Job prospects Dental Surgeon in Ontario

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "dental surgeon" in Ontario or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Ontario

These outlooks were updated on November 29, 2023.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be very good for Dentists (NOC 31110) in Ontario for the 2023-2025 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
• Several positions will become available due to retirements.

What Types of Employers Are Out There?

• The majority of dentists are self-employed in dental offices

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

• Demand for dental services is influenced by dental insurance coverage rates, population growth, household incomes, and public awareness of oral hygiene
• Increased popularity of cosmetic, aesthetic and orthodontic procedures may support employment opportunities in this occupation
• The aging population is expected to increase the demand for geriatric dentistry including restorative and more complex dental work
• Access to private insurance and workplace insurance plans, which cover the majority of spending on dental services, may support more routine dental visits

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

• The Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario regulates the dentistry profession

What Other Information Will I Find Helpful?

• There are a limited number of training programs for dentists in Ontario
• In general, Bridging Programs are available to assist internationally trained professionals in various fields enter the labour market more quickly in Ontario.

Here are some key facts about Dentists in Ontario:

• Approximately 10,050 people work in this occupation.
• Dentists mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): more than 95%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 80% compared to 81% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 20% compared to 19% for all occupations
• 30% of dentists work all year, while 70% work only part of the year, compared to 63% and 37% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 40 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
• 83% of dentists are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 56% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 43% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: n/a
  • high school diploma or equivalent: n/a
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: n/a
  • bachelor's degree: n/a
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: more than 95% compared to 13% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Ontario by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Labour market conditions over the next 10 years

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "dental surgeon" in Ontario or across Canada.

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