Providing Self-Treatment

Denturists provide care and services to patients and clients, as outlined in the Health Professions Act, the Health Information Act, and the College’s Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics.

What isn’t directly addressed is the idea of providing care for yourself. This topic has recently come up at a national level, and while it will be included in future updates to the Standards of Practice, the College would like to share its current interpretation on this matter.

At this time, the College’s view is that self-treatment would likely constitute a conflict of interest. A denturist cannot remain objective when assessing their own needs, fabricating their own dentures, or determining what treatment is appropriate. This mixes personal interest with professional responsibility, which is contrary to the intent of the Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics.

The Standards already place limits on providing care to family members due to similar concerns about loss of objectivity. By extension, treating yourself would go beyond these limits and fall outside acceptable professional practice.

There are also liability and third-party insurance considerations. Third-party insurance providers may not accept claims for self-treatment, and billing for such services could be viewed as misrepresentation. Additionally, you may not be covered by your professional liability insurance if something goes wrong.

The College intends to provide clearer guidance in future revisions to the Standards. In the meantime, denturists are encouraged to seek care from an independent practitioner to ensure objective, appropriate treatment and to maintain public trust in the profession