Dental Assistant

Dental assistants are in high demand across Canada. Working alongside dentists, dental assistants help with a wide range of tasks, from sterilizing equipment and preparing patients for treatment to assisting with dental procedures and taking x-rays.

Canada’s top dental assistant programs will teach you to perform preventative procedures like polishing teeth and applying fluoride and sealants – all while learning about dental anatomy, key dental terminology and how to educate people about the importance of oral hygiene. Programs range in length, typically requiring eight months to one year of full-time study.

Upon graduation, students will be licensed by the Dental Assisting Regulatory Authorities – the “regulatory college,” “board,” “association,” or “council” – in their province. This will require dental assistants to complete an accredited program, but also pass a written exam and perform a prescribed number of hours of hands-on training.

The average annual salary of a dental assistant in Canada is $51,260 according to Glassdoor. Dental assistants often work in private practices, but are also active in hospitals and regional health units as part of integrated healthcare teams.