How to become a dental assistant or dental laboratory assistant
Official title: Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants
Also called: Dental aide, Dental assistant, Dental clinical assistant, Licensed dental assistant, Certified dental assistant, Dental laboratory assistant, Dental technician assistant, Intra-oral dental assistant, Preventive dental assistant, Registered dental assistant, Chair-side assistant - dental, Dental laboratory bench worker
Dental assistants assist dentists, dental hygienists and dental therapists during the examination and treatment of patients and perform clerical functions. Dental laboratory assistants assist dental technologists and technicians in preparing and fabricating dentures and other dental devices. Dental assistants work in dentists' offices, community health centres, clinics and in educational institutions. Dental laboratory assistants are employed in dental laboratories.
Main tasks
- Dental assistants
- Prepare patients for dental examination and assist the dentist during examinations and dental treatments
- Sterilize and maintain instruments and equipment
- Prepare dental instruments, fillings compound and various dental materials
- Take and develop X-rays
- Polish teeth and clinical crowns and apply fluoride and sealant
- Take preliminary impressions for diagnostic casts
- Educate patients concerning oral hygiene
How to become one
Dental assistants require completion of an eight-month to one-year college or other program in dental assistance or completion of secondary school with on-the-job training Registration with a regulatory body is required in all provinces except Quebec and Ontario. Certification by the National Dental Assisting Examination Board is required to perform intra-oral duties in all provinces except in Quebec, where intra-oral duties are not performed by dental assistants. Dental laboratory assistants usually require secondary school and up to two years of on-the-job training.
Ways in
- College or CEGEP: College or CEGEP program. 61% of workers hold a college or other non-degree diploma (Census 2021). Common fields: Dental support services and allied professions; Dentistry (DDS, DMD); Registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing.
- Licence or registration: Registration with a regulatory body is required in all provinces except Quebec and Ontario.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $52,650 a year The middle half earn $46,800 to $60,450.
- About 38,000 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 49,200 are projected by 2033. (+29.5%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: balance.
Related jobs
- Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations
- Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
- Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants
- Other assisting occupations in support of health services
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Questions people ask
How do I become a dental assistant or dental laboratory assistant?
Dental assistants require completion of an eight-month to one-year college or other program in dental assistance or completion of secondary school with on-the-job training Registration with a regulatory body is required in all provinces except Quebec and Ontario. Certification by the National Dental Assisting Examination Board is required to perform intra-oral duties in all provinces except in Quebec, where intra-oral duties are not performed by dental assistants. Dental laboratory assistants usually require secondary school and up to two years of on-the-job training.
How much does a dental assistant or dental laboratory assistant earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $52,650 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $46,800 to $60,450.
Is a dental assistant or dental laboratory assistant a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 30% by 2033, from about 38,000 to about 49,200 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become a dental assistant or dental laboratory assistant?
Usually not. Only 14% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: College or CEGEP program.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03