{"id":31291,"date":"2026-07-24T22:19:45","date_gmt":"2026-07-24T22:19:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/?page_id=31291"},"modified":"2026-07-24T22:22:19","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T22:22:19","slug":"how-to-respond-to-a-cdss-complaint","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/how-to-respond-to-a-cdss-complaint\/","title":{"rendered":"How to respond to a CDSS complaint"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"31291\" class=\"elementor elementor-31291\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c2aeb17 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"c2aeb17\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-254c674 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"254c674\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n<!-- How to respond to a CDSS complaint | Canada Knowledge & Support | Elementor Custom HTML fragment -->\r\n<!-- Body only. 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.disc{font-size:.79rem;line-height:1.55;color:var(--muted);border-top:1px solid var(--line);padding-top:20px;margin-top:2.6rem;font-style:italic;}\r\n@media(max-width:640px){.hec-canart .cgrid{grid-template-columns:1fr;}.hec-canart{font-size:16px;}}\r\n<\/style>\r\n<article class=\"hec-canart\">\r\n  <nav class=\"crumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/knowledge-support\/\">Knowledge &amp; Support<\/a><span>\/<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/knowledge-support\/dentists\/saskatchewan\/\">Dentists &mdash; Saskatchewan<\/a><span>\/<\/span>How to respond to a CDSS complaint<\/nav>\r\n  <p class=\"eyebrow\">Saskatchewan &middot; College of Dental Surgeons of Saskatchewan<\/p>\r\n  <h1>How to respond to a CDSS complaint<\/h1>\r\n  <div class=\"meta\"><b>7 min read<\/b><span>Last updated July 14, 2026<\/span><\/div>\r\n\r\n  <p class=\"lede\">A complaint to the College of Dental Surgeons of Saskatchewan is not a hearing and not a finding &mdash; it is the start of a process under <em>The Dental Disciplines Act, 1997<\/em>, run by the Professional Conduct Committee. The single most useful thing to know is that most complaints are resolved by that committee without ever reaching a discipline hearing, and how you respond in the first few weeks does more to shape the outcome than almost anything that follows.<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <div class=\"callout\"><p><strong>Before you reply, get advice.<\/strong> Contact your professional liability insurer and instruct a regulatory lawyer before you respond to the Registrar. Do not contact the complainant, and do not amend the dental record. Failing to engage with the Professional Conduct Committee is itself treated as professional misconduct in Saskatchewan &mdash; so silence is not an option.<\/p><\/div>\r\n\r\n  <h2>Who regulates you, and under what law<\/h2>\r\n  <p>In Saskatchewan, dentists are regulated by the <strong>College of Dental Surgeons of Saskatchewan (CDSS)<\/strong> under <strong><em>The Dental Disciplines Act, 1997<\/em><\/strong> &mdash; the same Act that also governs dental hygienists, assistants, therapists, technicians and denturists through their own bodies. The College licenses dentists and, in the public interest, investigates and disciplines them.<\/p>\r\n  <p>Complaints are handled by the College&rsquo;s <strong>Professional Conduct Committee (PCC)<\/strong>, which investigates every complaint, and &mdash; where a matter is serious &mdash; the separate <strong>Discipline Committee<\/strong>, which holds hearings. Unlike British Columbia, Saskatchewan has <strong>not<\/strong> replaced its statute: the Act and this two-committee structure remain in force.<\/p>\r\n  <h2>Who can complain, and how a matter starts<\/h2>\r\n  <p>A complaint may come from a <strong>member of the public, an employer, another health professional, another College, or another dentist<\/strong> &mdash; and concerns raised by <strong>third-party payers or insurers<\/strong> are handled through the same process. Complaints are made <strong>in writing to the Registrar<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n  <p>It is worth knowing what actually generates complaints in Saskatchewan. In CDSS&rsquo;s own reporting, the <strong>single largest category is advertising violations<\/strong>, ahead of clinical-care concerns &mdash; a reminder that a dentist can attract a complaint through the business of practice, not only the dentistry itself. The College can also proceed against a <strong>former member<\/strong>, provided a complaint reaches the PCC <strong>within two years<\/strong> of the dentist ceasing to be licensed in the province.