Nova Scotia Dental Clinics Face Worsening Staff Shortage Despite Recruitment Efforts
The Nova Scotia Dental Association reports more than 160 open positions for dental hygienists, assistants, and administrative staff. Driven by an aging workforce, population growth, and an influx of patients from the Canadian Dental Care Plan, many dentists are delaying care or halting new patient intake while hygiene appointments are booked months in advance.
Nova Scotia is grappling with a deepening shortage of dental hygienists, assistants, and administrative staff, leaving oral health-care providers across the province under significant strain. According to the Nova Scotia Dental Association, more than 100 job postings were reported in March, prompting the organization to host an expo and job fair to address the gap.
Despite those recruitment efforts, the association’s website listed 138 jobs for hygienists and assistants as of the Thursday following the March events, along with two dozen administration positions. Dr. James Brunt, president of the Nova Scotia Dental Association, stated that some dentists have stopped accepting new patients due to insufficient staffing. Routine hygiene appointments are now fully booked for months, causing delays for patients seeking cleanings and other care.
The association attributes the worsening labor shortage to several converging factors. An aging workforce that is difficult to replenish, combined with a lack of awareness about careers in the dental industry, has limited the available talent pool. Additionally, the introduction of the Canadian Dental Care Plan has caused a large influx of patients into an already strained system.
To address the shortage, the association is advocating for increased educational seats at Dalhousie University and Nova Scotia Community College. Dalhousie University currently offers 36 annual seats in its dental hygiene program, down from a historical high of 42. In 2024, the university proposed increasing health, medical, and dentistry seats by 50 per cent as part of a bilateral agreement with the province.