Switching Dentists on the Danforth? How to Transfer Your Records and Book Your First Appointment

To switch dentists in Ontario, book your first appointment, sign a records release naming your previous office, and ask for your chart and x-rays to be sent to the new one. You have a legal right to copies of your complete file, and Ontario's dental regulator expects them to be released within one to two weeks.

Quick answer: Book the new office, sign one release form, and ask for the whole file, x-rays included. You don't need to explain why you're leaving, and an unpaid bill is not a reason to hold your records.

Key takeaways:

• You're entitled to your complete file: chart notes, x-rays, referral slips, study models, photos, and correspondence
• Your new office can usually request the records for you once you sign a release
• You receive copies, because dentists are required to keep the originals
• Send the release as soon as you book, since records can take up to two weeks to arrive
  
  

Leaving Your Old Dentist Without the Awkward Conversation

The hardest part of switching dentists is rarely the paperwork. It's the small awkwardness of leaving someone who knows your teeth.

Ontario's rules take most of that out of it: the file is yours to access, the request can come from the new office, and nobody has to have a conversation they'd rather skip.

This page covers the part people ask about least often and worry about most: getting your records moved. If you're new to the practice, you can see the everyday care we provide on our general dentistry page.

Can You Switch Dentists in Ontario, and Who Sends Your Records?

Yes, you can change dentists whenever you like, and you're entitled to a copy of your complete dental file. The request can come from you or your new office with a signed release, and the regulator expects records to be released within one to two weeks.

The Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO) spells this out in its Dental Recordkeeping Guidelines. You have the right to copies of your complete dental record, including x-rays, photographs, study models, and notes of referrals to specialists.

The College says releasing them should take one to two weeks. The request doesn't have to come from another dental office, either: the RCDSO's guidance on releasing records confirms patients can ask directly and pick up copies or have them mailed.

The College also calls it unacceptable to hold back records because of an outstanding account balance. You may still owe the bill, but that's a separate matter from your right to your file.

Four details are worth knowing:



• You get copies, not originals. Dentists are required by law to keep the originals.
• Copying may carry a fee. RCDSO guidance allows dentists to charge for duplicating records, within limits set by decisions of Ontario's Information and Privacy Commissioner, so ask about cost when you sign the release.
• Urgent timing has a workaround. If you need treatment before copies can be made, the original records can be sent dentist to dentist by courier and returned afterward, with your consent documented.
• A closed or sold practice doesn't erase your file. When a practice is sold, the purchaser typically takes on the legal responsibility for keeping the records, according to the RCDSO. Since Ontario dentists must keep records for at least ten years after the last entry, it's worth asking even if it's been years since your last visit.

If an office doesn't release your records in that window, contact the RCDSO, the regulator for Ontario dentists.

What Are the Steps to Move Your Records and Book Your First Appointment?

Book the appointment first, then sign a records release naming your previous office and ask for your complete file, x-rays included. Send the release early, because records can take up to two weeks, and a quick check a few days before your visit confirms the files arrived.

1. Book the new appointment. Booking first gives the records a deadline to arrive by. You can book online or call (416) 466-8003, and we're open until 8:00 pm Monday to Thursday, 6:00 pm on Fridays, and 3:00 pm on Saturdays.
2. Confirm your coverage. If new coverage is part of the reason you're switching, ask whether the office accepts it when you book. We accept the Canadian Dental Care Plan, which had enrolled more than 6.3 million Canadians by April 2026, according to the Government of Canada.
3. Sign the release forms. Our Dental Forms page has a Dental Records Release and an X-ray Release Form you can complete before your visit. Give the name and address of your previous office and the approximate years you were a patient.
4. Ask for the whole file. Name what you want: chart notes, x-rays, treatment notes, and any study models or photos. A vague request can slow things down while the office checks what you meant.
5. Mention any treatment in progress. If you're partway through a crown, a root canal, or an orthodontic plan, tell both offices so nothing gets dropped in the handoff.
6. Check in a few days before your visit. Ask whether the records arrived. If they haven't and your appointment is close, say so, because the courier option for originals exists for exactly this situation.

If you'd rather collect the file yourself, you can: the RCDSO confirms patients can pick up their copies or have them mailed to their home.

Still deciding where to go? Our guide to finding a dentist you can trust covers what to look for before you book.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Dentist Behind the Danforth Practice

Dr. Andrew Syriopoulos is the founder and clinical director of Danforth Neighbourhood Dental Centre. He earned his bachelor's and dental degrees at the University of Toronto, practised as an associate dentist in Kitchener, then in 1988 opened his own practice on the Danforth, where he grew up.

He has completed in-depth training in surgical and prosthodontic implant procedures, along with continuing education in cosmetic, restorative, and prosthetic dentistry. He has also taught as a clinical instructor at the University of Toronto.

His service to the profession includes six years on the Ontario Dental Association's Board of Directors and terms as president of both the Toronto East Dental Society and the Asclepius Dental Society. He currently chairs the Toronto East Dental Society's Continuing Education Committee.

Closer to home, he sits on the board of his residents' association and has served three terms on the Greektown executive, one as vice-chair. Read his full bio or follow the practice on LinkedIn.

Dr. Syriopoulos and his wife, Nori, have run the practice as a family business since opening it, and we see patients from across the east end of Toronto. Many arrive having put off a switch for years, mostly because they weren't sure how the records side worked.

Your First Visit Starts With One Form

Switching dentists comes down to a signed release, a request for your complete file, and a first appointment booked early enough for the records to arrive. The rules are on your side, and the process is shorter than most people expect.

Ready to make the move? Book your first appointment with Danforth Neighbourhood Dental Centre, 643 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4K 1R2, (416) 466-8003.