Job prospects Certified Dental Assistant in Ontario

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "certified dental assistant" in Ontario or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Ontario

These outlooks were updated on November 29, 2023.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be good for Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants (NOC 33100) in Ontario for the 2023-2025 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 add to the job prospects
• The aging population is expected to increase the demand for geriatric dental care

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

• The Ontario Dental Assistants Association (ODAA) offers certifications, including, Certified Dental Assistant Level I (CDA) or chairside assistant, and Certified Dental Assistant Level II (CDA II) or intra-oral assistant
  • Although voluntary, candidates with designations are expected to have improved job prospects
  • Progression from Level I to Level II is possible with education, training and licensure
• Healing Arts Radiation Protection (HARP) certification is a common requirement for dental assistants
• Dental laboratory assistants are often required to have experience with computer-aided design or computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) tools

What Other Information Will I Find Helpful?

• Several positions will be for part-time work.

Here are some key facts about Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants in Ontario:

• Approximately 16,850 people work in this occupation.
• Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 94%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 77% compared to 81% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 23% compared to 19% for all occupations
• 33% of dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants work all year, while 67% 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.
• Less than 5% of dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants 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: 9% compared to 25% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 15% compared to 8% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 56% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 9% compared to 24% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 10% 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 a "certified dental assistant" Dental assistants (NOC 33100) or across Canada.

Learn more