In response to persistent challenges in delivering dental care to remote and Northern communities in Canada, authorities and experts are renewing interest in dental therapy—a model that once played a significant role in improving oral health in underserved areas. Dental therapists, professionals trained to provide a range of services including fillings, routine checkups, simple extractions, and preventive education, occupy a middle ground between dental hygienists and dentists. While dentists perform more complex procedures such as root canals and implants, dental therapists have been recognized for their effectiveness in increasing access to care, especially where dental services are scarce.

The dental-therapy model originated in New Zealand over a century ago and has since been adopted by more than 50 countries. In Canada, it gained prominence in the 1970s with the opening of the National School of Dental Therapy in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories (NWT), which provided training for practitioners who then served remote and Indigenous communities. However, federal funding cuts led to the closure of that program in 2011, leaving many northern regions reliant on occasional visits from traveling dentists or distant travel to access care.

Recently, gaps in dental services have become pronounced, with reports indicating that some communities in the NWT have not seen a dentist for over six years. In response, the University of Saskatchewan relaunched a dental-therapy training program in 2023, now offered as a bachelor of science degree. Health Canada is providing $3.1 million in funding to expand this program to the NWT, in partnership with the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, a body representing Inuit in the Western Arctic. The program will operate partly in Inuvik and partly via a “learn where you live” model, enabling students to train within their home communities.

Proponents argue that restoring and expanding dental therapy is critical to meeting the urgent needs of Indigenous and rural populations who face barriers to regular dental care. The model's efficacy is underscored by both historical and recent research. Studies from Alaska—a jurisdiction with a similarly dispersed population where dental therapy is well established—show that communities with more dental-therapy treatment days experienced better preventive care, fewer extractions, and reduced emergency dental visits over time. Importantly, many dental therapists in Alaska come from the communities they serve, fostering trust and sustained relationships that encourage consistent care.

Practitioners like Rochelle Siuvuq Ferry, who trained in New Zealand and worked for a decade in rural Alaska, emphasize that culturally grounded, community-based care strengthens patient engagement and outcomes. Experts note, however, that dental therapy is not a complete solution but a valuable component of a broader strategy to improve oral health equity.

Currently, dental therapists practice in Canada primarily in the territories, parts of British Columbia, and Saskatchewan, but the profession has yet to gain regulatory recognition in provinces such as Ontario and Quebec. The first cohorts from the new Inuvik program are expected to graduate around 2030, with small class sizes initially. Stakeholders hope the program’s expansion will help rebuild a long-term health workforce capable of addressing the persistent dental care shortages in remote and Indigenous communities. The Inuvialuit Regional Corporation views the initiative as a positive development toward closing healthcare gaps alongside the establishment of a new health centre in Inuvik.