Dental assistants are an integral part of the oral health care team contributing to a strong and safe oral health care system for all Canadians.
In the clinical environment across Canada, dental assistants work closely with dentists and other oral health care professionals to provide chairside assistance and ensure appropriate infection control processes and practices are maintained. However, the skills and duties provided by dental assistants vary across provincial and territorial jurisdictions as there are currently no common education and training requirements or standard scope of practice recognized throughout.
The Canadian Dental Assistants Association strongly advocates for the standardization of both qualification and scope of practice for the profession and values the role of both the National Dental Assisting Examining Board and the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada for establishing and maintaining standards to safeguard the health and safety of Canadians.
Individuals interested in the dental assisting profession are encouraged to contact the provincial dental assisting association or regulator to determine the specific qualification requirements where they intend to practice.