32111 – Dental hygienists and dental therapists
TEER 2Occupations usually requiring a college diploma or apprenticeship of 2 years or more, or supervisory occupations
Lead statement
ental hygienists provide dental hygiene treatment and services related to oral health promotion and disease and mouth injury prevention.
Main duties
- Conduct patient screening and oral health assessments, including taking vital signs and documenting patient medical and health history
- Take dental impressions
- Take and develop X-rays
- Perform preventative dental procedures such as teeth cleaning, scaling, gum stimulation and fluoride and sealant applications
- Provide oral care instructions such as oral hygiene procedures, strategies to maintain and improve oral health and on the impact of nutrition on oral health
- Consult with dentists on patient care
- May perform restorative and orthodontic procedures under the direction of a dentist
- May supervise dental assistants in their health care functions
- May participate in community- or school-based oral health initiatives such as oral screening.
- Perform routine dental check-ups, oral cancer examinations and emergency dental examinations
- Perform preventative dental procedures such as teeth cleaning, gum stimulation and fluoride and sealant applications
- Perform routine teeth restorations and uncomplicated extractions and provide post extraction oral care instructions
- Refer patients to other dental professionals for care beyond the scope of the dental therapist
- Provide oral health promotion activities
- May supervise dental assistants in their health care functions.
Employment requirements
- Completion of a two- to three-year college dental hygiene program, approved by the governing board within the province or territory of residence, is usually required for dental hygienists.
- Licensing by the appropriate provincial or territorial regulatory body is required for dental hygienists.
- Dental therapists are required to complete a two- to three- year college diploma from an approved dental institution program.
- Licensure is required for dental therapists in Saskatchewan, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
Example job titles
dental hygienist · expanded duty dental hygienist · orthodontic hygienist · periodontal hygienist · registered dental hygienist · community dental hygienist · restorative dental hygienist · dental therapist · registered dental therapist · licensed dental therapist
Wages (per hour)
| Province / territory | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $32.00 | $45.00 | $60.00 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $25.00 | $50.00 | $74.27 |
| Nova Scotia | $35.00 | $38.10 | $44.00 |
| New Brunswick | $35.58 | $42.00 | $46.00 |
| Quebec | $30.00 | $39.00 | $46.19 |
| Ontario | $33.00 | $44.00 | $53.67 |
| Manitoba | $43.00 | $47.00 | $53.97 |
| Saskatchewan | $26.44 | $51.00 | $60.00 |
| Alberta | $50.00 | $60.00 | $75.00 |
| British Columbia | $43.59 | $55.00 | $65.00 |
Source: Job Bank wages, 2025 release (ESDC). Low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles.
Occupation details: ESDC OaSIS 2025, based on NOC 2021.