What is the average dentist salary in Canada?

The average general dentist in Canada grosses $250,000–$400,000 per year, but net take-home is much lower. After overhead (60–70% for practice owners), a typical general dentist nets $100,000–$160,000 as an owner or $120,000–$200,000 as an associate (no overhead). Specialists like orthodontists and oral surgeons gross $500,000–$1,000,000+.

Do dentists make more than doctors in Canada?

It depends on the comparison. General dentists and family physicians have similar net incomes ($100,000–$200,000). However, dental specialists (orthodontists, oral surgeons) often out-earn medical specialists due to higher fee-for-service rates in private practice. The key difference is that dentists have much higher overhead (60–70%) compared to physicians (25–40%).

Is owning a dental practice worth it in Canada?

Owning a dental practice can be very lucrative long-term. While overhead is 60–70% of gross revenue, the practice itself builds equity — dental practices sell for 60–85% of annual gross revenue. A practice grossing $1M is worth $600,000–$850,000 on sale. However, the startup or purchase cost ($500,000–$1,500,000) and management burden are significant.

How Much Do Dentists Make in Canada in 2026?

Average Dentist Income by Role

Role	Gross Revenue/Billings	Overhead	Net Income	Notes
Associate (new graduate)	N/A (paid %)	0% (owner covers)	$120,000–$160,000	Typically 40–45% of billings collected
Associate (experienced)	N/A	0%	$150,000–$220,000	40–50% of billings
Practice owner (solo)	$600,000–$1,000,000	60–70%	$180,000–$400,000	Higher risk, builds equity
Practice owner (group)	$1,000,000–$3,000,000+	60–70%	$200,000–$500,000+	Economies of scale
Corporate dentist (employee)	N/A (salaried)	0%	$130,000–$200,000	Less autonomy, no equity

Income by Specialty

Specialty	Gross Billings	Overhead	Net Income	Training Beyond DDS
General dentistry (owner)	$700,000–$1,200,000	60–70%	$210,000–$480,000	None
Orthodontics	$800,000–$1,500,000	55–65%	$280,000–$675,000	2–3 years
Oral & maxillofacial surgery	$700,000–$1,200,000	50–60%	$280,000–$600,000	4–6 years
Prosthodontics	$600,000–$1,000,000	60–70%	$180,000–$400,000	3 years
Endodontics (root canal)	$600,000–$1,000,000	55–65%	$210,000–$450,000	2–3 years
Periodontics	$500,000–$900,000	55–65%	$175,000–$405,000	3 years
Pediatric dentistry	$500,000–$900,000	60–70%	$150,000–$360,000	2–3 years
Oral pathology/radiology	$200,000–$350,000	Low (academic)	$150,000–$300,000	3 years

Dentist Income by Province

Province	Associate Income	Owner Net Income	Fee Guide Level	Notes
Alberta	$150,000–$220,000	$200,000–$450,000	Highest	No fee guide cap, unregulated fees
Ontario	$130,000–$200,000	$180,000–$400,000	High	Largest market, competitive
British Columbia	$130,000–$190,000	$170,000–$380,000	High	Competitive market
Saskatchewan	$140,000–$200,000	$180,000–$350,000	Moderate-High	Less competition, rural demand
Manitoba	$130,000–$180,000	$160,000–$320,000	Moderate	Smaller market
Quebec	$110,000–$170,000	$150,000–$300,000	Lower	Lower fee schedule, higher taxes
Nova Scotia	$120,000–$170,000	$150,000–$300,000	Moderate	Growing market
New Brunswick	$110,000–$160,000	$140,000–$280,000	Moderate	Rural opportunities

Overhead Breakdown for Dental Practice Owner

Expense	% of Gross Revenue	On $800K Gross
Staff salaries (hygienists, assistants, admin)	25–30%	$200,000–$240,000
Dental supplies and lab fees	10–14%	$80,000–$112,000
Rent/occupancy	5–10%	$40,000–$80,000
Equipment leases/depreciation	4–7%	$32,000–$56,000
Insurance (malpractice, business)	1–3%	$8,000–$24,000
Administrative/technology	2–4%	$16,000–$32,000
Marketing	1–3%	$8,000–$24,000
Continuing education	0.5–1%	$4,000–$8,000
Total overhead	60–70%	$388,000–$576,000
Net before tax	30–40%	$224,000–$412,000

Associate vs Owner: Career Earnings Comparison

Metric	Associate (Lifetime)	Practice Owner (Lifetime)
Starting income	$120,000–$150,000	Lower initially (paying off purchase)
Peak income	$180,000–$220,000	$250,000–$450,000+
Practice equity at retirement	$0	$500,000–$1,500,000 (sale value)
30-year career earnings (net)	~$5,000,000–$6,000,000	~$6,000,000–$10,000,000
Practice purchase/startup cost	$0	$500,000–$1,500,000
Management burden	None	Significant
Schedule flexibility	Limited	Full control
Risk level	Low	Moderate-High

Path to Becoming a Dentist

Stage	Duration	Cost/Earnings
Undergraduate degree	3–4 years	$20,000–$60,000 tuition
DAT preparation and writing	6–12 months	$1,000–$3,000
Dental school (DDS/DMD)	4 years	$80,000–$250,000 total tuition
Specialty residency (optional)	2–6 years	$50,000–$70,000/year (stipend)
Total training	7–14 years post-high school	—
Average dental school debt	—	$100,000–$200,000

Dental Practice Valuation

Metric	Range	Notes
Valuation multiple (% of gross)	60–85%	Higher for profitable, growing practices
Practice grossing $800K	$480,000–$680,000 sell price
Practice grossing $1.2M	$720,000–$1,020,000 sell price
Practice grossing $2M	$1,200,000–$1,700,000 sell price
Goodwill value	75–90% of total value	Patient relationships, reputation
Tangible asset value	10–25% of total value	Equipment, leasehold improvements