The Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO) has frozen its 2027 regulatory fee at $2,170 CAD and will no longer collect professional liability fees on behalf of its Professional Liability Program (PLP) provider, so Ontario dentists will pay for PLP coverage separately through Navacord when they renew. At the same September 24, 2026 meeting, Council previewed a new Standard of Practice on Implant Dentistry that is scheduled to return for final approval in December.
As of October 2026, the 2027 renewal cycle is approaching, and the way Ontario dentists are billed is changing. The RCDSO published its Council Highlights from the 458th Council meeting on October 6, 2026, and the full Council package spells out the details. Here is what changed, what it means for your practice's budget and paperwork, and what is coming next on implants.
What Changed on 2027 Fees
According to the RCDSO's Council Highlights, Council approved the following after a 60-day consultation:
- Regulatory fee frozen: registrants renewing for 2027 will pay $2,170 CAD, the same as in 2025 and 2026. The annual CPI increase is waived for 2027.
- PLP no longer collected by the College: the RCDSO will not directly collect PLP fees for 2027. Required insurance can be purchased through Navacord during registration and renewal.
- Reduced-fee categories standardized: all reduced-fee registration categories will pay 10% of the annual fee.
- One application fee: a standardized $350 CAD application fee now applies across all registration categories. The previous $250 application fee and $100 reinstatement fee were consolidated into this single fee.
The College also notes that consultation feedback recommended exploring leave categories of registration, which it says it is reviewing.
Why the number on your invoice will look different
The Council package explains the background. When the PLP moved to new ownership, the College collected PLP costs on behalf of the new provider for the first year under a billing support arrangement with Navacord. That arrangement covered the 2026 licence period and ends December 31, 2026. In the June 2026 Council briefing, staff explained that removing the PLP component lowers the College fee from $3,670 CAD to $2,170 CAD, and that the new PLP provider will collect fees directly from members starting with the 2027 membership cycle.
The important point for budgeting: the lower College fee does not by itself mean renewal got cheaper. The liability coverage portion moved to a separate payment. The RCDSO materials we reviewed do not state what the 2027 PLP premium will be, so check the amount directly with Navacord rather than estimating it.
Pro Tip: If your practice reimburses associates' or your own licensing costs, split the 2027 budget line into two items, "RCDSO fee" and "PLP coverage", so the separate Navacord payment does not get missed or double-counted when the renewal invoices arrive this fall.
Do not let the insurance step slip
The change matters more than an accounting line. The Council package notes that 2025 amendments to the Registration Regulation expanded the grounds for suspension to include failure to provide required information and failure to provide evidence of professional liability protection. A suspended member has a 60-day grace period to ask the Registrar to lift the suspension. After 60 days, if no request is made or the request is not granted, the certificate is revoked. A request to lift such a suspension carries the $350 CAD application fee; the Council materials state that this merges the former $250 administrative and $100 reinstatement fees, so the total is unchanged and only the timing of the charge differs.
Pro Tip: Put the PLP purchase and proof of coverage on the same renewal checklist as your RCDSO renewal, with a named person responsible in your practice. Now that the two payments are separate, it is easier for one to be completed without the other.
Reduced fees and pro-rating
The June briefing notes that fewer than 1% of members are in a reduced-fee category and estimates the revenue impact at about $14,200 CAD a year. The recommendations Council approved in principle included pro-rating reduced fees by licence duration (33% for fewer than four months, 50% for four to seven months, 100% for seven months or longer) and making charitable dentistry eligible for a reduced fee. One question raised in June, whether Navacord would also pro-rate its fee, was not answered at the time; staff undertook to raise it with the RCDSO/Navacord Oversight Committee. If you are registering mid-year or in a reduced category, ask Navacord directly how your PLP fee will be calculated.
Implant Dentistry: A New Standard Heads to December
Council also received an update on a new Standard of Practice on Implant Dentistry, which will replace the College's 2013 Educational Requirements & Professional Responsibilities for Implant Dentistry Guideline. The College's Quality Assurance Committee approved the review in January 2024, and a dedicated working group has met since November 2024. The final draft is scheduled to return to Council for approval in December.
The risks the College is targeting
The September briefing note lists the key patient safety risks identified over the course of the review:
- inadequate treatment planning and case selection;
- variability in education, clinical training and competence;
- poor management of complications;
- failure to appropriately disclose harm;
- inappropriate adoption of new technology and AI-supported tools; and
- lack of clear accountability in shared-care arrangements.
Straightforward versus complex cases
The draft distinguishes two categories. The briefing note describes straightforward implant dentistry as cases where diagnosis, treatment planning, placement and restoration can be completed with well-established techniques and minimal anatomical, functional or patient-related challenges. Complex implant dentistry involves significant anatomical limitations, medical considerations, esthetic demands, functional issues or advanced surgical or restorative procedures that raise the level of risk.
What changed after consultation
The College reports more than 650 responses across two consultations, which it describes as one of its largest engagements on a clinical Standard. Views were divided on who should deliver implant education (general dentists, specialists or both), on whether tougher education requirements could reduce access in rural and remote communities, and on how existing training would be recognized. The briefing note previews several revisions made in response, including:
- recognition of equivalent prior education and training, rather than requiring every dentist to complete new programs;
- enhanced competency assessment for straightforward implant dentistry;
- refined education requirements for complex procedures, with more emphasis on curriculum content, competency assessment and hands-on clinical training;
- expanded expectations on treatment planning, communication, shared care and referrals;
- more flexibility on risk assessment tools and emerging technologies;
- clarified expectations on managing complications and referring to specialists; and
- refinements to recordkeeping requirements.
Council has not yet seen the final text, so the specific requirements are not settled. If you place or restore implants in Toronto, Mississauga, Markham or anywhere in Ontario, now is a good time to gather documentation of your implant training and case experience so you are ready when the final Standard is published.
Other Decisions From the Meeting
- Financial Reserves Policy: approved. The Finance, Audit and Risk Committee will review reserve allocation decisions, and Council will approve them.
- Reconciliation Action Plan: formally received. The College says it was developed with Council, staff, system partners and Indigenous registrants, with First Peoples Group. A formal launch and RCDSO Connect session is set for November 5, 2026.
- Next meeting: Thursday, October 22, 2026, held virtually with a livestream.
EBIKO Dental will continue monitoring RCDSO decisions that affect Ontario practices, including the final Implant Dentistry Standard in December. For more Canadian dental news and resources, visit EBIKO Dental.
Sources
- RCDSO. Council Highlights – September 24, 2026
- RCDSO. Council Meeting Materials, September 24, 2026 (includes June 18, 2026 minutes, Fees By-law 18 briefing and Implant Dentistry Standard Review Update)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much is the RCDSO annual fee for 2027?
The RCDSO regulatory fee for 2027 is $2,170 CAD, the same as in 2025 and 2026, after Council waived the annual CPI increase. Professional liability coverage is no longer included in that fee and is paid separately through Navacord.
Q: Do Ontario dentists still need professional liability coverage if the RCDSO fee no longer includes it?
Yes. The RCDSO says required insurance can be purchased through Navacord during registration and renewal, and 2025 regulation changes allow suspension for failing to provide evidence of professional liability protection.
Q: When will the RCDSO Implant Dentistry Standard take effect?
The RCDSO materials we reviewed do not give an effective date. The final draft is scheduled to return to RCDSO Council for approval in December 2026, and it will replace the College's 2013 implant dentistry guideline.