Dental Assistants (NOC 3411)

What They Do Dental assistants perform some or all of the following duties: Polish teeth and clinical crowns and apply fluoride and sealant Take preliminary impressions for diagnostic casts Fabricate temporary crowns and restorations. Prepare patients for dental examination and assist the dentist during the examination Sterilize and maintain instruments and equipment Prepare dental instruments and filling materials Educate patients concerning oral hygiene Schedule patient appointments and record dental procedures performed Invoice patients for dental services Order dental and office supplies Take and develop X-rays

Where They Find Work —    Top Occupational Areas Health care and social assistance 96% The highest concentrations (per 10,000 people) of Dental Assistants are found in Alberta and British Columbia while the lowest concentrations are in New Brunswick and Newfoundland.

Related Occupation(s) Technical Occupations in Dental Health Care (NOC 322)

Something to Think About

Use the "Where They Find Work" graph to target your worksearch. It may be easier to get into industries with the most people in this field. Want to work in an industry that hires fewer workers in this field? To be more marketable, check out whether you have the most up-to-date knowledge and technology skills for that industry. Check the provincial/territorial or local information (http://www.labourmarketinformation.ca) for opportunities in your area.

What You Need Completion of a three-month to one-year college or other program in dental assistance or Completion of secondary school with on-the-job training is required. Licensing is not mandatory, but is required to perform intra-oral duties in all provinces except Quebec. Most recent entrants have a community college diploma and almost 3 in 10 have a trade/vocational certificate.

Required/Related    Educational Programs* This will let you explore the program(s) of study that lead to this (these) occupation(s). Institutional Management (C131) Dental Hygiene/Assistant Technologies (C531) Nursing - Diploma (C560) Computer Science (C720) Dental Hygiene/Assistant Technologies (T531) *  These educational programs are listed in the order in which they are most likely to supply graduates to this occupation.

Useful Experience/Skills Multidisciplinary teamwork Interpersonal communication skills Customer relations		Useful High School Subjects Sciences English Computer Basics Health
Depending on your background, this Education, Training, and Experience info will help you to: Choose your high school courses Plan your post-secondary program Choose relevant volunteer work Decide what new skills to learn Read job ads, professional journals, and newspapers for what the industry needs and employers want. Talk to employers and employees to find out the exceptional skills and knowledge that will help you land a job.

Current Conditions Your work prospects are rated GOOD because: Employement grew at an average rate. Hourly wages ($16.51) are close to the average ($18.07), and the rate of wage growth is below average. The unemployment rate (2%) is close to the 2004 average (7%).

Work Prospects Current   Good   2009   Good

Outlook to 2009 Your work prospects will continue to be GOOD because: The employment growth rate will likely to be above average because of a growing and aging population that requires more health services, Canadians with more dental insurance coverage, and new technologies that improve dental care. Demand may increase as more Canadians are likely to request preventive dental care. Although the retirement rate will likely be average, the number of retiring workers should contribute to job openings. The number of job seekers will likely match the number of job openings.

Preparing for the Competition You'll benefit from advanced training that would allow you to take advantage of opportunities requiring additional knowledge/skills. You're more likely to succeed if you pursue opportunities in nursing homes/other long-term care facilities.

If you are beginning your career investigation, national outlooks will give you a good overview of trends. Ready to explore an occupation in more detail? Check provincial/territorial or local outlooks (http://www.labourmarketinformation.ca).

What you can expect to make (Average Hourly Earnings ($/hour))
Age Group This Occupation All Occupations 20-24 $13.33 $11.74 25-54 $17.08 $19.76 55+   $19.59 Overall Average for Ages (20+) This Occupation All Occupations $16.51 $18.07		Hourly wages ($16.51) are close to the national average ($18.07). These earnings are below to the average for occupations in the health sector and close to the average for all intermediate occupations. These wages grew at a below-average rate from 2002 to 2004.
Your salary can be affected by your background, the company's size and benefits, and the region and setting (urban or rural). Check out salaries in your own region by seeking info from: Employees/unions/associations Employers/human resource people Training institutions and placement services Company websites Professional/trade journals

Close to the average
The unemployment rate (2%) is close to the 2004 average (7%). This rate is below the average for intermediate occupations. A low unemployment rate often means less competition for the jobs available. But you still need to have the required training and experience. A high unemployment rate doesn't necessarily mean you'll have great difficulty getting hired. But it can mean a fluctuating demand for workers, and you may experience bouts of unemployment.		Year This Occupation All Occupations 1991 5% 10% 1992 5% 11% 1993 4% 11% 1994 5% 10% 1995 6% 10% 1996 3% 10% 1997 2% 9% 1998 3% 8% 1999 2% 8% 2000 3% 7% 2001 4% 7% 2002 3% 8% 2003 2% 8% 2004 2% 7%

% of Part-time work is above average
This Occupation All Occupations Full-time 74% 81% Part-time 26% 19%		There were 29,700 workers employed in these occupations in 2004, a decrease of 87% since 1997. The percentage of part-time workers (26%) is above the 2004 average (19%) and has risen since 1997.
When full-time work is difficult to find, look at alternatives such as contract work, consulting, shared positions, and telework.

Below average
The percentage of self-employed workers (0%) is below the 2004 average (15%)		This Occupation All Occupations Self-Employed 0% 15%
Does this occupation have an above-average rate of self-employment? Consider being your own boss if you can't find work with an employer.

Age Group This Occupation All Occupations 20-24 11% 10% 25-54 83% 72% 55+ 3% 12%		The retirement rate to 2009 will likely be average reflecting the age/retirement structure of the occupation.
Look at the youngest group. A low percentage means fewer openings for brand-new workers. A high percentage means more openings for brand-new workers. Look at the oldest age group. A high percentage means positions could open up from retirements. This could be significant for both mid-career changers and brand-new workers.

		This Occupation All Occupations Percent Women 0% 48%

This page last modified on: 2007-03-31