Best Dental Schools in Canada. What are the best dental schools in Canada and how can we determine that? The dental school rankings below are derived from an analysis of the most reputable university ranking sources available. The exact methodology used to rank the top dental schools in Canada is detailed at the end of this post.
Those who are looking for the best dental school in Canada, have just stepped into the right article. Initially, Canada offers some of the most qualified higher educational institutions that are characterized by various study programs, affordable tuition fees, student-friendly campuses, and job opportunities after graduation. Related to dental schools, it is essential to know that a degree program in Dentistry or Orthodontics usually takes four or five years to finish.
Most of the Canadian universities that host dental studies require international students to submit the Dental Aptitude Test – DAT score, preferably of 19-20 points. Considering the fact that dentistry degrees are quite demanded for the reason of the high range of employability, as well as the domination of the salary ladder, the university or college in which one is enrolled plays a huge role and determines the success of their career.
Best Dental Schools in Canada
For this reason we have listed some of the top dental schools in Canada and included in depth information about study degrees.
Here are the best dental schools in Canada:
1. University of British Columbia – Faculty of Dentistry
Located in British Columbia, the University that bears the name of the Canadian province is one of the best public institutions in the region. The Faculty of Dentistry has a clear vision on developing future dentists by providing them exceptional education, necessary facilities to examine oral problems and also engage them in various research. On an international scale, the dental school of British Columbia is recognized as the best one for hosting the largest number of international students and giving them equal rights as domestic ones.
The learning methodology within Dentistry programs at UBC is mainly focused on group work and independent work. There are many clinical programs one can find in the Faculty of Dentistry, starting with undergraduate programs which include Doctor of Dental Medicine and Dental Hygiene Degree, followed by Graduate Programs, Post-Graduate Programs and Dental Specialty Assessment and Training Program.
2. University of Toronto – Faculty of Dentistry
The University of Toronto presents the most competent school of dentistry which is highly appreciated for the learning environment, as well as the accomplished professors who always bring out the best in their students. First year students are offered many options to practice their knowledge and strengthen their clinical skills. Along with that, undergraduate students are also taught how to practice the clinical care of the Faculty’s patients. Not to leave aside the theoretical part which is quite essential to the profession of the dentist.
All the courses which are offered under the Faculty of Dentistry are segregated into two categories: didactic and clinical. Students who aim to become specialists in these areas: endodontics or oral surgery and maxillofacial surgery are provided the graduate programs with specialist clinical training. It is worth noting that a Master of Science Degree can last from two to four years, because it all depends on the requirements of your speciality.
3. McGill University – Faculty of Dentistry
Since its foundation in 1904, the Faculty of Dentistry which is part of the McGill University has significantly raised the quality of dental studies. Regarded as the most multicultural higher educational institution of Canada, McGill University attracts numberless international students from around the world. As a research hub, it has shaped many academics into experts when it comes to investigating dental and oral health clinical cases. The whole spirit of the Faculty of Dentistry is poured into maintaining authority in meticulous research, oral health education as well as dental surgery.
Prospective students of the faculty of Dentistry can choose a plethora of degree programs. The Undergraduate Dental Program is assigned to the entry level students. To complete this degree it is foreseen to be committed to studying for four years. When it comes to graduate studies, the General Dental Education program includes Master’s of Dental Science (Thesis), Master’s of Dental Science (Non-Thesis) and Ph.D in Oral Health Sciences.
4. Western University Schulich – School of Medicine & Dentistry
Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry combines two aspects of healthcare, medicine and dentistry. Even though the dental school was founded 83 years later than the medical school, its teaching capacity is on the same scale as the other medical school. Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry is one of the best dental schools in Canada, providing dental education in Canada to both international and domestic students.
With a commitment to providing dentistry education, the institution has consistently prepared and trained students who would eventually become professionals who care for their communities’ dental needs. There are over 6 degree programs in which students can enroll. To be specific, the department of dentistry at Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry offers the Doctor Dental Surgery program, also known as DDS, as well as the Dental Clinical Scientist Program, Internationally Trained Dentists Program, and a few more, as listed on the school’s website.
