Job prospects Expanded Duty Dental Hygienist in Ontario

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as an "expanded duty dental hygienist" in Ontario or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Ontario

These outlooks were updated on December 11, 2024.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be good for Dental hygienists and dental therapists (NOC 32111) in Ontario for the 2024-2026 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
• Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

What Types of Employers Are Out There?

• Majority employed in dental offices

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

• Demand for dental services is influenced by dental insurance coverage rates, population growth, household incomes, and public awareness of oral hygiene
• Public-sector investments in affordable dental care should support job prospects
• The aging population is expected to increase the demand for geriatric dental care

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

• The College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario (CDHO) regulates the profession

What Other Information Will I Find Helpful?

• Some positions will be for part-time work
• Bridging Programs are available to assist internationally trained professionals in various fields enter the labour market more quickly in Ontario
• Dental therapists do not practise in Ontario.

Here are some key facts about Dental hygienists and dental therapists in Ontario:

• Approximately 14,150 people work in this occupation.
• Dental hygienists and dental therapists mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): more than 95%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 67% compared to 81% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 33% compared to 19% for all occupations
• 25% of dental hygienists and dental therapists work all year, while 75% work only part of the year, compared to 63% and 37% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 37 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
• 10% of dental hygienists and dental therapists are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: less than 5% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: more than 95% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 9% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: less than 5% compared to 25% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: less than 5% compared to 8% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 76% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 13% compared to 24% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 6% compared to 13% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Ontario by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Job prospects elsewhere in Canada

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as an "expanded duty dental hygienist" Dental hygienists and dental therapists (NOC 32111) or across Canada.

Learn more