Across Canada, dental practices continue to contend with a scarcity of skilled clinicians and support staff resulting in a labour shortage that has evolved from a growing concern to a crisis.
While the demand for dental services has surged, due to factors such as population growth, an aging demographic, and heightened awareness of oral health’s connection to overall health, the supply of dental professionals has failed to keep pace.
Notably, in Canada, the unemployment rate for dental hygienists stands at a mere 1%, significantly below the national average of 5.5% as of August 20231, illustrating the persistent recruitment needs within this critical sector.
The pandemic exacerbated this labour shortage, with healthcare professionals of all types abandoning their posts due to added job stress or personal safety concerns. Notably, even before Covid-19 entered our collective vocabulary, the Canadian Dental Association (CDA) found up to a third of Canadian Dental Offices had open positions for Dental Assistants, and that as of April 2023, a representative from the CDA estimated a 5,000-person shortage in the crucial support position2.
These factors, compounded by the financial strain of education, underscore the imperative for strategic interventions to address the labour shortage and support students to be better able to enter the dental profession.
As Canada’s largest network of dental Practices, dentalcorp is committed to providing education programs, continuing education and helping to bring new talent into the industry.
“We honour our commitment to working with top talent by partnering with several dental industry Universities and Colleges across the country, both traditional and online, ensuring we are visible on campus and offer events, so we can better connect with and educate students on the benefits of working with us, says “Alyson Brennan, Senior Director, Talent and Recruitment at dentalcorp.
As part of this commitment to the next generation of dental professionals the ‘Academic Excellence Awards’ Program was launched.
The dentalcorp Academic Excellence Award is a scholarship and work-placement program aimed at recognizing outstanding students in Dental Hygiene, Dental Assisting, and Dental Therapy programs across Canada. Each year, six exceptional students are selected – two from Dental Assisting programs, three from Dental Hygiene programs, and one from Dental Therapy – each to receive a significant contribution towards their tuition fees. Winners also secure a full-time, two-year contract with a leading dentalcorp clinic upon graduation, providing these students with invaluable work experience and a head start in their dental careers.
The Academic Excellence Awards comes at a time when the industry is facing another major transformation in the form of the Canadian Dental Care Plan, which will roll out throughout 2024. The Federal Government announced in its March budget, the CDCP will provide coverage for an estimated nine million uninsured Canadians3, potentially making the need for skilled clinicians greater than ever.
The talent shortage is felt more deeply in remote or more rural areas as compared to Canada’s major urban centres, and dentalcorp’s talent team works tirelessly to help recruit talent and set them up to move to a new place, a mutually beneficial arrangement as these young people get valuable new experiences, while also ensuring patients are better served in these markets.
“At dentalcorp, we believe in investing in the future of dentistry by supporting and nurturing the next generation of talent. So far, the Academic Excellence Award has placed more than 20 dental professionals in leading clinics across Canada, often in underserved communities who need qualified clinicians now more than ever” says Nicola Deall, Chief People Officer at dentalcorp. Deall adds, “The impact of the Academic Excellence Award extends far beyond financial support. Past winners have gone on to begin fulfilling careers in dentistry by embodying clinical excellence while offering patient-centric care.”
Hannah W., one of last year’s recipients from the Canadian National Institute of Health, shares, “This achievement affirms my passion and dedication to the dental hygiene profession…As I strengthen my skills in clinical practice, I will continue to advocate for equity and increased access to oral care for underprivileged communities.”
Selection Criteria and Application Process
Winners of the Academic Excellence Awards are chosen based on scholastic achievement, extracurricular involvement, and their embodiment of dentalcorp’s core values: unity, innovation, accountability, courage, and caring. To be eligible, applicants must be in their final year of study, maintaining a minimum GPA of 3.0, and demonstrate proven extracurricular involvement. Additionally, applicants are required to submit two reference letters and complete an application questionnaire. The deadline for submissions is April 10, 2024.
Important Dates
April 10: Last day to submit applications
April 24: Candidates shortlisted by decision committee
May 31: Award recipients announced
Learn More and Apply
If you’re a dental student passionate about shaping the future of oral health care, the dentalcorp Academic Excellence Award could be your gateway to a rewarding career in dentistry. Visit academicexcellenceaward.ca to learn more and start your application today. For career development opportunities, reach out to talent@dentalcorp.ca.
Sources
- CDHA, Sarah Hornby, October 2023 – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10645429/
- CDA, https://www.cda-adc.ca/policy_papers/en/2023/bridging_financial_gap/barriers.asp
- Canadian Dental Care Plan, Federal News Release, March 2023 – https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2023/03/31/getting-canadians-dental-care-they-need