<\/p>\r\n  <h2>What happens after a complaint is filed<\/h2>\r\n  <p>The Registrar refers the complaint to the <strong>Professional Conduct Committee<\/strong>, which investigates. You will be told of the complaint and given the opportunity to respond. The PCC gathers the relevant material &mdash; the <a href=\"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/courses\/documentation-for-healthcare-professionals\/\">dental record<\/a>, radiographs, correspondence, and, where relevant, advertising &mdash; and forms a view on how the matter should be resolved.<\/p>\r\n  <p>Under <strong>section 29(3)<\/strong> of the Act, the PCC then chooses from a defined menu: recommend to the Discipline Committee that it <strong>hear a formal complaint<\/strong>; recommend <strong>no further action<\/strong>; refer the matter to <strong>mediation<\/strong> (only where it concerns only the complainant and you, and you both agree); require you to <strong>appear before the PCC<\/strong>; or resolve it by a <strong>Consent to Conditions Agreement<\/strong>. Most complaints end here, not at a hearing.<\/p>\r\n  <h2>How your response is read<\/h2>\r\n  <p>A response to the Professional Conduct Committee is not a formality and it is not a chat. It becomes part of the record, it can shape whether a formal complaint is recommended, and it is read for one thing above all: whether you understand the concern.<\/p>\r\n  <p>The responses that go badly are defensive, blame the patient or the complainant, or minimise the issue. The responses that go well are factual, grounded in the <a href=\"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/courses\/documentation-for-healthcare-professionals\/\">record as it was written at the time<\/a>, and show genuine <a href=\"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/courses\/insight-for-fitness-to-practise\/\">insight<\/a>. And a specific warning for Saskatchewan: the case law here is blunt that <strong>failing to engage with the PCC is itself professional misconduct<\/strong> &mdash; a dentist has been found guilty on that ground alone, quite apart from the original concern.<\/p>\r\n  <h2>The Consent to Conditions Agreement<\/h2>\r\n  <p>Saskatchewan has a distinctive and valuable resolution tool: the <strong>Consent to Conditions Agreement (CCA)<\/strong>. It allows a matter to be resolved by agreement between you and the PCC, on terms that may include undertakings, education, or conditions on your practice, without a discipline hearing.<\/p>\r\n  <p>Two features make it important. First, a CCA is <strong>confidential<\/strong> &mdash; the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal has confirmed that a CCA is protected by settlement privilege and cannot be compelled into a civil lawsuit against you. Second, the details of a CCA or of the PCC&rsquo;s investigation are <strong>deliberately kept out of the written report<\/strong> to the Discipline Committee, so that a resolution attempt cannot prejudice a later hearing panel if the matter does not settle. Whether a CCA is right for you is a legal judgement to make with counsel.<\/p>\r\n  <h2>What can happen to your licence meanwhile<\/h2>\r\n  <p>In most cases you continue to practise while a complaint is dealt with. But the Act contains an interim power: under <strong>section 32<\/strong>, your licence can be <strong>suspended pending the outcome of an investigation<\/strong> where that is necessary to protect the public, before any hearing has taken place.<\/p>\r\n  <p>That step is reserved for the more serious matters &mdash; typically those touching patient safety, impairment, or sexual boundaries. If you receive notice of a proposed suspension, treat it as urgent and get legal representation the same day.<\/p>\r\n  <h2>What to do this week<\/h2>\r\n  <p>Contact your <strong>professional liability insurer<\/strong> and instruct a regulatory lawyer before you write anything. Diarise the deadline in the Registrar&rsquo;s letter. Preserve the dental record exactly as it stands &mdash; retrospective changes are detectable and convert a clinical concern into an <a href=\"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/courses\/probity-and-honesty-for-healthcare-professionals\/\">honesty<\/a> concern. Say nothing to the complainant.<\/p>\r\n  <p>Then start the work that actually helps: an honest account of what happened, and <a href=\"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/courses\/dealing-with-a-complaint-or-investigation-professionally\/\">targeted learning<\/a> in the area of concern &mdash; begun now rather than after conditions are proposed. It guarantees nothing, but the PCC&rsquo;s own tools, including the Consent to Conditions Agreement, are built around exactly this kind of demonstrated change.