Dental Statistics

• Approximately 64 percent of Canadians aged 12 and over visited a dental office in 2005.
  Statistics Canada, Community Health Survey, 2005.
  
  
• Fifty percent of Canadians visit their dentists once or more every six months.
  Canadian Dental Association, Pollara Public Survey, January 2005.
  
  
• Mean blood concentration of mercury in Canadians in 2008: 0.76 mg/L
  Lead, mercury and cadmium levels in Canadians. Health Canada, November 2008.
  
  
• Canadians aged 20 to 79 that have total blood mercury levels above the Health Canada guidance value of 20 mg/L for general adult population: Less than 1%
  Lead, mercury and cadmium levels in Canadians. Health Canada, November 2008.
  
  
• Percentage of all private spending on dental care in 2006 that was from insurance sources: 55%
  Canadian Institute of Health Information, 2006.
  
  
• In 2007, 75 percent of all practicing dentists in Canada were male.
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• There are 10 dental schools in Canada.
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• Average age of a Canadian dentist in 2005: 46
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• Number of licensed dentists in Canada in 2008: 19,124
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• Percent of dentists who place and remove restorations as a routine part of practice in 2007: 87.2%
  Watson et al. 2007
  
  
• Number of hours per week in practice for the average dentist in 2006: 32.5
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• Number of patients seen in a week by the average dentist in 2006: 65
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• Total expenditures for dental services in 2007: $11,343 billion
  Canadian Institute for Health Information.
  
  
• Percent of Canadian dentists in 2008 in practice that have graduated from a foreign school: 13.5%
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• Percent of dentists in 2008 that were aged 65 and over: 7.7%
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• Percent of dentists in 2008 that were under 40 years of age: 35.1%
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• Average population to dentist ratio in Canada in 2007: 1671
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• Percent of dental practices in Canada with 2 dentists in 2006: 24.1%
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• Average rural population to rural dentist ratio in Canada in 2007: 5947
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• Total number of dental school graduates in 2008: 537
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• Percent of female dental graduates in 2008: 54.8%
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• Consumer Price Index for dental care in Canada in 2007: 119.2
  Consumer Price Index, Statistics Canada.
  
  
• Approximately 58% of the student body in 2008 was female.
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• In January 2009, there were 19,336 licensed dentists in Canada.
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• In 2009, the proportion of male dentists in Canada was 75%.
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• In June 2008, there were 57.3 dentists per 100,000 people in Canada.
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• There were 2133 dental specialists in 2008, or roughly 6.4 dental specialists per 100,000 people.
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• All dental schools in Canada are in publicly funded universities.
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• There were 512 graduates from all dental schools in Canada in 2009.
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• Approximately 7% of Canadians have used a tooth-whitening product.
  Pollara Public Opinion Survey 2007.
  
  
• Approximately 3% of Canadians have had a dental implant.
  Pollara Public Opinion Survey 2007.
  
  
• The specialty with the highest number of dentists is orthodontics, with approximately 735 orthodontists in Canada in 2010.
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• In January 2009 there were over 22,365 dental hygienists, 2200 denturists, and over 300 dental therapists in Canada.
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• In 2009 males accounted for approximately 72% of the dentists in Canada.
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• In 2009 roughly 34% of dentists in Canada were under 40 years of age.
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• In 2009 about 18% of dentists in Canada were over the age of 60.
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• In 2009 over 58% of dentists under 30 years of age were female compared to 42% being male.
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• In 2009 only 8% of dentists over 60 years of age were female compared to 92% being male.
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• Most dentists in Canada (54%) are in solo private practice.
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• About 19% of dentists in Canada are in a partnership and 19% are an associate in a private practice.
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• 2% of dentists in Canada are currently in an academic setting.
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• 1% of dentists in Canada are currently in public health.
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• 1% of dentists in Canada are currently in the military.
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• Approximately 7% of dentists work in a practice with 5 or more dentists.
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• In British Columbia, the number of dentists per 100,000 people was 66 in 2009, the highest density in Canada.
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• The resident to dentist ratio for rural areas in Canada in 2005 was 5096 whereas it was 1734 for all areas.
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• There were about 3 times as many dentists serving the urban areas than the overall population in Canada.
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• The province with the greatest density of dentists in July 2009 was British Columbia (1509 persons per dentist).
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• The province with the least density of dentists in July 2009 was Newfoundland and Labrador (2891 persons per dentist).
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• In the Northwest Territories there were 1447 persons per dentist in 2009.
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• In Nunavut there were 5367 persons per dentist in 2009.
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• Nearly three quarters of Canadians (74.5%) made a dental visit in the previous 12 month period.
  Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS).
  
