Shortage of dental assistants in Canada only going to get worse, experts say

A shortage of dental assistants across Canada may cause a backlog in oral health care and could impact dentists’ capacity to take on new patients, experts warn.

A 2022 survey conducted by the Canadian Dental Assistants Association (CDAA) and shared with Global News highlighted this problem amid the pandemic.

The survey found that during the height of the pandemic, around 57 per cent of dental assistants said their work environment became increasingly stressful and difficult and around 21 per cent felt the expectations of their employer became unreasonable.

The survey also showed that during the height of the pandemic, around 42 per cent of the respondents said they felt unfairly compensated given the higher level of risk they experienced at work.

Katherine Ward joins us with more.

#GlobalNews #dentist #dental #dentalshortage

[HonestReviewer-kq]

I AM A DENTAL ASSISTANT. We NEED TO BE UNIONIZED ( NEED). We are under paid and these clinics are getting away with not giving us breaks to eat. I can work several hours a day and not even get a decent break to eat a meal so I can function. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND UNHEALTHY. Most clinics are like this and they get away with it. Clinics will book appointments on your lunch break and you don’t get a chance to eat, drink or go to the bathroom. THIS IS THIRD WORLD. Have respect for your employees. I will no longer work as an assistant thanks to Canadian low standards and lack of labour regulations. I have contacted the ministry of labour and they do nothing.Not to mention assistants are severely under paid. We get No benefits and No pension package at all.

[shches]

I love how they interview a dentist who say there's a shortage of dental assistants, but the dentist doesn't comment on the primary reason for the shortage: a lack of compensation and poor working conditions - factors which dentists themselves are responsible for. They also mentioned a concern for patient safety (dentists may be forced to hire untrained professionals), as if dentists aren't responsible for screening prospective employees. Utter ridiculousness. Dentists need to take some accountability and ownership for these problems.

[jazis]

Dental Assistants only make 50- 60k which sounds like a lot but with how expensive life is and how much they ACTUALLY do, its not appealing at all. Pay should be $70K at least to start.

[trestelle]

Ontario’s dental assistants are not regulated, making them vulnerable to lower wages, longer hours and poorer working conditions. With the qualifications and responsibilities that are expected do not equal the wages and lack of benefits that are our reality.

[pennyyeomans]

My daughter took the course but worked about a year only as she stated she was mistreated. I suggested she look for another dentist to work for but she never went back to it.

[mariar]

Because the pay is little and the assistant is expected to be nurse, receptionist, manager, janitor, etc . And often is just a person for many doctors . Pacients come one after another . Too much work for not enough money . Is the same everywhere .

[mj-joes]

There is A LOT more wrong with that industry than what is merely mentioned here. It's not worth it.

[beautifulmind]

I've been a Dental Assistant for 12 years and out of those years I've only work at one Dental office that treated me with RESPECT!!! Every other office treated me with NO RESPECT...treated me more like a SLAVE!!! I hate this field!!! Dentists are the worse Employers ever!!!

[Imjustdust]

Assistant should be able to move up with out going to school, experience and being taught on the job and dexterity is way better than a piece of bought paper. I’ve been an assistant for 20 and I’ve been made to learn more than most of the dentists I’ve worked with and it’s for nothing. There’s no testing out I’ve gotta deal with watching people being misdiagnosed and arrogant dentists disregarding my suggestions. As if I’m just supposed to be dumb. It’s heart breaking and it is a dead end.

[SRNTY]

Dental assisting is a dead end job. It requires enough training and experience to keep people out, but doesn't offer enough stability to draw in experienced workers.

[KimFriesen-zc]

guy who paints my wall in my home must be covered by WSIB.... BUT....Dentists are not required to provide WSIB to their staff....so, as you may have guessed it, most dental workers/assistants do not even have WSIB coverage. I think that speaks volumes to why there is a shortage of assistants.

[rachaeladeline]

Maybe pay fair wages and treat assistants well?

[blgent]

It's my understanding that all Provinces except Ontario and Quebec, require dental assistants be certified...this needs to change, and it's the dentists that need to push for the change, since it's likely the dentists that are blocking it because they can offer lower wages to untrained dental assistants.

[grapestsx]

I'm a certified dental assistant, no benefits! Unless you work for a big corporation like 123 Dentist but you don't get raises easily.

[Probeius]

The best place to get your teeth fixed is NOT Canada. Fly abroad, get it done, spend a week of relaxation, and fly back. All that would be cheaper than getting it done in Canada.

[sydaalavi]

The pay and benefits are awful! Filling the role with untrained people is a huge threat for public health. They just need to make sure that the assistant is payed enough to be able to afford a decent living!

[esparda]

The youth do not want to work because they see no future in Canada. How difficult is that to understand? Fix the underlying problems of unaffordability FIRST.

[kep]

Dental assistant pay is horrible for all that you do and have to put up with.

[Dracoool]

There is also a "shortage" of non-corrupt a "shortage" of actual journalists.

[ldneq]

Pay fair charges and hire a receptionist for admin works! I dont know how they did it, being a receptionist, an assistant to the dentist, plus management of stocks and instruments. Its too much for one person