Nova Scotia among top provinces for dental care access

A dentist holds a model of teeth and a toothbrush in Seattle on Aug. 3, 2018. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)

By Blake Priddle

Posted Aug 8, 2025 05:20:27 AM.

Last Updated Aug 13, 2025 11:55:23 AM.

A new study identified the provinces with the best access to dental care in Canada, with the east coast seeing some encouraging results.

The study, conducted by dental experts at HelloDent, analyzed the distribution of dental professionals across all Canadian provinces to determine which regions have the best access to oral healthcare.

Provinces were ranked by dental access per 100,000 residents and per 100,000 square kilometres.

Ontario led the country with 68.44 dentists per 100,000 residents, while Nova Scotia ranked fifth with 49.98 dentists per 100,000 residents.

When ranked by dental care per 100,000 square kilometres, Prince Edward Island came in first and Nova Scotia placed third.

A spokesperson for HelloDent said residents in underserved areas often face longer travel times to access dental care, higher costs and delayed treatment.

They added that mobile dental clinics, telehealth services and incentives for dental professionals to work in underserved areas could help improve access to care.

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