Dental assistants have been added to Canada’s Federal Skilled Worker program, which will enable dental assistants from around the world to immigrate to Canada. This should have an excellent impact on Canada’s healthcare service, as it will improve both the quality and quantity of dental assistants – who are a key part of dental clinics.
In exciting news for the dental industry and wider healthcare system, dental assistants can now immigrate to Canada through Express Entry [1].
This news comes following the announcement that the job was added to those that qualify for immigration to Canada through the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program [2].
With dental services in high demand, this news will come as a boost for the Canadian healthcare system, which will hopefully become better equipped thanks to this news.
New Occupations
The FSW program has been in operation for many years, and aims to attract highly-skilled professionals to Canada. Only certain jobs, such as Chemists and Doctors, qualify under the program.
In November, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada added 16 new jobs to its list of eligible occupations. Among these jobs was the role of Dental assistant – with the National Occupational Classification code of 33100 [1].
The important role of dental assistants
Dental assistants are a crucial element of the Canadian healthcare system. They help in many different ways, often without the patient realizing.
Dental assistants help dentists, hygienists and dental therapists perform their routine jobs. They help with regular check-ups, while also assisting during treatments.
Their day-to-day lives include doing tasks such as sterilizing and maintaining instruments and equipment, helping with fillings, taking X-rays, polishing teeth and assisting with fluoride applications among other tasks [1].
Moreover, many dental assistants are trained to do tasks like administering anaesthesia, removing temporary crowns and removing dental sutures. Therefore, they can help in many ways.
Moreover, they are also trained to perform administrative duties in dental clinics. Therefore, they are in high demand, such are their importance and versatility.
The positive impact on Canada
The recent addition of the Canadian dental benefit is expected to result in more people visiting dental services in Canada – something which already has a strong demand.
Dr. Brian Barrett of the Dental Association of Prince Edward Island commented on this news. He says that a shortage of dental assistants exists in Canada, and that without an influx of new assistants, “the problem will be here for several years” [1].
Therefore, by having more dental assistants, hopefully dental clinics around the nation will be able to increase their output, leading to more patients being seen.
This will hopefully result in improved treatment outcomes for patients. Consequently, there are many benefits to having more dental assistants in Canada.
Anyone interested in following this pathway can use the Express Entry system to apply for immigration to Canada. This offers a faster approach towards immigration.
An expression of interest is necessary, while it is also worth familiarizing yourself with the Canadian points-based system that is used to rank candidates against one another [3].
Thinking points…
1) Have you ever considered becoming a dental assistant? Or do you have a friend abroad that works as a dental assistant and would be interested in immigrating to Canada? Why not share this article with them, or look further into the profession yourself? It can be a rewarding career that is well worth considering!
2) A shortage of dental assistants suggests that more and more people are going to the dentist on a regular basis. Therefore, take this as an opportunity to think about your oral health, and consider if it is time to make an appointment for a dental check-up. Dental check-ups are crucial, and can ensure that your oral health is strong. We recommend that you book an appointment now!
What we offer at Savanna Dental
Savanna Dental is a Calgary dental clinic that provide its patients with a range of dental treatment options and services.
It is crucial to brush your teeth at least twice a day and to floss regularly. Moreover, eating healthily and trying to avoid sugary foods and drink is important.
We advise our patients to attend our Calgary-based dental clinic twice a year for a regular dental check-up. When problems are detected, we have many treatments available. For instance, these include cavity fillings and root canals.
Here at Savanna Dental, we also have some cosmetic treatments available! These include dental implants, tooth whitening and Invisalign™! Many people find that these treatments have a positive impact on their appearance, confidence and self-esteem.
In addition, all of our services at our Calgary dental clinic Savanna Dental are in line with the Alberta Dental Fee Guide.
We would love you to visit our Savanna Dental clinic in Calgary! You can find out more about us by visiting our website https://savannadentalclinic.ca.
References
[1] Singer, C. R. (2023). Dental Assistants Can Now Immigrate To Canada Through Express Entry. Available: https://www.immigration.ca/dental-assistants-can-now-immigrate-to-canada-through-express-entry/. Last accessed: 20th January 2023.
[2] Singer, C. R. (2021). Who Qualifies for Canadian Permanent Residence/Skilled Worker Immigration?. Available: https://www.immigration.ca/who-qualifies-for-canadian-permanent-residence-skilled-worker-immigration. Last accessed: 20th January 2023.
[3] Singer, C. R. (2021). Canada Express Entry Immigration. Available: https://www.immigration.ca/canada-express-entry-immigration. Last accessed: 20th January 2023.
