About the job
Denturists examine patients and design, construct and repair removable dentures. Most denturists work in private practice.
- Measure patients' jaws to determine size and shape of dentures required.
- Make impressions of patients' teeth, gums and jaws.
- Design and construct dentures or direct other workers to construct dentures.
- Insert, fit and modify new dentures.
- Repair dentures.
- Reline, rebase and adjust dentures.
- Fabricate mouth protectors, anti-snoring prostheses and removable prostheses on implants.
- May order radiographs.
- May prepare partial dentures.
- May perform denture whitening and cleaning.
- dental mechanic
- dental mechanic apprentice
- denture mechanic
- denture technician
- denture therapist
- denturist
- denturologist
To work in this field, you should have good interpersonal skills and a desire to help others. Patience and the ability to handle stressful situations may be needed. You must be efficient and accurate, yet sensitive to the needs of patients. Hand-eye coordination and an aptitude for detailed and precise work are necessary. Artistic ability may also be helpful.
- Completion of a two- or three-year college program in denturism/denturology is required.
- An internship in a registered denture clinic may be required.
- Licensing by a provincial or territorial regulatory body is required.
Most denturists work in private practice.
Labour Market Information
This is not a large occupation in Nova Scotia so job opportunities may not be that frequent. With a large percent of workers being 55 years of age and older, retirements are expected to be a key contributor to employment opportunities over the coming years. Denturists most commonly work full-time hours. Furthermore, the jobs are typically permanent positions.
The median employment income for 38% of Denturists who worked full-time, year-round in 2015 was $. Across all occupations in Nova Scotia, 59% of those who worked full-time year round had a median employment income of $43,600.
(Source: 2016 Census)
Occupation | Estimated employment in 2018 | Estimated change in employment between 2017 and 2019 | Estimated openings due to growth and retirements, 2017-2019 | Estimated rate of unemployment in 2018 | Estimated hourly earnings in 2015 (learn more) | Estimated annual earnings in 2015 |
Denturists | < 50 | N/A | N/A | N/A | Minimum: N/A Median: N/A Maximum: N/A | Minimum: N/A Median: $25,896 Maximum: N/A |
Occupations in Health | 36,515 | Strong growth | 4,385 | Low | Minimum: $16.38 Median: $25.50 Maximum: $41.00 | Minimum: $10,740 Median: $43,853 Maximum: $88,944 |
Denturists | Compared to: Occupations in Health | |
Percent employed full-time | 88% | 77% |
Percent self-employed | 1% | 10% |
Area of Employment | Denturists | Compared to: All NS Occupations | ||
% Employed | Median Annual Income | % Employed | Median Annual Income | |
Southern | x | x | 12% | $30,581 |
Northern | 43% | x | 16% | $33,660 |
Cape Breton | x | x | 13% | $32,974 |
Halifax | 43% | x | 47% | $41,209 |
Annapolis Valley | x | x | 13% | $32,958 |

Age | Denturists | Compared to: All Health |
% Employed | % Employed | |
15-24 | N/A | 1% |
25-34 | N/A | 15% |
35-44 | 60% | 28% |
45-54 | N/A | 31% |
55-64 | 40% | 20% |
65+ | 40% | 5% |
Median Age | 57 | 44 |

Gender | Denturists | Compared to: Occupations in Health |
% Employed | % Employed | |
Female | 43% | 84% |
Male | 57% | 16% |
Education | Denturists | Compared to: All Health | ||
% Employed | Median Annual Income | % Employed | Median Annual Income | |
Less than high school | N/A | x | 1.1% | $27,581 |
High school | N/A | x | 6.9% | $24,119 |
Trades certificate | N/A | x | 5.0% | $31,728 |
College certificate or diploma | 75.0% | $52,781 | 39.4% | $36,693 |
University certificate or diploma | 25.0% | $53,351 | 4.8% | $50,769 |
Bachelor's degree | N/A | $54,840 | 27.6% | $57,186 |
University advanced certificate or diploma | N/A | $48,188 | 2.3% | $61,833 |
Master's degree | N/A | x | 5.1% | $87,808 |
Doctorate | N/A | x | 0.7% | $70,843 |
Medicine, dentistry, veterinary, optometry | N/A | x | 7.2% | $83,000 |
Total | 100% | 100% |
Hourly earnings data are from the Labour Force Survey by Statistics Canada. Data are not available for all occupations. Hourly earnings are calculated based on usual hours worked per week. This is how an annual salary, for instance, gets converted to an hourly rate. The data include full and part-time workers along with new and experienced workers. Self-employed workers are excluded.
Annual employment income data reported in the Work Prospects section, are from the 2011 National Household Survey by Statistics Canada. Much of the data (around 70%) came directly from tax records. The data relates to the year 2010 and includes total wages and salaries and net income from self-employment.
Employment Requirements & Contacts
Training Paths & Education
This instructional program class comprises any program that prepares individuals, under the supervision of dentists, to design and construct dental prostheses such as caps, crowns, bridges, dentures, splints, and orthodontic appliances. These programs include courses in dental anatomy, dental materials, ceramics technology, impressions, complete dentures, partial dentures, orthodontics, crowns and bridges, sculpture, bonding and assembly techniques, and equipment operation.