Immigrate to Canada as a Dental Hygienist – Full Guide

The job of a dental hygienist is significant everywhere in the world and in Canada. In Canada, dental hygienists are just as important as dentists. As such, it is an occupation that is regulated and, therefore, professional.

Consequently, if you intend to immigrate to Canada as a dental hygienist, you have made the right choice. However, there are certain conditions you must satisfy to do so, and this is because dental hygiene is considered a protected occupation in Canada.

Nevertheless, immigrating to Canada as a dental hygienist can reward you more than you can imagine.

The world would lose its smile permanently, but the set of dental hygienists have the power to restore smiles and confidence through their skills. The question then is; who is a dental hygienist?

Who is a Dental Hygienist?

The dental hygienist or oral hygienist is a certified dental professional registered and licensed by a dental association or regulatory body operating in a country.

Furthermore, to become a dental hygienist, you must have completed a clinical and written board examination. In addition, registered dental hygienists must have obtained an Associate’s or bachelor’s degree in Dental Hygiene from a recognized accredited college or university.

Additionally, after registration, dental hygienists primarily become independent healthcare professionals. Otherwise, they may work with dentists and other dental professionals to provide adequate oral health care.

Dental hygienists are trained and educated, focusing on preventing, treating, and managing many oral diseases.

Primary Duties of a Dental Hygienist

Dental hygienists and all their associated roles are placed under the NOC category of 3222. Therefore, dental hygienist undertakes some or all of the following duties:

• Carry out initial dental assessments on patients and consult with dentists regarding patient care.
• Obtain dental impressions
• Teach patients about oral hygiene procedures
• Clean and stimulate the gums to prevent gum infections and diseases
• Clean stains and sediments from teeth to prevent tooth and root decay
• Apply fluoride treatment
• Obtain and develop X-rays
• Carry out restorative and orthodontic procedures under the direction of a dentist
• Supervises dental assistants in their health care functions.

A related synonym to the dental hygienist is the Dental therapist. They also carry out the same function as the dental hygienist, as listed below:

• Conduct dental assessments and consult with dentist
• Take dental impressions
• Take and develop X-rays
• Remove stains and deposits from teeth to prevent tooth and root decay
• Apply fluoride treatment
• Instruct patients regarding oral hygiene procedures
• Supervise dental assistants in their health care functions
• Can drill and fill cavities, extract teeth and replace portions of the tooth crown.

Job description of a Dental Hygienist

A dental hygienist’s job is to provide dental treatment and services and promote everything related to oral health in addition to disease and mouth injury prevention.

In addition, Dental hygienists often find employment in several settings, including dentists’ offices, educational institutions, hospitals, private clinics, and public health agencies, or they may choose to be self-employed.

Dental therapists offer limited restorative dental treatment in addition to dental hygiene services. Consequently, they are employed by the federal and provincial governments to offer services to rural and remote communities.

The following are examples of occupations in the dental hygienist category:

• dental hygienist
• registered dental nurse
• dental therapist
• registered dental hygienist
• community dental hygienist
• dental hygiene technician
• dental hygienist technician
• expanded duty dental hygienist
• expanded duty dental nurse
• licensed dental therapist
• orthodontic hygienist
• periodontal hygienist
• registered dental hygienist
• registered dental therapist
• restorative dental hygienist

Essential Qualifications to Immigrate to Canada as a Dental Hygienist

Employment requirements in Canada

• As dental hygienists, you must complete a college program of one to three years or other approved dental hygiene programs recognized by the regulatory board within the province or territory of residence.
• To become a dental therapist in Canada, you must complete a two to three-year college diploma or equivalent credentials from an approved dental institution or complete the dental therapy diploma program offered by the First Nations University of Canada in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.
• You must also be licensed by the appropriate provincial or territorial regulatory body as required for dental hygienists in Canada.
• You are also required to be licensed as a dental therapist if you choose to immigrate to the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.

