A Green Party MLA in Prince Edward Island is calling for more local students to pursue dentistry as a career to address a growing shortage of dentists, CBC reported.
“There is a shortage, unfortunately, of front-line health-care practitioners across the board, and dentists are no exception,” said Borden-Kinkora MLA Matt MacFarlane.
With Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia being the only institution in the Maritimes offering a dentistry program, MacFarlane noted that no Island students secured a spot in the program this year.
Canada faces a nationwide need for more dentists. By 2028, the country is expected to have a shortfall of 500 dentists, according to data from the Canadian Occupational Projection System.
Between 2022 and 2031, the number of job openings for dentists, driven by expansion and retirements, is expected to reach 13,500. However, the number of job seekers entering the field, including graduates and immigrants, is projected at 10,500 — leaving a significant gap in the workforce.