  
• In 2005, publicly funded dental services accounted for $225 million of the $5.3 billion federal health budget, or 4.2%.
  Quinonez CR, et al. An environmental scan of public dental programs in Canada. Community Dental Health Services Research Unit, University of Toronto, 2007.
  
  
• Private-sector expenditures on health care in Canada were estimated at $51.6 billion in 2008.
  Canadian Institute for Health Information.
  
  
• Prescribed drugs and dental care are the greatest components of total private health spending in Canada.
  Canadian Institute for Health Information.
  
  
• Roughly 41% of Canadians say they have had the same dentist for over 10 years.
  Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) 2010.
  
  
• Percentage of population in Canada living in communities with fluoridated water in 2006: 42.6%
  Office of the Chief Dental Officer.
  
  
• Percentage of dental clinics with only one dentist in practice in 2006: 52.4%
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• There were 2186 dental specialists in July 2009, or roughly 6.5 dental specialists per 100,000 people.
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• In Newfoundland and Labrador, the number of dentists per 100,000 people was 34.6 in 2009, the lowest density in Canada.
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• Approximately 53% of the dental student body was female in 2009.
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• Approximately 5% of dental expenditures in 2009 were public sector dental expenditures.
  Canadian Institute for Health Information. National Health Expenditure Trends 2010.
  
  
• Total expenditures on dental services in Canada in 2009 have been estimated at $12.8 billion.
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• In 2005, publicly funded dental services accounted for $354 million of the $94.7 billion provincial, territorial and municipal health care budgets, or just 0.4%.
  Quinonez CR, et al. An environmental scan of public dental programs in Canada. Community Dental Health Services Research Unit, University of Toronto, 2007.
  
  
• Federal programs or departments account for approximately 39% of the total public expenditures on dentistry and included programs such as non-insured health benefits for First Nations people.
  Publicly Financed Dental Care in Canada: Room for Growth? JCDA, July/August 2008, Vol. 74, No. 6.
  
  
• Provincial and territorial public sector expenditures for dentistry accounted for approximately 61% of the total public expenditures on dentistry and included targeted dental public health programs such as children’s oral health.
  Publicly Financed Dental Care in Canada: Room for Growth? JCDA, July/August 2008, Vol. 74, No. 6.
  
  
• Roughly 80% of Canadians say they have a dentist.
  Pollara Public Opinion Survey 2007.
  
  
• Approximately 85.7% of Canadians visit a dentist within a two-year period.
  Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) 2010.
  
  
• Among children aged 6-11 years old, 91% make an annual dental visit.
  Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) 2010.
  
  
• Among adolescents aged 12-19 years old, 84% make an annual dental visit
  Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) 2010.
  
  
• 68% of adults aged 20 to 39 see a dentist each year.
  Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) 2010.
  
  
• 79.3% of dentate adults make an annual dental visit.
  Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) 2010.
  
  
• Over a quarter of Canadians (28%) floss 5 times a week.
  Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) 2010.
  
  
• An estimated 12.2% of Canadians avoid certain foods because of problems with their teeth or mouth.
  Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) 2010.
  
  
• 11.6% of Canadians sometimes or often have pain the mouth in a one year period.
  Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) 2010.
  
  
• 23.8% of dentate adults in Canada (aged 20-79) have one or more lost or traumatized anterior teeth.
  Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) 2010.
  
  
• As of 2008, 45.1% of Canadians have access to fluoridated water.
  Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) 2010.
  
