dentist helping a child in reclined in her chair

Dentists

(NOC 3113)
High opportunity occupation High opportunity occupation
Annual Earnings
$104,055
Typical Education Background
Degree
Job Openings
(2022-2032)
1,550

Career Overview

Dentists diagnose, treat and prevent disorders of the mouth. They work in private practices or may work in hospitals, clinics, public health facilities or universities.

Dentists must have an aptitude for using mechanical equipment, as well as a high degree of manual dexterity. They must also have strong interpersonal and communication skills, as well as patience.

In general practice, the emphasis has shifted to prevention, from correction of teeth and mouth problems.

Duties

Dentists:

  • Examine patients' teeth, gums and surrounding tissue to diagnose disease, injury and decay and plan appropriate treatment
  • Restore, extract and replace diseased and decayed teeth
  • Perform oral surgery, periodontal surgery and other treatments
  • Clean teeth and instruct patients on oral hygiene
  • Design bridgework, fit dentures and provide appliances to correct abnormal positioning of the teeth and jaws, or write fabrication instructions or prescriptions for use by denturists and dental technicians
  • Supervise dental hygienists, dental assistants and other staff.

Special duties

Endodontists:

  • Endodontists use root canal therapy and other supportive measures to preserve teeth showing diseases of the dental pulp.

Orthodontists:

  • Orthodontists study the growth and development of teeth and jaws and straighten crooked or poorly spaced teeth.

Periodontists:

  • Periodontists treat diseases that affect the gums and instruct patients in the prevention of recurrences. They also perform corrective surgery of the gums and supporting bones to treat gum diseases.

Prosthodontists:

  • Prosthodontists attempt to restore the natural teeth or replace missing teeth and adjoining tissues with artificial substitutes, such as bridges and dentures.

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons:

  • Oral and maxillofacial surgeons operate on diseases, injuries or deficiencies of a person's jaw.

Oral and maxillofacial radiologists:

  • Oral and maxillofacial radiologists provide intraoral and panoramic radiography, but also perform TMJ and implant tomography, orthodontic radiographic examinations and diagnostic consultations.

Oral pathologists:

  • Oral pathologists study the cause, development and effects of oral diseases using clinical, microscopic, radiographic or other laboratory procedures. They may treat disease directly or provide guidance. Oral radiologists make and
  • Interpret radiographs of the head and neck area.

Pediatric dentists:

  • Pediatric dentists specialize in preventive and therapeutic care for children.

Public health dentists:

  • Public health dentists promote public education and the prevention, control and treatment of dental diseases for communities.

Oral medicine:

  • Oral medicine is a non-surgical specialty that includes the evaluation, diagnosis, therapeutic management and research of medically related oral diseases.

 

Earnings

Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.

Annual Earnings

$104,055

Provincial Hourly Rate

HighN/A
MedianN/A
LowN/A
Source: B.C. Labour Market Information Office, derived from 2022 Job Bank Wage data

Work Environment

# Workers Employed

3,500

% Employed Full Time

31%
Source: 2016 Census

Dentists work in clean, well-lit and well-equipped offices. Though most dentists operate their own private practices, some are employed by large health care facilities, such as hospitals.

Dentists in private practice often have the flexibility to choose when and how many hours (full time or part time) they want to work. In some instances, dentists may be required to adjust hours to meet patients' needs.

Dentists follow dental practice infection control protocols and procedures and wear masks, gloves and safety glasses to avoid transmission of infectious diseases. Safety precautions are also taken when using hazardous chemicals or equipment.

Dentists must be familiar with the use of a wide variety of equipment for various procedures. These professionals may experience neck and or back strain when performing long procedures.

Career Pathways

After graduation, most new dentists enter a private practice with an established dentist. After gaining experience, many dentists will open their own practice. Partnerships with other dentists and group practices are also becoming increasingly common.

With additional education and training (usually one to four years), dentists can become certified specialists in a dental specialty recognized by the British Columbia College of Oral Health Professionals (BCCOHP).

Opportunities to work in research facilities, crime labs or for government health authorities may also be available.

Occupational Interests

It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.

For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.

Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:

Investigative
Investigative
Realistic
Realistic

Job Titles

DDS (doctor of dental surgery)
Dentist, general practice / pediatric
Endodontist
Implantologist - dentistry
Orthodontist
Pathologist, oral
Pedodontist
Periodontist
Prosthodontist
Radiologist, oral
Stomatologist

Education, Training and Skills

Dentists must complete a degree in dentistry to work in this occupation. A Doctor of Dental Medicine degree is most common; however, a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree or Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree is sufficient to work in this occupation.

