Dentists

Example job titles

• dentist
• endodontist
• oral and maxillofacial surgeon
• oral pathologist
• oral radiologist
• orthodontist
• pediatric dentist
• periodontist
• prosthodontist
• public health dentist

Main duties

• This group performs some or all of the following duties:
• Dentists
• Examine patients' teeth, gums and surrounding tissue to diagnose disease, injury and decay and plan appropriate preventative or corrective treatment
• Provide general dental care such as cleaning teeth, filling cavities, performing root canals, applying veneers, and fitting crowns, bridges and dentures
• Restore, extract and replace diseased and decayed teeth
• Instruct patients on oral hygiene and preventive dental care
• Monitor patient progress to identify changes or the progression of dental disease
• Prescribe antibiotics or other medication as required
• Bleach, clean, or polish teeth to restore natural color
• Supervise dental hygienists, dental assistants and other staff

Employment requirements

• Dentists
• Two to four years of pre-dentistry university studies or, in Quebec, completion of a college program in sciences and a university degree from a recognized dental program are required.
• Licensing by a provincial or territorial regulatory body is required.
• Dentists in general practice can move into a specialized practice through advanced training.
• Oral and maxillofacial surgeons
• Four to seven years of specialty residency training in oral and maxillofacial surgery are required.
• Orthodontists
• Three years advanced orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics program accredited by the Canadian Dental Association is required.

Approved positions by year

New permanent residents by year