Can Ontario dentists show Google reviews on their website?
Not as testimonials. The RCDSO’s advertising advisory rules out testimonials and “any statement that can only be verified by a person’s personal feelings or views”. Quoted reviews, review sliders and “what our patients say” sections on your own website fall into that. Your reviews can stay where they already work hardest: on your Google profile.
By Krishna, founder of Rank and Cite. Updated October 2026. This is a plain-language summary, not legal advice. When in doubt, ask the RCDSO.
What you can do with reviews, at a glance.
| On your website or ads | Our read | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A plain link: “See our profile on Google Maps” | Fine | A link sends patients to Google; it does not quote or praise anything on your site. |
| Facts patients can check: hours, languages, fees, insurance and CDCP, who you are | Fine | Verifiable facts are what the guidance asks for. |
| Your star rating or review count shown on your site | Check first | It is not a quote, but a rating is built from patients’ feelings. Ask the RCDSO before you add it. |
| Quoted reviews, review sliders, “what our patients say” | Avoid | These read as testimonials. |
| “5-star rated”, “#1 rated”, “top dentist in Mississauga” | Avoid | Superlative and comparative claims are not allowed. |
| A discount, draw or gift card in exchange for a review | Avoid | The RCDSO lists rewards and incentives among things to avoid, and Google’s rules ban them too. |
Three lines from the guidance that decide it.
Testimonials. The RCDSO practice advisory on professional advertising rules out testimonials and any statement that can only be verified by someone’s personal feelings or views. A review is exactly that: one patient’s experience, in their words.
Superlatives and comparisons. The same advisory rules out superlative or comparative terms. “Rated 4.9 stars, the highest in Brampton” combines both problems in one line.
Incentives. In its 2025 article on the dos and don’ts of advertising, the RCDSO lists offering rewards, benefits or other incentives among the things to avoid. A free cleaning for a five-star review is the classic example, and it also breaks Google’s review policy.
None of this stops reviews from helping you. It only changes where they live.
Let Google hold the praise. Let your site hold the facts.
Keep reviews on Google
Google says reviews and your replies help your local ranking. Reviews on your Google profile are seen by the people choosing a clinic in the map results, which is where most new patients decide.
Ask everyone, the same way
A short card or text after each visit with a direct link to your Google review form. Ask every patient, not only the happy ones, and never offer anything in return.
Reply without confirming anything
Thank the reviewer and invite them to call the office. Do not confirm they are a patient or mention any treatment: health privacy law applies even when they posted first.
Put proof on your site
The facts a patient would ask a friend about: years in practice, languages spoken, evening or Saturday hours, accepted insurance and CDCP, what the first visit includes, and fees for common treatments.
Show the real clinic
Photos of your actual team, rooms and front desk do more for trust than any quote, and they are plainly factual.
Check your wording
Our free RCDSO wording check flags testimonials, superlatives and free offers on any page and quotes each line it finds.
Reviews and RCDSO rules: common questions.
Can I show my Google star rating on my dental website?
It is a grey area. A rating is not a quoted testimonial, but it is built from patients’ personal views, and claims like “5-star rated” add a superlative. The safest choice is a plain link to your Google profile. If you want to show the rating itself, ask the RCDSO first.
Can I share patient reviews on Instagram or Facebook?
Treat your social media like your website: it is advertising. Reposting a patient’s review or praise is a testimonial. Share facts, team news and practical tips instead, and let reviews stay on Google.
Can I ask patients to leave a Google review?
Yes, as long as you ask everyone the same way and offer nothing in return. Do not ask only the patients you expect to be happy, and do not have staff or family post reviews.
How should I reply to a negative Google review?
Keep it short and general: thank them, say you take feedback seriously and invite them to call the office. Do not confirm they are a patient, do not discuss treatment and do not argue in public.
Sources: RCDSO Practice Advisory: Professional Advertising; RCDSO: The dos and don’ts of advertising (July 2025); Google: Tips to improve your local ranking. See also our plain-language RCDSO advertising guide.
Is there a testimonial hiding on your site?
Paste any page into our free check. It quotes every line that likely conflicts with RCDSO guidance, in about a minute.