Planning a career in dentistry requires attending an accredited program and obtaining a professional license. In Ontario, there aren’t many choices for educational institutions, but the ones that exist are highly respected in the world of dentistry. They can also be extremely competitive, so planning your application well in advance is a great way to secure a place in the program. Find out what you need to know about enrolling in dental school in Ontario.
| Institution | Location | Students Accepted per Year | Tuition Cost per Year (Domestic) |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry | Toronto, ON | 96 | $50,552 |
| Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University | London, ON | 56 | $35,300 (Ontario residents) / $40,900 (out-of-province) |
Overview of Dental Education in Ontario
Like all dentistry programs across the country, dental education in Ontario follows a rigorous, structured path. Students must perform well in academic studies, clinical training and fulfil their licensing requirements. Programs prepare students for general practice and for pursuing a specialized field within dentistry.
Learn more about becoming a dentist in Vancouver.
Importance of Dental Education
One of the most important facets of public health is dentistry. Oral health can influence overall health, with poor oral health being connected to conditions like heart disease, diabetes and overall infections. Dentists can help the public by preventing and treating dental conditions.
Therefore, dental schools need to prepare their students to become effective doctors who can:
- Provide safe and effective care for patients
- Understand state-of-the-art medical and dental techniques and technologies
- Stay up-to-date with emerging science
- Encourage preventive care within their communities
Other conditions that might be linked to oral health include eating disorders, rheumatoid arthritis and an immune system condition that causes dry mouth called Sjogren's syndrome.
Mayo Clinic
Accreditation and Standards
All dentistry programs in Canada must meet strict national standards to be recognized and accredited. The regulatory body for these standards is the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC).
The CDAC evaluates dental schools for their adherence to standards regarding:
- Curriculum breadth and quality
- Faculty qualifications
- Clinical training quality
- Student outcomes
To become a dentist in Canada, you must graduate from a CDAC-accredited program. Only students with this credential can move forward with pursuing a license.
The only two dental schools in Ontario are both accredited, so choosing between them will come down to other factors like location, cost, and specific areas of study offered. 1, 2, 3
University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry
Location:
Toronto, ON
Programs Offered:
Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS); Graduate programs in various specialties
Contact Information:
124 Edward Street, Toronto, ON M5G 1G6
416-979-4900
University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry
The University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry is the largest dental school in Canada. It is located in Toronto’s Discovery District among many other medical research facilities.
U of T offers a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) program through the Faculty of Dentistry that typically takes four years to complete after undergraduate study.
The premier dental school in Toronto features an array of didactic and clinical courses taught by professionals and experts in their respective fields.
Some classes students may take either as electives or core subjects include:
- Dental Public Health
- Gross Anatomy
- Preventive Dentistry
- Biological Basis of Oral Health and Disease
- Anaesthesia
- Orthodontics
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Endodontics
- Periodontics
- Restorative Dentistry
- Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology / Surgery
- Community Based Service Learning: Psychiatry and Dentistry lectures
- Orofacial Pain: Mechanisms, Diagnosis, Management
Classes focus on providing a comprehensive education on the foundations of dentistry, as well as specialized topics regarding surgery. Emphasis on learning about preventive care in the community helps dental students understand how to be effective doctors beyond the office walls.
Students receive many hours of hands-on, clinical practice and education guided by professionals.
GPA: 3.96
DAT: 24 on the Academic Average (AA) section and 23 on the Perceptual Ability section (PAT)
The program is highly competitive, with only 96 spots available per year. On average, the university receives over 900 applications per year. Selected students usually have 3-4 years of undergraduate studies or a master's degree.
The university also offers clinical experience through residency, fellowships and clerkships, open to both students at the University of Toronto and other institutions.
Graduate students can enquire with the university and the professors to pursue Master's-level education opportunities to hone their specialties even more after graduation.
Find out which dental schools to consider in Ottawa.
Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University
Location:
London, ON
Programs Offered:
Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS); Graduate Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopaedics; Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
Contact Information:
1151 Richmond Street, Dental Sciences Building, Room 1003, London, ON N6A 5C1
519-661-3330
Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry
Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry is the other leading institution for dental education in Ontario. It offers several different program pathways for those who want to enter the dentistry field beyond only a DDS credential.6
The DDS program offers specialized training, community service learning, simulation clinics, and research opportunities to students. The program boasts easy entry for graduates into post-graduate degrees in various specialties, such as:
- General dental practice
- Graduate orthodontics & dentofacial orthopedics
- Oral & maxillofacial surgery
- Pediatric dentistry
- Endodontics
- Prosthodontics
- Dental public health
- Dental clinician scientist program Implantology
- Health administration
- Project Management
DDS students receive plenty of classroom and hands-on training hours covering the necessary fundamentals of dentistry.
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Smaller than U of T, Schulich accepts about 56 students each year from a pool of about 850 applicants, making it an even more exclusive program. Even so, the graduate pool is impressive. Schulich boasts more than 3,100 alumni worldwide, making it a well-recognized name in the industry.
At least 3 years of undergraduate studies and a minimum cGPA of 3.0. DAT and Casper scores are evaluated each year to determine the minimum/competitive scores for that application cycle.
In addition to the Doctor of Dental Surgery program, Schulich also offers:
- Advanced Standing Program for International Dental Graduates
- Dental Clinician Scientist (DCS)
- General Practice Residency (GPR)
- Graduate Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopaedics
- Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS)
Discover dentistry programs in Montreal.
Admission Requirements
Earning a place in a dentistry program in Ontario is not easy. Hopeful students must work hard through their undergraduate years to meet the academic and non-academic requirements for admission.
