Pratyusha Kondath landed in Toronto this summer from India as a foreign-trained dentist through the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program under the Express Entry system. She is one of the 865 dental professionals Canada welcomed from January to August this year, according to figures from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
The total includes dentists, dental hygienists, and therapists. However, dentists make up the largest share of this group, as demand for dental professionals is expected to rise. Between 2022 and 2031, Canada is projected to have 13,500 job openings for dentists, while only 10,500 job seekers are expected (from school leavers, immigration, and mobility). Job openings are expected to arise from retirements (44%) and employment growth (43%).
The Canadian Occupational Projections System (COPS) predicts that dentists will face labour shortages at the national level over the next decade.
So far this year, IRCC has reported that 740 immigrant dentists arrived in Canada by July, marking a more than 60 per cent increase from last year’s intake.
“Currently, I’m working in an orthodontic clinic to gain valuable experience and familiarize myself with the local healthcare system before beginning the licensing process,” Kondath said. “I also write about topics related to dentistry and healthcare.”
Pathways for immigration
Kondath considered several options before deciding to immigrate. She ultimately ruled out coming on a student visa and also dismissed applying through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
There are various ways for foreign-trained dentists to immigrate to Canada. Aside from the FSW program, which allows immigrants to live and work anywhere in Canada, dentists can apply through the PNP, which targets skilled workers who can contribute to a specific province or territory’s economy. Another option is the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), which is ideal for those with recent Canadian work experience who wish to seek permanent residence.
Dentists can also apply through the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP), which is designed to help smaller communities by providing a pathway to permanent residence for skilled workers willing to live and work in participating communities such as North Bay, Sudbury, Moose Jaw, or Vernon.
Record trend in PNP: Ontario attracts more dentists
In 2024, a record number of 115 dentists immigrated to Canada through the PNP by July. Data from Ontario indicates that the province has welcomed 120 dentists this year, a sharp increase compared to 45 dentists in 2023, 15 in 2022, and just five in 2021.
“I was open to both the PNP and Express Entry, but Express Entry worked out for me. It was less time-consuming and aligned better with my qualifications and professional background,” Kondath said.
Dental hygienists and therapists
In contrast to the influx of dentists, there has been no significant increase in the number of dental hygienists and therapists immigrating to Canada. From 2019, when about 40 dental hygienists and therapists arrived, to 2024, only 25 have immigrated as of August.
IRCC explained that dental hygienists are not eligible for the healthcare category since this occupation has not been identified as experiencing a structural shortage from 2022 to 2031 according to COPS.
Do the numbers reflect a booming dental sector?
The higher intake of foreign-trained dentists and other dental professionals is a sign of Canada’s booming dental sector, which has even surpassed pre-pandemic levels. In early October, Statistics Canada reported that the dental sector had grown by $851 million compared to 2019, a year when the global economy faced significant challenges.
Despite this growth, not all provinces have benefitted equally. In 2020, all provinces saw declines in job levels, but by 2023, provinces like Newfoundland and Labrador (+21.4%), Alberta (+13.7%), and Ontario (+13.1%) reported significant increases in dental office jobs. Meanwhile, Nunavut (-22.6%) and the Northwest Territories (-11.8%) continue to struggle.
These changes reflect Canada’s evolving labour market. In 2023, IRCC introduced category-based selection for Express Entry to better align with the country’s changing economic needs. The categories include Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), French-language proficiency, healthcare occupations, trade occupations, transport occupations, and agriculture and agri-food sectors.
“Since category-based selection launched in 2023, the healthcare category has prioritized persistent labour shortages by enabling IRCC to send invitations to candidates with work experience in eligible occupations,” IRCC said.
Decisions regarding categories are based on a labour market review.
Note to readers: Oral Health Group received two datasets from IRCC. One highlighted the total number of dental professionals who arrived in Canada by July 2024, along with their immigration pathways. The second dataset detailed immigration trends across provinces, revealing that Ontario had the highest Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) intake at 120. However, no further provincial comparisons were made to avoid potential inaccuracies.