  
• Percent of dental practices in Canada with 7 or more dentists in 2006: 2.4%
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• Approximately 4.5% of dental expenditures in 2008 were public sector dental expenditures.
  Canadian Institute for Health Information, National Health Expenditure Trends 2009.
  
  
• Federal spending on public dental programs in 2008 was between $250 to $275 million.
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• In June 2008 there were over 19,000 dental hygienists, 30,000 dental assistants, 2100 denturists, 2050 dental technicians and 290 dental therapists in Canada.
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• Total expenditures on dental services in Canada in 2008 have been estimated at $12.117 billion.
  Canadian Institute for health information, National Health Expenditure Trends, 2009.
  
  
• In January 2010, there were 19,563 licensed dentists in Canada.
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• 95.9% of dentate adults in Canada (aged 20 to 79) have at least one cavity.
  Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) 2010.
  
  
• For adult Canadians, on average there are 0.58 teeth that have untreated decay.
  Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) 2010.
  
  
• The lifetime probability of developing oral cancer in Canada is 1 in 105.
  Statistics Canada.
  
  
• In 2009, it is estimated that 1,150 Canadians died from oral cancer.
  Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) 2010.
  
  
• Approximately 78% of Canadians have had at least one filling done.
  Pollara Public Opinion Survey 2007.
  
  
• Approximately 37% of Canadians have had a root canal.
  Pollara Public Opinion Survey 2007.
  
  
• 88% of Canadians agree that their oral health is an important part of their overall health.
  Pollara Public Opinion Survey 2007.
  
  
• Four in five Canadians say they have a dentist.
  Pollara Public Opinion Survey 2007.
  
  
• 41% of Canadians have had the same dentists for at least 10 years.
  Pollara Public Opinion Survey 2007.
  
  
• About 14% of Canadians have bought an over-the-counter tooth whitening product at least once.
  Pollara Public Opinion Survey 2007.
  
  
• 42% of Canadians know all the benefits in their health insurance plans.
  Pollara Public Opinion Survey 2007.
  
  
• Number of weeks in practice for the average dentist in 2006: 45
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• Average number of dentists in a practice in 2006: 2.2
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• Average number of dental hygienists in a practice in Canada in 2006: 2.1
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• Federal spending on public dental programs in 2009 was between $250 to $275 million dollars.
  Canadian Institute for Health Information.
  
  
• Approximately 55% of all private expenditures on dental care are from private insurance sources, and 45% from out-of-pocket.
  Canadian Institute for Health Information.
  
  
• In 2008, the private insurance industry in Canada financed $6.4 billion dollars of expenditures for dental care through dental insurance plans, covering over 20 million Canadians (62% of the population).
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• Almost 20% of Canadians have received or are currently receiving orthodontic treatment.
  Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) 2010.
  
  
• 32% of children in Canada (aged 6-11) have one or more sealants to prevent cavities.
  Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) 2010.
  
  
• 50.6% of adolescents in Canada (aged 12-19) have one or more sealants to prevent cavities.
  Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) 2010.
  
  
• 32.3% of dentate adults in Canada (aged 20-79) have gingivitis.
  Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) 2010.
  
  
• The prevalence of decayed, missing or filled teeth for children (6-11) is 23.6% today compared to 74% in 1972.
  Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) 2010.
  
  
• The average number of decayed, missing or filled teeth was 6.0 in 1972 compared to 2.5 today (140 percent higher in 1972).
  Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) 2010.
  
  
• Number of students in all dental schools in 2008: 1945
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• 95% of the total expenditures on dental services in Canada in 2009 were private sector expenditures.
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• The expenditures on dental services are 7% of total health expenditures in Canada.
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• The increase in dental service expenditures from 2008 to 2009 was 5.6%.
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• Per capita spending on dental services in 2009 was $380.83.
  Canadian Institute for Health Information.
  
  
• Most Canadians (73%) brush twice or more a day.
  Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) 2010.
  
  
• Approximately 4.1% of Canadians are currently receiving orthodontic care.
  Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) 2010.
  
