Last month, the AAO Advocacy team collaborated closely with the Ontario Association of Orthodontists, the Ontario Dental Association, and other advocates, joining forces to advocate for changes that allow qualified dental assistants to perform orthodontic procedures under proper supervision. These changes would help address the workforce shortage while protecting patient safety in Ontario.
Many thanks to the more than 270 orthodontists, dentists, dental assistants, and other advocates in Ontario who responded to the AAO and OAO alert by signing a public letter explaining orthodontists’ concern to Ontario Minister of Health Sylvia Jones, and Premier Doug Ford.
“Your participation demonstrates to key policy makers that this is not a small or isolated concern, it’s a shared priority for dental professionals across the province,” said Dr. Michael Sherman, AAO trustee and a past president of the OAO. “Other provinces, including British Columbia, Alberta, and Manitoba already allow trained Level II dental assistants to perform basic orthodontic tasks, under supervision, safely and effectively. Ontario’s own regulatory framework has recognized this scope since 2000, yet implementation has stalled.”
By signing the public letter, AAO and OAO members and others helped the professional organizations’ effort to:
- Advocate for patient-centered care and public health
- Support the goal of having Ontario skilled dental assistants use their full training
- Ease workforce pressures in orthodontic practices
- Align Ontario with national standards
View the Public Letter
This important advocacy initiative, with the help of the AAO Component Legal Support Fund and guidance from provincial council from GT & Company, is ongoing, and AAO will provide updates as they are available. Together, we can move this practical reform forward and improve orthodontic care for patients across Ontario.
