Oral health professionals in Canada, 2021
Description: Oral health professionals in Canada, 2021
In 2021, there were a total of 96,520 oral health professionals1 in Canada. This is a 7.1% increase from 2016 (90,115).
- 23,475 Dentists (+8.7%)
- 2,575 Denturists (+5.1%)
- 28,295 Dental hygienists and therapists (+6.5%)
- 6,955 Dental technologists, technicians and laboratory assistants (+19.6%)
- 35,220 Dental assistants (+4.6%)
Dental hygienists and therapists were more evenly spread out across Canada than dentists. As well, 72 health regions2 had more than 60 hygienists/therapists per 100,000 population, while 22 health regions had more than 60 dentists per 100,000 population.
Health regions with a higher density of dental hygienists and therapists were mainly situated in southern parts of Canada.
Number of health regions by rate of dental hygienists and therapists per 100,000 people, province and territory, 2021
| Region | Fewer than 30 dental hygienists and therapists per 100,000 people | 30 to 60 dental hygienists and therapists per 100,000 people | More than 60 dental hygienists and therapists per 100,000 people |
|---|---|---|---|
| number of health regions | |||
| Canada | 5 | 27 | 72 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Prince Edward Island | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Nova Scotia | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| New Brunswick | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| Quebec | 2 | 3 | 13 |
| Ontario | 0 | 3 | 31 |
| Manitoba | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Saskatchewan | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Alberta | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| British Columbia | 0 | 3 | 13 |
| Yukon | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Northwest Territories | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Nunavut | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Health regions with a higher rate of dentists per 100,000 were generally found in densely populated urban areas, such as in southern Ontario, British Columbia and coastal regions.
Number of health regions by rate of dentists per 100,000 people, province and territory, 2021
| Region | Fewer than 30 dentists per 100,000 people | 30 to 60 dentists per 100,000 people | More than 60 dentists per 100,000 people |
|---|---|---|---|
| number of health regions | |||
| Canada | 27 | 55 | 22 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Prince Edward Island | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Nova Scotia | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| New Brunswick | 1 | 6 | 0 |
| Quebec | 6 | 10 | 2 |
| Ontario | 10 | 17 | 7 |
| Manitoba | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Saskatchewan | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| Alberta | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| British Columbia | 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Yukon | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Northwest Territories | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Nunavut | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Sources: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 2016 and 2021.
- Date modified: