Dental Hygienists in Canada fall under the category of in-demand occupations, making it easier for them to pursue Canadian immigration. This is indeed a great opportunity for Dental Hygienists to start working and even living in the country.
Suppose, a Dental Hygienist has the correct skill set, experience, and educational qualifications, he will undoubtedly become eligible for Canada’s Express Entry.
Dental Hygienists can access the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Provincial Nominee Program. Suppose you seek to immigrate to Canada as a Dental Hygienist. In that case, you’re fortunate because they are excessively in demand and you have significant chances of acquiring Canadian permanent residency in the country regardless of a job offer. If you have been practicing as a Dental Hygienist you have more significant opportunities for Canadian immigration.
Being a Dental Hygienist or a Dental Therapist, you must immigrate to Canada with the knowledge about the following duties you will have to carry out:
- You will have to perform a dental assessment and even visit the dentist available for patient care.
- You will have to get dental impressions of your patients.
- You will need to provide your patients with specific instructions concerning the process of oral hygiene.
- You will need to prevent your patients from attracting gum disease by regularly cleaning their gums.
- You must work toward the patient’s good oral hygiene with consistent teeth cleaning such as stain removal and root decay.
- You will also need to treat your patients with fluoride treatment.
- You will need to get their X-rays done.
- You will need to perform the orthodontic and restorative process under the supervision of a dentist.
- You might be required to direct dental assistants in their health care processes.
Dental Therapists and their duties
Dental Therapists have the following duties to perform:
- They must conduct regular dental assessments.
- They must keep getting updates about patient care from the dentists.
- They must get dental impressions.
- They must perform X-rays and even develop them.
- They must help prevent root decay and remove stains from the teeth.
- They must get the fluoride treatment done.
- They must help the patients by providing them with proper instructions to maintain their oral hygiene.
- They must direct the dental care assistants in their functioning of health care.
- They might perform the drilling and filling of cavities, tooth extraction methods, and partially replace tooth crowns, if required.
Employment eligibility criteria
You must match the eligibility criteria for employment to immigrate to Canada as a Dental Hygiene. The eligibility requirements concerning employment are given below:
- Dental Hygienists are supposed to undertake a college program degree of study duration of one to three years. They could also pursue an approved dental hygiene program authorized by the governing board within the residence province or territory.
- Dental Therapists must also complete a college diploma of study duration from two to three years. They must be a part of an authorized dental institute and demonstrate equivalent credentials under that institute or they could also undertake the Dental Therapy Diploma Program through the First Nations University of Canada, in Saskatchewan.
- Dental Hygienists must present proper licensing through the provincial or regulatory body.
- Dental Therapists who exist in Saskatchewan, Nunavut, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories along with Newfoundland and Labrador need to present licensure.
Canadian immigration as a Dental Hygienist
When you start with the process of Canadian immigration, you will need to calculate your score based on the Express Entry’s CRS. You will receive your CRS score based on age, qualification, French and English language proficiency, work experience, and skills of your spouse or partner.
Dental Hygienists need to acquire or exceed the basic score of 67 points under the Comprehensive Ranking System. Once you apply for Express Entry, you might receive an invitation to apply (if eligible). You will only have sixty days to submit your response through a formal application. You can do so only if you have verified all the points through different means such as certificates proving your education and skilled workers assessments.
Make sure that you verify all your documents before receiving an invitation for Canada Visa. You will have to be eligible before you claim your points because the validity of your Express Entry profile is only for a year; therefore, keeping things on track from the beginning is much better.
Is it possible to immigrate to Canada as a Dental Hygienist without having a valid employment offer?
Yes, it is possible to move to Canada as a Dental Hygienist without a job offer, provided you have a considerable CRS score and can match up the eligibility requirement of acquiring a minimum of 67 points for getting the Federal Skilled Worker Visa. There is no essential or standard CRS score for the Canada Express Entry profile as a Dental Hygienist.
Having a job offer will undoubtedly enhance your CRS by 200 points and it is suggested that you initiate the process at the earliest.
Conclusion
If you are qualified, skilled, and a professional holding permanent residency in Canada, you will be able to do full-time work from the beginning itself. Canadian Dental Hygienists are paid higher than most countries such as Europe, Asia, and the U.K. Canada has a reputation for maintaining work-life balance. There is also the Canadian Dental Association which is the body of the organization of Dental Hygienists.
