How Many Dentists Are There in Canada? [2024] My Experience, Insights, and the Latest Numbers

Table of Contents

Introduction: My Personal View on Canada’s Dental Workforce

When people ask me how many dentists work in Canada, I always think for a second. It seems like a basic question. But from my years working as a dentist, I know the answer tells a much bigger story—about people, finding care, the difference between cities and small towns, and how dentistry keeps moving forward.

I remember in my career how Canadian dentistry slowly changed. New grads showed up with new ideas, equipment kept getting updated, and people needed more dental care. I want to share what I know from what I’ve seen and learned. This isn’t just about numbers. It’s really about what those numbers mean for you, your family, and your neighborhood.

Dr. Joe Dental, who has been my mentor, used to say, “Behind every statistic is a real patient and a real dentist.” That always stayed with me. In this article, I’ll go through the facts and things I’ve seen as we talk about how many dentists Canada has, where they are, and why it matters.

The Number of Dentists in Canada (Current Data and Explanation)

Let’s get right to it. According to groups like the Canadian Dental Association (CDA) and the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), Canada now has about 26,000 licensed, working dentists. This is the newest estimate, using info from 2023 and into 2024.

People often ask me if all 26,000 actually see patients every day. The answer is no. Some teach, some take time off, and some only work part-time. But most dentists are out there, helping patients in clinics, hospitals, and public health offices.

What surprised me when I first looked into this was how “dentist” gets counted a bit differently here and there. Some provinces count only the ones working right now. Others count those who are taking a break or teaching. For real life—like when you need to book an appointment—think of the 26,000 as a good guess for “dentists you’ll find in a clinic.”

Checked and agreed by Dr. Joe Dental.

Dentist-to-Population Ratio: What Access Really Looks Like

A friend once said, “It’s not how many dentists you have, but where they are and who they help.” That’s so true.

Right now, Canada has about 68 dentists for every 100,000 people. On paper, that might sound okay. When I looked at other countries that are like Canada, our numbers are pretty close—sometimes better, sometimes a bit behind.

But what does this really mean for you? If you live in downtown Toronto or Vancouver, you might think there’s a dental office on every corner. Patients in these places can even pick and choose dentists, general ones or even those focused on dental ceramics lab.

But if you live outside big cities, it’s a very different story. In places like rural Manitoba or up north in Quebec, you might have to drive a very long way just to see a dentist. Even though the numbers say things are about right on average, the real situation can be tough.

Where Dentists Work: Provincial Breakdown and Urban vs. Rural Insights

Early on, I worked in both big cities and small towns. The difference really opened my eyes.

Provincial Breakdown

Here’s a simple look at where dentists work across the main provinces:

It’s no shock that Ontario has the most, since it’s the biggest province. During dental school, lots of my classmates from smaller places joked that everyone ends up in Toronto or Ottawa. They weren’t really wrong.

Urban vs. Rural: The Real Divide

One thing I’ve really seen? Cities like Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver attract dentists like magnets. About 85% of Canadian dentists work in cities, and only 15% are in country or far-away spots.

When I covered for someone in rural Alberta, people would drive three or four hours to see me. That’s totally different from life in a big city, where patients might walk past three clinics just to get a coffee.

Why the Difference?

There are many reasons: more jobs, better pay, more things for families to do, more other dentists to talk to, and just more people in cities. In some country towns, even a simple crown and bridge lab job took extra time, since there might be no local labs.

Who Are Canada’s Dentists? Demographics, Age, and Gender

One of the biggest changes I’ve seen is who’s becoming a dentist.

Age

• The average Canadian dentist is about 47-49 years old.
• There’s a group of older dentists who are close to retiring. In my work, I watched friends retire every year.
• At the same time, lots of younger dentists—often more up-to-date with tech—keep things moving.

Gender

• About 45% of dentists are women, and this is going up.
• In new graduating classes, women sometimes outnumber men.
• When I started, all my teachers were men. Now, that’s not true—I see women leading clinics, teaching, and starting new things in every area.

Dr. Joe Dental, who’s taught both men and women, once joked, “At this rate, men will be the minority soon. That’s good for everyone!” He meant that more different people in dentistry makes us all better.

New Graduates & Immigration

The Canadian dental team gets bigger every year with about 450–550 new grads from schools like UofT, McGill, and UBC.

Don’t forget dentists trained in other countries. I meet skilled dentists from all over the world—people who bring new ideas and different skills. Immigration and getting their Canadian license have a big impact on who’s allowed to work.

General Dentists vs. Specialists: The Variety Within the Profession

When patients ask me, I tell them general dentists are like your regular doctor—they handle most things. But if you need something special, you see a specialist.

