in clause (1)(

b) must be completed by the registrar as soon as

practicable.

(3) A review and decision under Sections 37 and 38 of the Act regarding an

application made by an applicant described in clause (1)(

b) must be completed by

the registration and licensing committee as soon as practicable.

(4) An applicant who has not passed the examinations required for registration, but

who otherwise meets the requirements of subsection (1), may be issued a

conditional licence by the registration and licensing decision maker pending the

passing of the registration examinations.

Practice and Title Use Restrictions, Services Not Prohibited and Publication Restrictions

Restriction on practice of dentistry

16 No person may engage or offer to engage in the practice of dentistry or describe their

activities as “dentistry” unless they are 1 of the following:

(

a) a registrant holding a dentist practising licence, a dentist conditional licence,

a dentist academic licence or a dentist graduate student licence;

(

b) otherwise authorized to practise dentistry, in accordance with the Act, these

regulations, the General Regulations or the bylaws;

(

c) exempt from the application of the Act, these regulations, the General

Regulations or the bylaws.

Restriction on practice of dental assisting

17 No person may engage or offer to engage in the practice of dental assisting or describe

their activities as “dental assisting” unless they are 1 of the following:

(

a) a registrant holding a dental assistant practising licence or a dental assistant

conditional licence;

(

b) otherwise authorized to practise dental assisting, in accordance with the Act,

these regulations, the General Regulations or the bylaws;

(

c) exempt from the application of the Act, these regulations, the General

Regulations or the bylaws.

Restriction on use of “dentist” title, description or designation

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2), no person may take or use the title,

description or designation of “dentist”, “dental surgeon” or “doctor of dental

surgery” or any derivation or abbreviation of them either alone or in combination

with other words, letters or descriptions unless the person is 1 of the following:

(

a) a registrant holding 1 of the following under these regulations or the bylaws:

(

i) a dentist practising licence, as permitted by clause 40(

a) of the Act,

(ii) a dentist conditional licence,

(iii) a dentist academic licence;

(

b) otherwise authorized to practise as a dentist or to use the relevant title,

description or designation in accordance with the Act, these regulations, the

General Regulations or the bylaws.

(2) A person who meets all of the requirements for registration in the dentist practising

register except for passing the registration examinations approved by the Board,

and who is in a graduate dentist education program approved by the Board, may

practise within their graduate dentist education program and may use the title

“graduate student dentist” only.

Restriction on use of “dental assistant” title, description or designation

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2), no person may take or use the title,

description or designation of “dental assistant”, the abbreviation “DA” or any

derivation or abbreviation of them either alone or in combination with other words,

letters or descriptions unless the person is 1 of the following:

(

a) a registrant holding 1 of the following under these regulations or the bylaws:

(

i) a dental assistant practising licence, as permitted by clause 40(

a) of

the Act,

(ii) a dental assistant conditional licence;

(

b) otherwise authorized to practise as a dental assistant or to use the relevant

title, description or designation in accordance with the Act, these

regulations, the General Regulations or the bylaws.

(2) A person who meets all of the requirements for registration in the dental assistant

practising register except for passing the registration examinations approved by the

Board, and who has been issued a dental assistant conditional licence pending the

passing of the examinations, may use the title “provisional dental assistant” and the

abbreviation “provisional DA” only.

Restriction on use of bylaw licensing category title, description or designation

20 No person may take or use the title, description or designation of a licensing category

established in the bylaws under clause 12(2)(

l) of the Act, unless the person is 1 of the

following:

(

a) a registrant holding a licence in the category that authorizes the use of that

title, description or designation;

(

b) otherwise authorized to practise within the scope of the designation or to

use the title, description or designation of that licensing category, in

accordance with the Act, these regulations or the bylaws.

Services not prohibited by Act, regulations or bylaws

21 In addition to the services set out in

Section 164 of the Act, nothing in the Act, these

regulations or the bylaws prohibits the provision of the following services:

(

a) the practice of dental hygiene by a licensed dental hygienist under the

Dental Hygienists Act or the Act;

(

b) the practice of denturism by a licensed denturist under the Denturists Act or

the Act;

(

c) the practice of dental technology by a licensed dental technologist under the

Dental Technicians Act or the Act;

(

d) intra-oral suctioning, if it is performed in the presence of a licensed dentist

or licensed dental hygienist and in accordance with the standards of practice.

Restriction on use of title or designation in advertisement or publication

22 In any advertisement or publication, including business cards, websites and signage, that

refers to activities that fall within the scope of practice of dentistry or dental assisting, the

following restrictions apply:

(

a) only a person who is authorized to do so by these regulations may use the

following alone or in combination with other words, letters or descriptions:

(

i) the title of “dentist” or “dental assistant” or any other title or

designation protected by these regulations or the bylaws,

(ii) any derivation or abbreviation of the titles or designations described

in subclause (i);

(

b) only a person who is authorized to do so under

Section 16 may describe

their activities as “dentistry”;

(

c) only a person who is authorized to do so under

Section 17 may describe

their activities as “dental assisting”.