General Prerequisites
There are a few hard rules for applying to a dentistry program, so planning your undergraduate studies in advance is imperative. Exact requirements may vary between different institutions, and there isn’t a strict national standard.
Here’s how the two schools in Ontario compare:
University of Toronto
Education requirements:
- Minimum 3 years of university education
- Minimum of 3.0 cGPA
University-level course prerequisites:
- 2 semesters general biochemistry (molecular biology, chemistry, etc)
- 2 semesters general mammalian (human or animal) physiology
- 2 semesters life sciences (biology-based)
- 2 semesters humanities or social sciences (art, history, language, management, psychology, etc)
Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry
Education requirements:
- Minimum 3 years of university education
- Minimum of 3.0 cGPA
University-level course prerequisites:
- .5 credits in biochemistry and chemistry
- 1 credit in general mammalian physiology
- 2 credits biology
- .5 credits English
Application Process
In addition to the academic requirements, applicants must submit several documents and complete a few procedural tasks to successfully enroll.
Note that the application window is usually July to 1 November for enrollment in the following fall semester.
Students can usually submit applications in their second year of undergraduate university, with full acceptance into the program contingent on the final results of their third year.
Both schools generally require:
- Dental Aptitude Test (DAT), no more than 2 years old
- U of T: Academic Average (AA) and Perceptual Ability (PAT)
- Schulich: all areas except Manual Dexterity
- Casper (Casper 2, CPS-10211)
- A Western autobiographical sketch (ABS), and/or personal essay
- An interview, or several interviews
- Health record, especially if the applicant has any infectious diseases such as hepatitis B
- Immunizations
- Police records check
Applicants can expect to submit initial documents like official transcripts with GPA, DAT, and ABS and/or essay, along with any other application materials required by the institution, by the 1 November deadline. Within a few months, students who are selected for the interview process will be notified and will complete an interview either in person or virtually.
Those who make it into the final selection are usually notified by August, at which point they can register for classes, provided they submit any additional documents, such as the police check.
Learn more about dentistry universities in Alberta.
Licensing and Professional Practice
Completing a dental program is the first step to becoming a dentist in Canada. After successfully graduating, candidates must meet licensing requirements as directed by the federal government.
Licensing Body
The Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO) regulates the dental profession in the province.
The RCDSO ensures that all practicing dentists meet professional and ethical standards. It also protects public safety by overseeing licensing and discipline.
Steps to Licensure
To successfully become a licensed dentist in Ontario, you must complete several steps:
- Graduate from a CDAC-accredited dentistry program.
- Obtain a Certificate of the National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB).
- Complete the RCDSO’s Jurisprudence and Ethics course.
- Complete your application with the RCDSO.
- Pay the application and annual license fee (licenses expire on December 31 each year and must be renewed by December 15)
- On or after January 1: $4020
- On or after June 1: $2185
- On or after September 1: $1385
After getting your dentistry licence, you must maintain your license by paying the yearly fee and completing at least 90 Continuing Education (CE) points every three years. CE activities include taking approved courses, teaching at a university or institution, publishing peer-reviewed journal articles, lecturing, and reading peer-reviewed articles.
Internationally Trained Dentists
Dentists who have trained abroad, regardless of whether they procured a license in their country of training, can convert their education to Canadian standards. Ontario dentistry universities offer these pathway programs and services to help foreign-trained dentists practice in Ontario and contribute to the province’s well-being.
Advanced Placement Programs
In Ontario, internationally trained dentists have two main programs to choose from that reduce the time needed to obtain a Canadian degree:
University of Toronto: International Dentist Advanced Placement Program (IDAPP)
Applicants who do not hold a credential from a country recognized by the CDAC or the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) can complete a 6-month preparatory course and then join the DDS program as a third-year student, completing 2 years of study.
Western University: Advanced Standing Program for International Dental Graduates (ASPIDG)
Students in this program join the DDS program as second-year students, completing 3 years of study before graduating.
Admission to these programs is often very competitive. Applicants usually need to submit information such as:
- Credential evaluation
- Written and practical assessments
- Proof of language proficiency
Acceptance into the program may be made on a case-by-case basis.
Adaptation to Canadian Practice
International transfers hoping to become dentists in Ontario must adapt to the Canadian healthcare system. Whether the dentist received training in a CDAC or CODA-recognised country or not, the regulations, protocols, patient expectations, and professional expectations must be learned and embraced.
Foreign-trained dentists often face problems such as learning new protocols, adjusting to patient communication styles and keeping up with licensing requirements.
Having a firm grasp of English and/or French is also essential. Foreign-trained professionals may need to submit proof of English or French proficiency to be accepted into a Canadian dentistry program.
However, the universities typically offer assistance like academic advising, language support, and training workshops to help foreign-trained dentists succeed.
Even students from Canada or elsewhere in North America can benefit from support services in place at their university designed to help students succeed.
Becoming a dentist is a noble cause that takes a lot of time, money, and dedication. Research your intended university as well as licensing procedures for Ontario (or any other province you may be interested in practicing in) well in advance so you have a plan to achieve your goals.
References
- “Become a Registered Dentist.” Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO), Available at: www.rcdso.org/become-a-dentist. Accessed 4 May 2026.
- “Home - the National Dental Examining Board of Canada.” The National Dental Examining Board of Canada, 1 Dec. 2025, Available at: https://ndeb-bned.ca/. Accessed 4 May 2026.
- Smith, Kristy. “Accreditation - CDAC-CADC.” CDAC-CADC, 25 Mar. 2026, Available at: www.cdac-cadc.ca/accreditation/#_accreditation-guide. Accessed 4 May 2026.
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