  
• Approximately 18% of adolescents are currently receiving orthodontic care.
  Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) 2010.
  
  
• Approximately 6.2% of children are currently receiving orthodontic care.
  Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) 2010.
  
  
• Average household expenditures on private health care services in Canada in 2007: $1,932.
  Spending Patterns in Canada, 2007. Statistics Canada.
  
  
• Percentage increase in spending on private health care per household in Canada from 2003 to 2007: 24.4%
  Spending Patterns in Canada, 2007. Statistics Canada.
  
  
• Percentage increase in dental hygienists from 1999 to 2007: 44%
  Canada’s Healthcare Providers. Canadian Institute for Health Information, 2007.
  
  
• Percentage increase in dentists from 1999 to 2007: 14%
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• The expenditures on dental services are 7% of total health expenditures in Canada in 2008.
  Canadian Institute for Health Information, National Health Expenditure Trends, 2009.
  
  
• Approximately 89% of dentists in Canada are in general practice.
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• Approximately 11% of dentists in Canada are specialists.
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• The specialty with the lowest number of dentists is oral radiology, with approximately 12 oral radiologists in Canada in 2010.
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• There at least 30,000 dental assistants in Canada in 2009.
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• The population to dental hygienist ratio in 2009 in Canada was 1509 compared to a population to dentist ratio of 1745.
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• The ratio of dentist to dental hygienist in January 2009 was 0.86 (in other words there are 0.86 dentists for every dental hygienist).
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• In July 2009, there were 57.6 dentists per 100,000 people in Canada.
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• 95% of children with private dental insurance see a dentist annually.
  Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) 2010.
  
  
• It is estimated that 2.26 million school days are lost annually due to dental visits or dental sick-days.
  Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) 2010.
  
  
• It is estimated that 4.15 million working days for adults are lost annually due to dental visits or dental sick-days.
  Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) 2010.
  
  
• An estimated 40.36 million hours are lost from normal activities, school or work on an annual basis due to check-ups or problems with teeth.
  Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) 2010.
  
  
• 39.1% of Canadians have experienced time-lost from normal activities for oral health reasons.
  Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) 2010.
  
  
• Overall an average of 3.54 hours per year is lost per person due to dental disease in Canada, including professional treatment.
  Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) 2010.
  
  
• Almost nine in ten people (88% of Canadians) feel that their oral health is an important part of their overall health.
  Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) 2010.
  
  
• 84% of Canadians report their oral health as good or excellent.
  Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) 2010.
  
  
• Only 6.4% of Canadians have no teeth (are edentulous).
  Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) 2010.
  
  
• Only 5.5% of Canadians have untreated coronal cavities.
  Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) 2010.
  
  
• Less than 0.3% of children in Canada (aged 6-11) have fluorosis.
  Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) 2010.
  
  
• Per capita spending on dental services in 2008 was $364.40.
  Canadian Institut for Health information, National Health Expenditure Trends, 2009.
  
  
• Over one-third of Canadians say that dental insurance coverage plays the greatest role in determining frequency of visits to the dentist.
  Ipsos Survey 2009.
  
  
• 56.8% of children in Canada (aged 6-11) are affected by one or more dental caries.
  Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) 2010.
  
  
• 58.8% of adolescents in Canada (aged 12-19) are affected by one or more dental caries.
  Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) 2010.
  
  
• Today 75% of Canadians visit a dentist annually compared to 50% in 1972.
  Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) 2010.
  
  
• The prevalence of decayed, missing or filled teeth for adolescents (12-19) is 58.8% today compared to 96.6% in 1972.
  Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) 2010.
  
  
• The average number of decayed, missing or filled teeth was 9.2 in 1972 compared to 2.5 today (268 percent higher in 1972).
  Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) 2010.
  
  
• Edentulism has decreased substantially from 23.6% of the population in 1972 to 6.4% today.
  Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) 2010.
  
  
• The human mouth is inhabited by a normal micro flora composed of over 500 species.
  Canadian Dental Association.
  
  
• Over one fifth (22%) of the population aged 12 and older smoked either daily or occasionally in 2007.
  Statistics Canada 2009.