Dentists – NOC : 3113

Unit Group

3113 Dentists

Dentists diagnose, treat, prevent and control disorders of the teeth and mouth. They work in private practice or may be employed in hospitals, clinics, public health facilities or universities.

Example Titles

dentist

endodontist

oral and maxillofacial surgeon

oral pathologist

oral radiologist

orthodontist

pediatric dentist

periodontist

prosthodontist

public health dentist

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Main duties

Dentists perform some or all of the following duties:

Examine patients’ teeth, gums and surrounding tissue to diagnose disease, injury and decay and plan appropriate treatment
Restore, extract and replace diseased and decayed teeth
Perform oral surgery, periodontal surgery and other treatments
Clean teeth and instruct patients on oral hygiene
Design bridgework, fit dentures and provide appliances to correct abnormal positioning of the teeth and jaws, or write fabrication instructions or prescriptions for use by denturists and dental technicians
Supervise dental hygienists, dental assistants and other staff.

Dentists may specialize in such areas as oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, endodontics, prosthodontics, oral pathology, oral radiology or public health dentistry.

Employment requirements

One to four years of pre-dentistry university studies or, in Quebec, completion of a college program in sciences
and
A university degree from a recognized dental program are required.
Licensing by a provincial or territorial regulatory body is required.
Dentists in general practice can move into a specialized practice through advanced training.
Licensing for specializations is required.

Additional information

Certification by the National Dental Examining Board of Canada entitles dentists or graduates of approved dental programs to practise dentistry in any province in Canada provided requirements set out by the provincial and territorial licensing authorities are met.

Classified elsewhere

Dental assistants (3411)
Dental hygienists and dental therapists (3222)
Dental technologists, technicians and laboratory assistants (3223)
Denturists (3221)