Dental Hygiene Workforce Trends in Canada | Tooth or Dare Podcast with @Toothlife.Irene

Dental Hygiene Workforce Trends in Canada | Tooth or Dare Podcast with @Toothlife.Irene

From Tooth or Dare Podcast by Irene Iancu @Toothlife.Irene

January 22, 2026 · 28 min · Episode 194

About this episode

This episode discusses the current trends in the dental hygiene workforce in Canada, focusing on retention and migration issues rather than a decline in graduates.

Is there statistical proof of a decline in dental hygienists in Canada? The answer isn’t as simple as social media headlines suggest. In this episode of Tooth or Dare, Joe Siegfried and I unpack the current climate of dental hygiene in Canada and challenge the idea that fewer hygienists are entering the profession. Graduation numbers and class sizes haven’t declined. What has changed is retention and migration. 🇨🇦 Canada has approximately 33,600 registered dental hygienists, yet distribution varies widely ▪️ Rural and remote communities continue to struggle with retention ▪️ About 9% of hygienists plan to leave the profession within 2 years, and 18% within 3–5 years ▪️ Temping is at an all-time high, reflecting burnout, flexibility needs, and shifting work preferences As the profession evolves, traditional 9–5 practice models are being challenged. The workforce exists, but it’s moving differently than it used to. Joe brings important nuance to a topic that’s often oversimplified. We also explore a deeper shift happening across dentistry: how clinicians define value. Value in dental hygiene isn’t always about money or production. And practice isn’t limited to the box you work…

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