For students considering an advanced education program in one of the dental specialties, information on the nine nationally recognized dental specialties is available at the Canadian Dental Association (CDA) website.

Source:  CDA website, May 1, 2015

There are nine nationally recognized dental specialties in Canada. The Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC) reviews and accredits the education programs in the nine dental specialties.

Accreditation is a process by which CDAC recognizes dental and allied dental education programs - as well as health facility dental services - as having met nationally-determined requirements or standards, as established by CDAC.

  • Dental Public Health
  • Endodontics
  • Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
  • Oral Medicine and Pathology
  • Oral & Maxillofacial Radiology
  • Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
  • Pediatric Dentistry
  • Periodontics
  • Prosthodontics

Dental Public Health

Dental Public Health is that branch and specialty of dentistry concerned with the diagnosis, prevention and control of dental diseases and the promotion of oral health through organized community efforts. Dental Public Health serves the community through research, health promotion, education and group dental care programs.

A public health dentist is a dental specialist who has successfully completed an accredited advanced educational program in dental public health and currently holds such specialty designation from a Provincial Dental Regulatory Authority.

Canadian Association of Public Health Dentistry
www.caphd.ca

Endodontics

Endodontics is that branch and specialty of dentistry concerned with the morphology, physiology and pathology of the dental pulp and periradicular tissues. Its study and practice encompass the basic clinical sciences, including biology of the normal pulp, and etiology, diagnosis prevention, and treatment of diseases and injuries of the pulp and associated periradicular tissues.

An endodontist is a dental specialist who has successfully completed an accredited advanced education program in endodontics and currently holds such specialty designation from a Provincial Dental Regulatory Authority.

Canadian Academy of Endodontics
www.caendo.ca

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Oral and maxillofacial surgery is that branch and specialty of dentistry which is concerned with and includes the diagnosis, surgical and adjunctive treatment of disorders, diseases, injuries and defects, involving the functional and aesthetic aspects of the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial regions and related structures.

An oral and maxillofacial surgeon is a dental specialist who has successfully completed an accredited advanced education program in oral & maxillofacial surgery and who currently holds such specialty designation from a Provincial Dental Regulatory Authority.

Canadian Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
www.caoms.com

Oral Medicine and Pathology

Oral Medicine and Pathology is the branch and specialty of dentistry concerned with the diagnosis, nature and primarily non-surgical management of oral, maxillofacial and temporomandibular diseases and disorders, including dental management of patients with medical complications. Oral medicine and oral pathology are two applied components of this specialty.

A practitioner in oral medicine is a dental specialist who has successfully completed a formal advanced education program in oral medicine. A practitioner in oral pathology is a dental specialist who has successfully completed a formal advanced education program in oral pathology. A practitioner in oral medicine and pathology is a dental specialist who has completed formal advanced education programs in oral medicine and oral pathology. These practitioners currently hold such specialty designations from a Provincial Dental Regulatory Authority.

Canadian Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Oral Medicine
Dr. Iona Leong (President) iona.leong@dentistry.utoronto.ca

Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology

Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology is that branch and specialty of dentistry concerned with the prescription, production and interpretation of diagnostic images for the diagnosis and management of diseases and disorders of the craniofacial complex.

An oral and maxillofacial radiologist is a dental specialist who has successfully completed an accredited advanced education program in oral and maxillofacial radiology and currently holds such specialty designation from a Provincial Dental Regulatory Authority.

Canadian Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
http://caomr.org

CAOMR also suggests the following links for pertinent information on this specialty:

Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics

Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics is that branch and specialty of dentistry concerned with the supervision, guidance and correction of the growing or mature dentofacial structures and the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of any abnormalities associated with these structures.

An orthodontist is a dental specialist who has successfully completed an accredited advanced education program in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics and currently holds such specialty designation from a Provincial Dental Regulatory Authority.

Canadian Association of Orthodontists
www.cao-aco.org

Pediatric Dentistry

Pediatric Dentistry is that branch and specialty of dentistry concerned with providing primary and comprehensive preventive and therapeutic oral health diagnosis, care and consultative expertise for infants and children through adolescence, including those of all ages with special care needs.

A pediatric dentist is a dental specialist who has successfully completed an accredited advanced education program in pediatric dentistry and currently holds such specialty designation from a Provincial Dental Regulatory Authority.

Canadian Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
www.capd-acdp.org

Periodontics

Periodontics is that branch and specialty of dentistry concerned with the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the supporting and surrounding tissues of the teeth or their substitutes and the maintenance of the health, function and aesthetics of these structures and tissues.

A periodontist is a dental specialist who has successfully completed an accredited advanced educational program in periodontics and currently holds such specialty designation from a Provincial Dental Regulatory Authority.

Canadian Academy of Periodontology
www.cap-acp.ca

Prosthodontics

Prosthodontics is that branch and specialty of dentistry concerned with the diagnosis, restoration and maintenance of oral function, comfort, appearance and health of the patient by the restoration of the natural teeth and/or the replacement of missing teeth and contiguous oral and maxillofacial tissues with artificial substitutes.

A prosthodontist is a dental specialist who has successfully completed an accredited advanced educational program in prosthodontics and currently holds such specialty designation from a Provincial Dental Regulatory Authority.

Association of Prosthodontists of Canada
www.prosthodontics.ca