In Canada, there is fierce competition in the dental sector, especially in crowded urban regions. The demand for dental services in Canada is robust despite the fierce competition, making the industry profitable. As a result, the area of dentistry attracts a lot of students, raising worries about oversaturation. This is untrue, though, as there are a scarcity of dentists in some regions of the nation due to the rising demand for dental care.
On the other hand, Canadian law prohibits dental hygienists from starting their own practices. They must be supervised by a qualified dentist at all times. But in Canada, dental hygienists have a lot of professional autonomy and are in charge of giving patients preventative oral care services like cleanings, fluoride treatments, and oral health instruction.
The Canadian Dental Association estimates that there will be about 21,000 dentists working in Canada in 2020. General practitioners, specialists, academics, and researchers are all included in this number. Only a small portion of dentists in Canada are employed by government health services; the bulk operate in private practice.
Dental hygienists are prohibited from running their own practices in Ontario. They can, however, collaborate with dentists in practice settings where they can offer patients services while being supervised by a qualified dentist. Greater access to oral healthcare treatments is made possible by this arrangement, especially in underserved areas.
In conclusion, dentists in Canada are among the highest paid medical professionals in the nation and have a high level of professional autonomy. Although the dental profession is cutthroat, there is still a high need for dental treatments, especially in urban areas. Despite being prohibited from starting their own practices, dental hygienists have a high level of professional autonomy and collaborate with dentists to offer patients preventative oral care services.