Inspections

Inspector

23 The registrar

(

a) may appoint an inspector; and

(

b) is an inspector.

Authority of inspector

(1) An inspector may do all of the following without notice, at any reasonable time

and without a court order:

(

a) inspect premises where dentistry is practised, if the premises is under the

care and control of a dentist;

(

b) inspect equipment, materials and anything else with which a person

practises dentistry or carries out duties and procedures delegated by a

registrant;

(

c) inspect any of the following types of records:

(

i) records of a dental practice, including client records,

(ii) records of a registrant concerning the registrant’s practice of

dentistry,

(iii) records located at premises where dentistry is practised,

(iv) records of a registrant relating to any of the following reimbursers of

the cost of dental services:

(

A) a federal or Provincial government payment agency,

(

B) an insurer;

(

d) observe, inspect or audit the practice of dentistry or the carrying out of

duties and procedures in a dental practice, including the carrying out of

duties and procedures by or on behalf of a registrant.

(2) If a registrant or a person who is delegated duties and procedures by a registrant

misleads, obstructs or does not co-operate with an inspector while the inspector is

exercising the powers conferred upon them by these regulations, the registrar may

suspend the licence of the registrant until the misleading behaviour, obstruction or

lack of co-operation ceases.

Report by inspector

(1) The inspector must make a report setting out

(

a) the findings of an inspection conducted under

Section 24; and

(

b) any recommendations.

(2) The registrar must provide a copy of the report described in subsection (1) to each

registrant whose premises, equipment or records are inspected.

Power of inspector to remove items

(1) An inspector may do all of the following at any reasonable time and without a

court order:

(

a) remove a client record or other record from premises where dentistry is

practised for the purpose of copying or photographing the record if it is

impractical to make the copy or take the photograph on the premises;

(

b) remove any of the following from premises where dentistry is practised:

(

i) a dental model,

(ii) a dental prosthesis,

(iii) a dental instrument or material,

(iv) anything that, in the opinion of the inspector, is evidence of

professional misconduct, conduct unbecoming the profession,

incompetence, incapacity or a violation of the Act, these regulations,

the General Regulations or the bylaws.

(2) If an item is removed from premises where dentistry is practised under clause

(1)(b), it may be disposed of as directed by the registrar, complaints committee or

professional conduct committee unless the Court orders otherwise.

(3) An inspector must provide a registrant at premises where dentistry is practised with

a receipt listing all items removed from the premises where dentistry is practised

under subsection (1).

Fines

Professional conduct fine maximum

27 A fine imposed by the professional conduct committee under clause 110(1)(

m) of the

Act must not exceed a maximum amount of $100 000.

Criminal Offences and Withdrawal or Suspension of Privileges

Criminal offence or suspension or withdrawal of privilege of applicant or registrant

28 In addition to the requirements of

Section 61 of the Act and

Section 60 of the General

Regulations, an applicant or registrant who is charged with, pleads guilty to or is

convicted of any offence under the Food and Drugs Act (Canada) or its regulations or

who has privileges under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (Canada) suspended

or withdrawn must immediately report the offence, suspension or withdrawal to the

registrar.

Legislative History

Reference Tables

Dentistry and Dental Assisting Regulations

N.S. Reg.

83/2025

Regulated Health Professions Act

Note: The

information in these tables does not form part of the regulations and is

compiled by the Office of the Registrar of Regulations for reference only.

Source Law

The current consolidation of the Dentistry and Dental Assisting Regulations made

under the Regulated Health Professions Act includes all of the following regulations:

N.S.

Regulation

In force

date*

How in force

Royal Gazette

Part II Issue

83/2025

May 1, 2025

date specified

May 16, 2025

The following regulations are not

yet in force and are not included in the current consolidation:

N.S.

Regulation

In force

date*

How in force

Royal Gazette

Part II Issue

*See subsection 3(6) of the Regulations Act for

rules about in force dates of regulations.

Amendments by Provision

ad. = added

am. = amended

fc. = fee change

ra. = reassigned

rep. = repealed

rs . = repealed and substituted

Provision affected

How affected

..........................................................

Note that changes to headings are not

included in the above table.

Editorial Notes and Corrections

Note

Effective

date

Repealed and Superseded

N.S.

Regulation

Title

In force

date

Repealed

date

Note: Only

regulations that are specifically repealed and replaced appear in this

table. It may not reflect the entire

history of regulations on this subject matter.