<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <section class=\"kt\">\r\n    <h2>Key takeaways<\/h2>\r\n    <ul>\r\n      <li>Saskatchewan dentists are regulated by CDSS under The Dental Disciplines Act, 1997 &mdash; a stable statute, not affected by BC's 2026 reforms.<\/li>\r\n      <li>Complaints go in writing to the Registrar and are investigated by the Professional Conduct Committee (PCC).<\/li>\r\n      <li>Advertising violations are CDSS's single largest complaint category, ahead of clinical-care concerns.<\/li>\r\n      <li>The PCC's section 29(3) menu includes no further action, mediation, appearing before the PCC, a Consent to Conditions Agreement, or referral to a hearing.<\/li>\r\n      <li>A Consent to Conditions Agreement is confidential and protected by settlement privilege; failing to cooperate with the PCC is itself misconduct.<\/li>\r\n      <li>Under section 32 your licence can be suspended pending the outcome of an investigation where the public needs protection.<\/li>\r\n    <\/ul>\r\n  <\/section>\r\n\r\n  <section class=\"courses\">\r\n    <h2>Related courses<\/h2>\r\n    <div class=\"cgrid\">\r\n      <a class=\"ccard\" href=\"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/courses\/dealing-with-a-complaint-or-investigation-professionally\/\"><b>Dealing with a Complaint or Investigation Professionally<\/b><span>Conduct yourself correctly from the first CDSS letter to the final decision.<\/span><\/a>\r\n      <a class=\"ccard\" href=\"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/courses\/ethics-and-ethical-standards-for-dentists-and-dental-professionals\/\"><b>Ethics and Ethical Standards for Dentists and Dental Professionals<\/b><span>The ethical and advertising standards a CDSS complaint is measured against.<\/span><\/a>\r\n      <a class=\"ccard\" href=\"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/courses\/documentation-for-healthcare-professionals\/\"><b>Documentation for Healthcare Professionals<\/b><span>The dental record is the evidence the Professional Conduct Committee relies on.<\/span><\/a>\r\n      <a class=\"ccard\" href=\"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/courses\/insight-for-fitness-to-practise\/\"><b>Insight for Fitness to Practise<\/b><span>Show the PCC the concern has been understood and addressed.<\/span><\/a>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/section>\r\n\r\n  <section class=\"nextset\">\r\n    <h2>Continue reading<\/h2>\r\n    <ul>\r\n      <li><a href=\"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/what-happens-during-a-cdss-investigation\">What happens during a CDSS investigation?<\/a><\/li>\r\n      <li><a href=\"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/remediation-and-reflection-for-saskatchewan-dentists\">Remediation and reflection for Saskatchewan dentists<\/a><\/li>\r\n    <\/ul>\r\n  <\/section>\r\n\r\n  <section class=\"faq\">\r\n    <h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\r\n    <details><summary>Who regulates dentists in Saskatchewan?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">The College of Dental Surgeons of Saskatchewan (CDSS), under The Dental Disciplines Act, 1997. It licenses dentists and, through its Professional Conduct Committee and Discipline Committee, investigates and disciplines them.<\/div><\/details>\r\n    <details><summary>Who can complain about a dentist in Saskatchewan?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">A member of the public, an employer, another health professional, another College, or another dentist. Third-party payers and insurers use the same process. Complaints are made in writing to the Registrar.<\/div><\/details>\r\n    <details><summary>What are the most common complaints against Saskatchewan dentists?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">In CDSS's own reporting, advertising violations are the single largest category, ahead of clinical-care concerns. A dentist can attract a complaint through the business of practice, not only the dentistry.<\/div><\/details>\r\n    <details><summary>What is a Consent to Conditions Agreement?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">A CCA resolves a complaint by agreement with the Professional Conduct Committee, on terms that may include undertakings, education or practice conditions, without a discipline hearing. It is confidential and protected by settlement privilege.<\/div><\/details>\r\n    <details><summary>Can the College act against me after I stop practising?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">Yes, but only within a limited window. Under section 25.2(1) of the Act, CDSS cannot proceed against a former member more than two years after they cease to be licensed in Saskatchewan.