The Faculty of Dentistry at the University of British Columbia offers the province's only program that leads to a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree (DMD).

Entry into the program requires at least three years of post-secondary studies with some prerequisite courses, a minimum GPA, and a minimum score on the Dental Aptitude Test (DAT). Once accepted, the program takes four years to complete and includes some clinical experience.

For more information on this program visit: www.dentistry.ubc.ca.

Further education beyond a dental medicine degree or dental surgery degree is required in order to become a dental specialist.

To practice in B.C., all dentists must be registered with the British Columbia College of Oral Health Professionals (BCCOHP).

Continuing education and professional development are required throughout the careers of dentists and dental specialists. This ensures that dentists are providing patients with modern forms of treatment and with proper advice in regard to their dental related problems and inquiries.

Dentists who are certified for that occupation by a regulator elsewhere in Canada can apply for the same certification from the regulator in B.C. Under the terms of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), most applicants who are transferring their credentials from elsewhere in Canada will not be required to complete additional training or testing. However, the B.C. regulator may ask applicants to provide further information such as a letter of good standing, references, or criminal record check.

For those who trained outside of Canada and never received certification from any Canadian jurisdiction, a full assessment is likely needed. Most occupational regulators have a process for assessment and recognize internationally trained applicants.

Contact the British Columbia College of Oral Health Professionals (BCCOHP) for details on how to apply for certification in B.C.

For information about labour mobility in Canada, visit www.workersmobility.ca.

View a list of Professional Regulatory Authorities in B.C.

Education programs in B.C.

The following program areas are related to this occupation:

  • Dental Related
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Find out more information about programs offered specifically for this career.

Skills

Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.

Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.

See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!

Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

75%
Speaking

Talking to others to share information effectively.

74%
Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

74%
Complex Problem Solving

Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.

73%
Judgment and Decision-Making

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

72%
Social Perceptiveness

Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

71%
Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

70%
Monitoring

Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

70%
Active Learning

Understanding how new information could be used to solve current and future problems in making decisions.

66%
Coordination

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

65%

Labour Market Statistics

Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.

Employment

Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.

Employment

3,500
Source: 2016 Census

Employment by Region

Map of BC Map of Cariboo region Map of Kootenay region Map of Mainland/Southwest region Map of North Coast and Nechako region Map of Northeast region Map of Thompson-Okanagan region Map of Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
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Region Employment (2022) % Employment of this Occupation
Cariboo 100 2.3%
Kootenay 150 3.2%
Mainland/Southwest 2,520 68.2%
North Coast and Nechako 30 0.9%
Northeast 80 1.4%
Thompson-Okanagan 440 10.3%
Vancouver Island/Coast 400 13.9%
Source: 2016 Census and B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Labour Market Outlook

The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.

Forecasted Job Openings (2022-2032)

1,550
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Forecasted Job Openings

Forecasted Employment Growth Rate

Composition of Job Openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Job Openings by Region (2022-2032)

Map of BC Map of Cariboo region Map of Kootenay region Map of Mainland/Southwest region Map of North Coast and Nechako region Map of Northeast region Map of Thompson-Okanagan region Map of Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
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Region Job Openings Avg. Annual Employment Growth
Cariboo 0 0.0%
Kootenay 10 -0.7%
Mainland/Southwest 1,150 1.9%
North Coast and Nechako 0 0.0%
Northeast 0 -2.8%
Thompson-Okanagan 130 0.2%
Vancouver Island/Coast 230 2.3%
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Industry Highlights

Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.

Forecasted Job Openings by Industry

IndustryJob Openings (2022-2032)
Health Care and Social Assistance149,700
Educational Services64,500
For additional industry information, visit the Industry Profiles page.
Source: 2016 Census and B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Insights from Industry

Health care in B.C. and in Canada, in terms of both the number of practitioners and the amount of funding, has increased considerably over the last decade.

Population growth, an aging population, and technological advancement in diagnosis and treatment, are also increasing the demand for dental services. In addition, many opportunities for dentists will become available due to retirements, which are expected to make up a significant number of new openings.

Industry reports the current supply of new graduates is insufficient to meet demand. In particular, there is currently a shortage of dentists in rural areas of the province. As such, new graduates may find increased employment opportunities in more rural areas of the province, where employers have more difficulty finding qualified dentists.

Advances in biomedical sciences and disease patterns continuously change the delivery of dental care. As well, improvements in many aspects of dental care are enabling dentists to undertake more complex treatments. These improvements may also increase demand.

Resources