Statistics Canada reported Thursday that the dental sector has surpassed its pre-pandemic productivity levels, achieving an increase of $851 million compared to 2019, a year when the global economy faced significant challenges.
Citing the easing of restrictions in 2021, Samir Djidel, an analyst at the Centre for Direct Health Measures at Statistics Canada, noted in the report that the “dental industry started experiencing a recovery.”
In 2021, total dental economic output rose 22.7% from the previous year to $19.0 billion, exceeding 2019 levels by $851 million. In addition, dental office jobs increased by 24.1% (23,635 jobs) during the same period, bringing the total number of jobs in the industry above pre-pandemic levels.
By 2022, the industry continued to grow, with output increasing 5.5% to nearly $20.0 billion. “Despite the challenges faced by the dental industry in 2020, a full recovery was seen in 2021,” Djidel added in the report.
While the total number of jobs reached 121,760 in 2021, exceeding pre-pandemic levels, employment continued to grow in 2022 (+1.4%) and 2023 (+4.6%), albeit at a more moderate pace.
Meanwhile, the total hours worked across all jobs in the dental industry also increased, signaling a revival in productivity. It is estimated that 146.7 million hours were worked in the dental industry in 2021. This recovery began in 2021 as restrictions eased, reaching 188.8 million hours worked. By 2023, the industry recorded nearly 196 million hours, a 12.5% increase over the pre-pandemic level recorded in 2019.
Provincial disparities
Despite continued growth, not all provinces are experiencing the same benefits. In 2020, all provinces saw declines in job levels. However, by 2023, provinces such as Newfoundland and Labrador (+21.4%), Alberta (+13.7%), and Ontario (+13.1%) reported significant increases in dental office jobs, while Nunavut (-22.6%) and the Northwest Territories (-11.8%) continued to struggle.
The study also mentioned the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), which began its staggered enrolment rollout in December 2023, providing coverage to Canadians without private dental insurance. The report indicated that the CDCP could lead to an anticipated increase in demand for oral health care services.
Stats Canada has previously reported that one-third of Canadians do not have dental insurance, while Public Health Ontario reports that about 20% of people in the most populous province did not visit a dentist in the past three years, citing cost as a barrier.
