Skip to main content

All dental offices, including those that provide minimal and moderate sedation and accredited facilities that provide deep sedation and general anaesthesia, are required to report Unforeseen Events to the CDSA.

What is an Unforeseen Event?
Unforeseen Events are events related to patient status or outcomes that are considered significant indicators of health and safety factors for patients which may or may not be associated with harm to the patient.

When reporting an Unforeseen Event
• A telephone report by the regulated member to the CDSA Registrar or their designate must be made within one (1) business day of the event occurring (780-432-1012). Please contact the current designate, Laura Dreger, Director, Regulatory Programs.
• If the CDSA office is closed a call must be made no later than 9 a.m. the following morning for events occurring after hours, and 9 a.m. Monday for any event occurring on a weekend.
• The online-fillable Unforeseen Event Report must be completed within two weeks of the telephone reporting to the CDSA. Handwritten reports will not be accepted.

For questions and inquiries please contact the CDSA at UFE@cdsab.ca

Submit an Unforeseen Event Report

 

Unforeseen Events in Dental Facilities

  • Dental Practice

    Events that Require Mandatory Notification to the CDSA

    • Death that occurs within the dental practice or within 10 days of the procedure.
    • Transfers from the dental practice to a hospital regardless of whether or not the patient was admitted.
    • Unexpected admission to a hospital within 10 days of a procedure performed in the dental practice.
      Note: When notified of an unexpected admission of a patient to hospital within 10 days of the procedure, the Registrar may determine that written notification is not required when the reason given for admission to hospital is not related to the services provided in the dental practice.
    • Clusters of infections among patients treated in the dental practice.
    • Any procedure performed on the wrong patient, site or side.
    • Missing or non-locatable opioids or Schedule 1 controlled substances.
  • Minimal and Moderate Sedation in a Non-Hospital Dental Practice

    Events that Require Mandatory Notification to the CDSA

    • Death that occurs within the dental office or within 10 days of a sedation procedure.
      Note: In the event of a death, the Medical Examiner must be notified prior to any further action to the body, including moving the body or removal of any lines or tubes from the body.
    • When a patient’s response to sedation results in depression beyond the level of sedation intended or entry of the patient into levels of deep sedation or depression beyond sedation or into general anaesthesia.
    • Unforeseen events that required emergency interventions inside the dental office, such as, but not limited to cardiovascular collapse where resuscitation occurred on site and the patient was not transferred to hospital.
    • Transfer from the dental office to a hospital regardless of whether or not the patient was admitted.
    • Unexpected admission to a hospital within 10 days of a procedure or sedation performed in the dental office.
      Note: When notified of an unexpected admission of a patient to hospital within 10 days of the procedure in the dental office, the Registrar may determine that written notification is not required when the reason given for admission to hospital is not related to the services provided in the dental office.
    • Unexpected treatment by a Non-Hospital Surgical Facility (NHSF), Dental Surgical Facility (DSF), or hospital within 10 days of the sedation procedure.
      Note: When notified of unexpected treatment by a Non-Hospital Surgical Facility (NHSF), Dental Surgical Facility (DSF), or hospital within 10 days of the procedure in a dental office, the Registrar may determine that written notification is not required when the reason given for treatment is not related to the services provided in the dental office.
    • Clusters of infections among patients treated in the dental office.
    • Any procedure performed on the wrong patient, site or side.
    • Missing or non-locatable opioids or Class 1 controlled substances.
    • When a reversal agent is used (Flumazenil or Naloxone).


    For more information refer to:     Standard of Practice: Minimal and Moderate Sedation Deep Sedation Deep Sedation and General Anaesthesia in a Non-Hospital Dental Practice

  • Accredited Non-Hospital Surgical Facility (NHSF) or Dental Surgical Facility (DSF)

    Events that Require Mandatory Notification to the CDSA

    • Death within the facility or within 10 days of a sedation procedure.
      Note: In the event of a death, the Medical Examiner must be notified prior to any further action to the body, including moving the body or removal of any lines or tubes from the body.
    • Transfer from the facility to a hospital regardless of whether or not the patient was admitted.
    • Unexpected admission to a hospital within 10 days of a procedure or anaesthetic performed in the facility.
      Note: When notified or an unexpected admission of a patient to hospital within 10 days of the procedure in the Non-Hospital Surgical Facility (NHSF) or Dental Surgical Facility (DSF), the Registrar may determine that written notification is not required when the reason given for admission to hospital is not related to the services provided in the facility.
    • Clusters of infections among patients treated in the facility.
    • Any procedure performed on the wrong patient, site or side.
    • Missing or non-locatable opioids or Schedule 1 controlled substances.


    For more information refer to:     Standard of Practice: Minimal and Moderate Sedation Deep Sedation Deep Sedation and General Anaesthesia in a Non-Hospital Dental Practice

  • Dentists working in hospital or AHS facilities

    Events that Require Mandatory Notification to the CDSA

    • Death within a hospital or AHS facility or within 10 days of the procedure.
    • Transfer from hospital or AHS facility to a hospital regardless of whether or not the patient was admitted.
    • Unexpected admission to a hospital or AHS facility within 10 days of a procedure performed.
    • Clusters of infections among patients.
    • Any procedure performed on the wrong patient, site or side.
    • Missing or non-locatable opioids or Schedule 1 controlled substances.