Working as a Dentist
Industry Overview
Population growth, an aging population, and technological advancement in diagnosis and treatment, are increasing the demand for dental services. Many opportunities for dentists will also become available due to retirements.
Industry reports the current supply of new graduates is not sufficient to meet demand. In particular, there is currently a shortage of dentists in rural areas of the province. As such, new graduates may find higher employment opportunities in more rural regions of the province, where employers have more difficulty finding qualified dentists.
Job Outlook in BC
Employment Outlook, 2021-2023
You can learn more about dentists in BC from:
Types of Employers
Most dentists work in private practice, but you may also be employed in hospitals, clinics, public health facilities, or universities.
Salary & Working Hours
The annual provincial median salary for dentists is $104,055.
Dentists are paid directly by patients or by patient insurance companies. Much of a dentist's earnings are used to pay for business expenses such as equipment, insurance, and staff salaries. Self-employed dentists must provide their own benefits.
Your income varies based on level of experience, location, and specialty. Your salary also depends on your number of regular patients.
Salary range for dentists in British Columbia:
Table from: Job Bank Canada
Working Hours
Most dentists work 7 or 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. Dentists in private practice often have the flexibility to choose when and how many hours (full-time or part-time) they want to work. In some instances, you may be required to adjust hours to meet patients' needs. Early evening and weekend work is becoming more common.
Sources: WorkBC Career Profile & Career Cruising