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Alberta Supports Contact Centre

Toll Free 1-877-644-9992

Health and Social Services

Dentist

Dentists evaluate, diagnose and treat (surgically or non surgically) diseases, disorders and conditions of the mouth (teeth, gums and other supporting structures), the maxillofacial area (upper and lower jaws and joints) and the adjacent and associated structures of the head and neck to maintain and improve a person’s physical, psychological and social health.

Contact

College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta (CDSA)
402, 7609 109 ST NW
Edmonton, Alberta  T6G 1C3
Canada

Call: 780-432-1012
Call toll-free (within Alberta): 1-800-843-3848
Fax number: 780-433-4864
Email: reception@cdsab.ca
Website: www.cdsab.ca

Legislation

Under Alberta’s Health Professions Act [pdf] and Dentists Profession Regulation [pdf], registration with the College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta (CDSA) is mandatory. Only registered members may provide restricted activities specified in the Regulation. This includes those who:

  • Meet identified competency requirements and provide professional services directly to the public
  • Teach the practice of the profession to members or students of the profession
  • Supervise registered members
  • Are students who provide services to the public
  • Call themselves dentists

What You Need

Registration requires successful completion of:

  1. An approved doctor of dental surgery or doctor of dental medicine degree
  2. Approved examinations

Applicants who:

  • Have been out of practice for a period of time also may have to demonstrate that they are currently competent to practice.
  • Register as an endodontist, oral and maxillofacial surgeon, orthodontist and dentofacial orthopedist, pediatric dentist, periodontist, prosthodontist, oral pathologist and oral medicine specialist, oral and maxillofacial radiologist, or public health dentist have additional education and examination requirements.
  • Graduated from dental programs outside of North America may choose to enter a 2-year qualifying program or may apply to the National Dental Examining Board of Canada directly. The National Dental Examining Board of Canada will determine whether applicants are eligible to take the National Examining Board of Canada examination without completing the qualifying program.

For official, detailed information about registration requirements, contact CDSA.

Working in Alberta

Dentists who are registered and in good standing with a regulatory organization elsewhere in Canada may be eligible for registration in Alberta. For more information, see What if I am already certified in another province or territory in Canada? and the CDSA website.

The certification information in this profile may change at any time and without notice. Before making any career decisions, we advise you to contact the regulatory organization or visit their website for the most updated information.

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