Here’s how it goes:

• About 80–85% of dentists do general work (like check-ups, fillings, and basic fake teeth).
• The other 15–20% are specialists, like those who straighten teeth, work on gums, do surgery, help kids, do root canals, or make fancy tooth replacements.

I remember one case when a kid’s teeth problem needed a special dentist for kids. It was no problem in the city, but if we’d been in the Yukon, it would have been much harder.

Also, with new things like digital tools and dental implants, the line between regular and specialist dentists is getting fuzzier. A lot of general dentists now learn extra skills so they can do more complicated stuff without sending patients to someone else. Some even work with a digital dental lab, so patients sometimes get “specialist” care at their regular dentist.

Trends and the Future of Dentistry in Canada

Now let’s take a wider look. What’s changing, and what might happen next?

Slow but Steady Growth

In the last ten years, the number of licensed dentists in Canada has grown about 1.5–2.5% each year. It feels slow and even—a few more new faces at work, more job applications on my desk.

But in some provinces or small towns, things aren’t keeping up. There are still not enough dentists in some places.

Technology is Changing the Game

Things like digital x-rays, 3D dental lab work, and better fake teeth mean dentists can do things faster and better. People want nicer and quicker results than ever.

When I started, sending tooth molds to a lab took a while. Now, scans are sent over the internet in seconds.

How Dentists Work is Changing

More and more, dentists start out working in big group practices or for bigger companies instead of opening their own. This has good and bad sides. New dentists get help and steady pay. Some people worry we lose that “small office” feeling, which I always liked.

Retiring Dentists

With the average age almost 50, a lot of dentists will retire soon. This could cause real problems in places where there aren’t enough, so we need to help new dentists, especially in country areas.

Older Patients, More Care Needed

People in Canada are living longer, and they expect more dental help as they age. Many old people today keep their real teeth and want things like implants, bridges, and even cosmetic work. A few of my oldest patients wanted new veneers in their 90s—something that never happened when my grandparents were young.

Dental School Spaces

Canadian dentist schools are great, but there aren’t many spots. Only a few hundred open up each year, so it’s hard to get in. This keeps quality high but also means the number of new dentists grows slowly.

Why the Numbers Change: Factors That Influence Dental Workforce Size

When I think about why there aren’t more dentists, a few things come to mind:

Limits on How Many Students

Schools are careful about how many people they train. This keeps quality high but slows things down, especially as more people need dental care.

Hard to Get Licensed

Groups in charge of dentists (like province dental boards) work hard to keep standards high. That’s good, but for dentists trained out of Canada, it can be a long and expensive road. I’ve seen skilled dentists wait years to get started.

Immigration Rules

Canada is open to foreign-trained healthcare workers, but all the paperwork sometimes slows down getting new dentists where they’re needed. A bit more flexibility done the right way might really help.

Retiring and Work Choices

As more dentists get older, there will be more retiring, especially from small towns. Some go part-time as they want more free time (I think about doing less myself too). Others quit fully, and then it’s tough to fill their spot.

Different Expectations

Younger dentists today want more balance—some work part-time, others want time off for family. This is good for their health, but it makes planning for enough dentists a big job.

How to Find a Dentist in Canada: My Tips for Patients

Now you’ve heard all the statistics, what if you just need a dentist?

Start With Local Dental Groups

Every province has a dental group that lists dentists. From BC to PEI, you can look up dentists by city, by what language they speak, what insurance they take, and more.

Online Reviews

Patients now use Google, Yelp, and other websites just like the official ones. Reviews can be helpful, but always trust how you feel when you meet a dentist.

Ask Around

Friends, family, co-workers, or your regular doctor might know a good dentist. Word-of-mouth is still the best way to find someone you trust.

City vs. Country Patients

If you live in a city, you’ve got lots of options. In country or far-away places, plan early since you might travel—so try to plan your dental trips with other errands.

Special Needs or Complicated Work

If you need braces or surgery, check if your regular dentist works with other specialists or a good lab. Some now use providers from around the world—like a china dental lab—for special treatments.

Conclusion: Ensuring Quality Dental Care in a Changing Canada

Writing this made me think about how much Canadian dentistry has changed and where it’s going. We have about 26,000 working dentists—enough on paper, but real problems in some places, more older dentists, and different needs as people age and change.

Every number here is a real story: people driving hours, hopeful new grads, old pros learning new tricks. Things look good ahead if we keep training, support country dentists, and help make dentistry a good job for everyone.

If you’ve ever wondered, “How many dentists are in Canada?” I hope this guide with facts and stories helped you, and maybe made you see the bigger picture. Keeping a healthy mouth isn’t just about numbers. It’s about people, trust, and making sure we can all keep smiling.

Article checked and approved by Dr. Joe Dental, DDS, Canadian Dental Association member and dental teacher.