As of Monday, a counter-petition launched by dental hygienists in Ontario has gathered 1,763 signatures opposing an earlier petition by dentists to allow foreign-trained dentists to provide preventive dental care in the province.
The petition, addressed to the Ontario government and the College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario (CDHO), reads: “We, the undersigned, oppose the proposal to allow internationally trained dentists to provide dental hygiene services, such as teeth cleanings, without completing an Ontario-accredited dental hygiene program.”
The authors argue that teeth cleanings are a “controlled act” in Ontario and that allowing foreign-trained dentists to perform such procedures without Ontario-accredited training could compromise patient safety and standards of care.
As of Monday, about 376 people have signed the petition calling for internationally trained dentists to be allowed to provide preventive care, such as teeth cleanings, under supervision.
Launched on April 16, the petition aims to gather 500 signatures and is addressed to Ontario’s deputy health minister, Karima Velji, and the province’s fairness commissioner, Irwin Glasberg.
“We, the Ontario Practicing Dentists, write on behalf of dentists in southwestern Ontario to express our collective concern about the shortage of registered dental hygienists (RDHs) across the province,” the petition reads.
The petitioners say that with the recent expansion of the Canadian Federal Dental Care Program (CDCP), “an influx of new patients has and will continue to create an increasing, and sometimes urgent, need for dental services.”
They cite Statistics Canada data that shows that while Ontario has 43.5 per cent of the country’s registered dental hygienists (RDHs), only 936 new dental hygienists will enter the workforce between 2019 and 2023. Furthermore, nearly a quarter of dental hygienists are expected to leave the profession within the next five years due to retirement or burnout.
The petition states that more than 80 per cent of dental offices are actively recruiting dental hygienists but report a lack of qualified candidates.
The petition proposes a “limited scope registration model” that would allow internationally trained dentists (of which more than 5,000 are currently in the process of being licensed in Ontario) to provide preventive care under supervision.
Ontario has so far led the way in welcoming internationally trained dentists.
The Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA) says improving working conditions may be a better way to support the profession rather than focusing on staffing shortages.
In a statement to the oral health group on Tuesday, the CDHA said it’s unclear whether there is a true shortage of dental hygienists or a problem of “unequal distribution and unhealthy work environments.”
The group cited its 2023 survey that showed 60 per cent of dental hygienists had experienced or witnessed harassment or violence at work in the past year, often involving a dentist or office manager. Of the affected employees, 39 per cent considered quitting, 14 per cent resigned and 7 per cent took a leave of absence.
“Ensuring an adequate supply of oral health professionals is critical,” the Canadian Dental Health Association (CDHA) said, adding: “Dental hygiene staffing is complex and multi-faceted. Collaborative dialogue and examination of all factors that impact the workforce are essential to ensure Canadians receive adequate oral health care.”
CDHA also said the number of licensed hygienists has grown steadily and now totals more than 33,600 across Canada, with the majority working in Ontario. Additionally, the profession has high graduation and workforce renewal rates.
The association is working with the Canadian Dental Association to develop a pan-Canadian workforce model to better understand gaps in staffing and care delivery.
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