Practice Enhancement Tool

The Practice Enhancement Tool (PET) is one of the elements of the Quality Assurance Program of the Dentistry Act. It is an independent, online evaluation that assesses a dentist’s knowledge, skill and judgment through a series of multiple-choice questions.

All dentists must complete the PET five years after registration with the RCDSO and every five years thereafter. This includes those who hold a general, specialty and/or academic certificate of practice.

Dentists who are selected for the PET will be assigned questions from six competency areas selected from the list below.

Caries
Infection prevention and control
Operative (restorative) dentistry
Orthodontics
Pharmacology
Radiology

Dental anesthesia
Jurisprudence and ethics
Oral medicine and pathology
Pediatric dentistry
Prosthodontics

Endodontics
Medical emergencies
Oral surgery
Periodontics
Public health

Dentists who hold a specialty certificate in dental anesthesia, endodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, oral
medicine, oral pathology, oral radiology, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics or prosthodontics, the
assessment will include their particular specialty area, as well as five additional competency areas that are most
relevant to their specialty.

Resources to guide you

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS is a curated collection of common inquiries about the PET, including getting started, navigating, submitting, reviewing results and following up.
PET USER GUIDE provides detailed, step-by-step instructions with screen shots.
PET RESOURCES is a compilation of common textbooks and journals that may be used to prepare.
RECORDED DEMONSTRATION is a 15-minute video that walks through navigating the PET platform.
LIVE DROP-IN sessions are hosted on Zoom on a regular basis. They will be held on April 2, May 7, June 4, October 8, November 5, and December 3.

For additional information, please email PET@rcdso.org. We will contact you within two business days.