<\/div><\/details>\r\n    <details><summary>Do I need a lawyer for a CDSS complaint?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">It is strongly advisable. Your response can be put before the Discipline Committee, failing to cooperate is itself misconduct, and a Consent to Conditions Agreement should never be signed without advice. Contact your professional liability insurer and a regulatory lawyer.<\/div><\/details>\r\n  <\/section>\r\n\r\n  <p class=\"disc\">This guide is general information for dentists in Saskatchewan and is not legal advice. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the College of Dental Surgeons of Saskatchewan. Regulatory processes change and every case turns on its own facts &mdash; contact your professional liability insurer and a regulatory lawyer about your own matter, and confirm current requirements with CDSS. No course or programme can guarantee the outcome of a regulatory process. Last updated July 14, 2026.<\/p>\r\n<\/article>\r\n\r\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\r\n{\r\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\r\n  \"@graph\": [\r\n    {\r\n      \"@type\": \"Article\",\r\n      \"headline\": \"How to respond to a CDSS complaint\",\r\n      \"description\": \"How to respond to a CDSS complaint in Saskatchewan: the Professional Conduct Committee, the Consent to Conditions Agreement, and why you cannot go silent.\",\r\n      \"inLanguage\": \"en-CA\",\r\n      \"datePublished\": \"2026-07-14\",\r\n      \"dateModified\": \"2026-07-14\",\r\n      \"author\": {\r\n        \"@type\": \"Person\",\r\n        \"name\": \"Dr Shehzad Iqbal\"\r\n      },\r\n      \"publisher\": {\r\n        \"@type\": \"Organization\",\r\n        \"name\": \"Healthcare Ethics Courses\",\r\n        \"url\": \"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/\"\r\n      },\r\n      \"mainEntityOfPage\": {\r\n        \"@type\": \"WebPage\",\r\n        \"@id\": \"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/knowledge-support\/dentists\/saskatchewan\/complaints\/\"\r\n      },\r\n      \"url\": \"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/knowledge-support\/dentists\/saskatchewan\/complaints\/\",\r\n      \"about\": \"CDSS complaint process for dentists in Saskatchewan under The Dental Disciplines Act, 1997\"\r\n    },\r\n    {\r\n      \"@type\": \"BreadcrumbList\",\r\n      \"itemListElement\": [\r\n        {\r\n          \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\r\n          \"position\": 1,\r\n          \"name\": \"Knowledge & Support\",\r\n          \"item\": \"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/knowledge-support\/\"\r\n        },\r\n        {\r\n          \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\r\n          \"position\": 2,\r\n          \"name\": \"Dentists \u2014 Saskatchewan\",\r\n          \"item\": \"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/knowledge-support\/dentists\/saskatchewan\/\"\r\n        },\r\n        {\r\n          \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\r\n          \"position\": 3,\r\n          \"name\": \"How to respond to a CDSS complaint\",\r\n          \"item\": \"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/knowledge-support\/dentists\/saskatchewan\/complaints\/\"\r\n        }\r\n      ]\r\n    },\r\n    {\r\n      \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\r\n      \"mainEntity\": [\r\n        {\r\n          \"@type\": \"Question\",\r\n          \"name\": \"Who regulates dentists in Saskatchewan?\",\r\n          \"acceptedAnswer\": {\r\n            \"@type\": \"Answer\",\r\n            \"text\": \"The College of Dental Surgeons of Saskatchewan (CDSS), under The Dental Disciplines Act, 1997. 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A dentist can attract a complaint through the business of practice, not only the dentistry.\"\r\n          }\r\n        },\r\n        {\r\n          \"@type\": \"Question\",\r\n          \"name\": \"What is a Consent to Conditions Agreement?\",\r\n          \"acceptedAnswer\": {\r\n            \"@type\": \"Answer\",\r\n            \"text\": \"A CCA resolves a complaint by agreement with the Professional Conduct Committee, on terms that may include undertakings, education or practice conditions, without a discipline hearing. It is confidential and protected by settlement privilege.\"\r\n          }\r\n        },\r\n        {\r\n          \"@type\": \"Question\",\r\n          \"name\": \"Can the College act against me after I stop practising?\",\r\n          \"acceptedAnswer\": {\r\n            \"@type\": \"Answer\",\r\n            \"text\": \"Yes, but only within a limited window. 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