Registered Dental Hygienists are required to obtain informed consent from the client or substitute decision-maker for care decisions. Informed consent in healthcare means that a client has given a health professional permission to do something only after the client has been: 

• Provided all the necessary information about the proposed intervention (e.g., side effects, risks, benefits, alternatives, etc.) in a way that helps them easily understand and appreciate the information; and 
• Given an opportunity to ask questions.  

To help RDHs understand requirements for obtaining consent, CDHO developed a new Practice Guideline: Informed Consent. This guideline simplifies and streamlines existing information into one document.  

If you have any questions, please get in touch with our Practice Advisor at advice@cdho.org or by calling 1-800-268-2346 (press 2).