Job offers dentist in Quebec

The dentist diagnoses, treats and prevents diseases and abnormalities of the dentition and oral cavity. He conducts dental examinations and selects the appropriate treatment. He repairs, extracts or replaces damaged teeth.

Dentists may perform occasional surgical procedures for various treatments. He or she may design and install prostheses and retainers to correct deformities of the jaw and teeth.

In a dental clinic, the dentist supervises the hygienists and dental assistants as well as other employees.

To become a dentist, you must have completed an undergraduate degree in dentistry. It lasts 4 to 5 years and is offered by 3 universities in Quebec: University of Montreal, McGill University and Laval University. Many dentists will then decide to specialize in several areas of dentistry:

• Maxillofacial surgery;
• Public dental hygiene;
• Orthodontics;
• Oral pathology;
• The periodontia;
• Endodontics; 
• Oral radiology
• Pediatric dentistry;
• Prostodontics;
• Oral medicine.

The length of specialization varies for different specializations. The maxillofacial surgeon, for example, must complete a Doctor of Medicine degree in addition to the undergraduate Doctor of Dental Medicine degree before specializing in maxillofacial surgery.

To enter the profession of dentist, you must also have a permit from the Ordre des dentistes du Québec (ODQ). To obtain this permit, the student must pass the examination of the Ordre des dentistes du Québec after his or her training.

Employment opportunities for dentists

Dentists may work in dental offices, as self-employed workers, in health care facilities, in international organizations, in the military and in educational institutions.

The salary of a dentist in Quebec varies greatly depending on experience. At the beginning of the career, the base salary is relatively low because it is the salary of student dentists which is about 30 000 $ per year, at the end of the studies it is already around 130 000$. At the end of the career, the salary is about 243,000 $ per year. The median salary is about 120,000 $ per year.

Working conditions

The majority of dentists practice in private dental offices. This means that they are able to set their own hours and working conditions. Most dentists work days, but some work evenings and weekends.

83% of dentists work in one location. 14% of them have 2 different work locations and 3% of them work in more than 2 locations.