5. Dalhousie University – Faculty of Dentistry
Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Dentistry has been dedicated to providing students with a superior education in preventing, diagnosing, and treating patients since its inception in 1908. Those who aim to study dentistry at Dalhousie University will practice and learn with worldwide and nationally recognized academic members at the institution’s cutting-edge lab and clinic facilities. The Faculty of Dentistry is located on Dalhousie’s Carleton Campus in the center of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and has a long history and a tradition of distinction.
Dalhousie University’s diploma, undergraduate, and graduate programs in dentistry and dental hygiene provide students with a solid basis for launching successful careers in the caring and difficult dental profession. The Bachelor of Dental Hygiene Program typically takes one to two years to finish, depending if you’re enrolled as a full time student or part-time. The Faculty of Dentistry also offers three more programs: a Diploma in Dental Hygiene, a Doctor of Dental Surgery Qualifying Program, and a Doctor of Dental Surgery.
6. University of Alberta – School of Dentistry
The University of Alberta, founded in 1908, is one of Canada’s and the world’s most prominent and well-known universities. The Dental School at the University of Alberta is located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The Faculty of Medicine at the University of Alberta was the first to provide dental instruction in 1917. It contains tens of top academics and researchers who provide excellent instruction to their students. The main programs of the dental school include: Bachelor of Dental Surgery, Postgraduate Dentistry Course, Oral and Dental Care, and Doctor of Dental Surgery.
In addition, postgraduate dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, and dental laboratory technicians, in other words those who want to continue their dental education can choose from a wide range of excellent continuing education programs. Students can put their practical expertise to use at the University of Alberta Dental Clinic, the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, the University of Alberta Hospital, and other satellite dental clinics throughout Northern Alberta.
7. Laval University – Faculty of Dentistry
Laval University is a French language institution and home to one of Canada’s top dental schools. The Faculty of Dentistry welcomes talented students who are motivated to learn and develop their enormous potential. The teachers and all of the staff greet them enthusiastically and support them on their path to ensure their tenacity and success. Accordingly, students at Laval University’s Dental School are prepared to satisfy the population’s oral health needs. Patients are treated by dental students and professors who work with qualified dental personnel and the greatest equipment available to deliver high-quality care.
There are two distinct student clinics, one offered to undergraduate students and one for the graduate one. The Faculty of Dentistry provides all of the required facilities for dental students, allowing them to properly practice their profession. Students are taught how to plan treatments, make diagnoses, treat varied situations, create prognoses, and develop interpersonal skills with partners and patients in the field, from medication to prevention of dental illnesses. There are many study options that an aspiring future dentist might choose, mentioning only a few: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Endodontics, Gerodontology, Periodontics.
8. Universite de Montreal – Faculty of Dental Medicine
The University of Montreal’s Faculty of Dentistry is the greatest French-speaking dental school in North America. The dentistry teaching clinic’s principal priority is to ensure student training while also allowing them to provide professional services to the general public. Dentistry students, who are supervised by professional dentists, give oral health treatments to over 7,500 patients each year. The institution, which is ranked among the best dental schools in Canada, allows students to become familiar with the study of dentistry by providing specialised seminars for first-year students.
Along with the high quality of studies, the student life is quite adventurous. A whole team of students coordinates different activities in order to boost the demanding studies of dentistry. The Faculty of Dentistry offers clinically oriented graduate programs, such as residency certificates and professional master’s degrees, as well as basic science programs, such as the master’s degree in oral sciences.
Methodology for Determining Dental School Rankings in Canada
The methodology used in the above list to determine the best dental schools in Canada is as follows:
- Determine the top university ranking websites
- Document what ranking each ranking system assigned to each dental school in Canada
- Calculate the overall ranking by averaging the four rankings
This process of determining the dental school rankings can be summarized in the table below:
| University | Maclean’s | QS Top Universities | Shanghai Ranking | Times Higher Education | Overall Ranking |
| University of Toronto | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| University of Western Ontario | 5 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 4 |
| University of Alberta | 4 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 6 |
| University of Manitoba | 9 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 9 |
| University of British Columbia | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| McGill University | 1 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 3 |
| Dalhousie University | 6 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| University of Saskatchewan | 10 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 10 |
| Université de Montréal | 7 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Université Laval | 8 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 7 |
Dental school rankings should only be one aspect of determining which school you apply to. The other two key factors in determining which dental school you want to apply are tuition, admission statistics, and prerequisites and dental school requirements.
