Description
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.
Job Titles
- Certified dental assistant
- Certified intra-oral dental assistant
- Dental assistant
Main Duties
- Prepare patients for dental examination and assist the dentist during examinations and dental treatments
- Sterilize and maintain instruments and equipment
- Prepare dental instruments, fillings, compounds 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
- Perform clerical duties such as prepare invoices, process payments, schedule patient appointments, record dental procedures performed and order dental and office supplies
- May perform intra-oral duties such as remove sutures, take and record vital signs, apply desensitizing agents, topical anaesthetic, anticariogenic agents and coronal whitening, fabricate, place, and remove temporary crowns and restorations, and apply and remove rubber dams
- May also perform pulp vitality testing as well as periodontal screening and recording.
Workplaces
- Clinics
- Community health centres
- Dentists’ offices
- Education institutions
Skills
- Oral Communication: Active Listening
- Coordinating
- Critical Thinking
- Decision Making
- Digital Literacy
Abilities
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Control of Settings
- Finger Dexterity
- Finger-Hand-Wrist Motion
- Manual Dexterity
Personal Attributes
- Attention to Detail
- Concern for Others
- Adaptability
- Collaboration
- Independence
Similar Occupations
Source: OaSIS
Employment Outlook
The employment outlook will be Good for dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants (NOC 33100) in Prince Edward Island for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
- Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
- A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.
- There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
The demand for workers in this field is expected to continue to face good employment prospects in P.E.I., with demand rising due to the province’s aging population, growing awareness of oral health, and the rollout of the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP). Recent media reports highlight that more Island dentists have signed onto the federal program, but many clinics remain at or near full staffing capacity, limiting their ability to expand services. This shortage of dental staff—including assistants—has created longer wait times and increased pressure on existing teams.
Here are some key facts about Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants in Prince Edward Island:
- Approximately 150 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
- Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants mainly work in the following sectors:
- Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): more than 95%
- The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
- Full-time workers: 90% compared to 84% for all occupations
- Part-time workers: 10% compared to 16% for all occupations
- 31% of dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants work all year, while 69% work only part of the year, compared to 59% and 41% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 38 weeks compared to 41 weeks for all occupations.
- The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
- Men: 9% compared to 51% for all occupations
- Women: 91% compared to 49% for all occupations
- The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
- no high school diploma: n/a
- high school diploma or equivalent: 11% compared to 28% for all occupations
- apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 11% compared to 11% for all occupations
- college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor’s: 75% compared to 25% for all occupations
- bachelor’s degree: n/a
- university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: n/a
Source: Job Bank
Prevailing Wages
| AREA | LOW | MEDIAN | HIGH |
|---|---|---|---|
| PEI | $18.92 | $24.00 | $26.00 |
| Canada | $21.00 | $27.00 | $35.00 |
Training
| TRAINING PROGRAM | INSTITUTION | CREDENTIAL |
|---|---|---|
| Dental Assisting | Holland College | Certificate |