Exclusions

• Dental assistants
• Dental technologists, technicians, and laboratory assistants
• Dentists
• Denturists

General requirements to immigrate to Canada as a Dental Hygienist

Firstly, what to begin with in your Canadian immigration process is to know by calculating your Canada Immigration points for the Express Entry pool using the Canadian Comprehensive Ranking System.

Each of the following criteria and many more gets CRS Points, among other things:

• Age
• Academic Qualifications
• English proficiency
• French proficiency
• Your partner’s skills/qualification
• Work experience

Specific Requirements needed to immigrate to Canada as a dental hygienist

• You must have a license to land a dental therapist job in Saskatchewan, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.
• Your license must come from the appropriate recognized provincial or territorial regulatory body.
• Possess the dental therapy diploma offered by the First Nations University of Canada in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.
• Must complete a 2-3 years college diploma from an approved dental institution.
• Likewise, complete a 2 – 3 years college dental hygiene program approved by the dental hygienist governing board in the province or territory of residence.
• The industry body in Canada for Dental Hygienists, which you must be registered with and certified by, is the Canadian Dental Association.

Pathways to immigrate to Canada as a Dental Hygienist

All jobs on the National Occupation Code List have an immigration code number. Consequently, the code for those who want to immigrate to Canada as a Dental Hygienist is 3222. This is the NOC Code for a Dental Technologist.

You can immigrate to Canada as a dental hygienist in several ways. You must have heard that having a job is an essential criterion for accessing the Express Entry process. However, as a dental hygienist, other options are available to help you secure a Canada Visa.

In general, dental hygienists are qualified to apply for Canada Immigration under the Canadian Government’s Immigration program due to the increasing demand for Dental Hygienists in Canada. Consequently, the occupation is in the target occupations list, called the NOC list (National Occupation Code In Demand List). This is great news for dental hygienists worldwide hoping to live and work in Canada.

Therefore, the following are several ways in which you can immigrate to Canada as a dental hygienist:

• Express Entry
  • Dental Hygienists from any part of the world qualify to apply for Express Entry for Canada Residency. However, they must demonstrate that they have the right skills, work experience, and qualifications from their home country.
• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
• Provincial Nominee Program
• Permanent Residency Visa

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Steps to immigrate to Canada as a dental hygienist

Likewise, providing you with the significant CRS points, these criteria for Dental Hygienists also count towards the overall Immigration Points score, which must equal to or exceed a total sum of 67

Firstly, you can undergo a free online visa assessment to check your chances of meeting the requirements for Canadian immigration and whether you have the necessary points to immigrate to Canada as a Dental Hygienist from both an Express Entry and Immigration regard.

Secondly, upon receiving an Invitation to apply (ITA) from Canadian Immigration as your Express Entry application results, you have only 60 days to apply formally.

Thirdly, verify your qualifications through the required testing, education equivalence certificates, and skilled worker assessments.

Fourthly, if invited to apply for Canadian Visa, ensure to submit your best application because your express entry profile is only valid for one year. Therefore, ensure to meet all the requirements, so you do not miss your opportunity to be a qualified dental hygienist in Canada.

Lastly, ensure that all your academic qualifications and certificates are assessed by the relevant and approved ECA as required by Canadian immigration.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it possible to immigrate to Canada as a Dental Hygienist without a job offer?

Yes. However, this is only possible if you have an excellent overall CRS score on your Express Entry application and the 67 immigration point benchmark that qualifies you for the Canada Federal Skilled Worker Visa.

In addition, on a general note, there’s no minimum CRS score you must meet before you can submit a Dental Hygienist Canada Express Entry profile.

However, having a job offer will award you a CRS boost of 200 points. Thus, it is vital for you if you can secure a job; it makes your application process easier.

Conclusion

Immigrating to Canada as a dental hygienist has lots of benefits to offer you. You can become a member of a great community with a good standard of living and the opportunity for permanent citizenship.