Dentists (NOC 3113)

Dentists diagnose, treat and prevent disorders of the teeth and mouth.

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.

Duties for specific occupations in this group are outlined under Special Duties.

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.

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.

Education, training & qualifications

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 College of Dental Surgeons of British Columbia (CDSBC).

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.

As of July 1, 2017 when the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) came into force, you will not need significant additional training, experience, testing or assessment if your qualifications or certificates are recognized by a Canadian regulatory authority. This applies whether you were trained in Canada or internationally. Learn about labour mobility at www.workersmobility.ca. For information about labour mobility and foreign qualifications recognition, contact the B.C. regulator for your occupation.

Skills

• Detail-Oriented
• Finger Dexterity
• Object-Oriented
• Directive
• Social

View skills definitions

Education programs in B.C.

The following program areas are related to this occupation:

For more information about programs offered specifically for this career, visit EducationPlannerBC.

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.