Grey Literature and Statistics for Dentistry

Statistics Canada is a Canadian government agency tasked with producing and providing access to economic, social, and census data. Hundreds of electronic publications are freely available to view and download on the StatsCan website.  

Statistics Canada does not currently have a designated dentistry or oral health survey, but the following health surveys contain variables relating to these topics. 

University of Toronto affiliates have access to the microdata sets behind the below surveys via SDA@CHASS and <odesi>. If you would like more information on how to access these portals, please speak to a librarian. 

In addition, there is an Oral Health page where other resources can be found, including information on dental coverage for Canadians. Further information in on the Canada Dental Benefit launched in 2022.

For an example of the kinds of variables collected via the CHMS, see CANSIM table 117-0012.

For examples of the kinds of variables collected via the CCHS, see CANSIM tables 105-0060, 105-0066, and 105-0260, and 105-0460.

Besides health data, you may be interested in exploring data and statistics about the dentistry profession (employment, earnings, etc.). This data is often collected and provided through dental associations, but can also be found via surveys such as the Job Vacancy and Wage Survey (JVWS).

For other dentistry and oral health surveys, see this list in <odesi>.

The First Nations Information Governance Centre. Report on the Findings of the First Nations Oral Health Survey (FNOHS) 2009-10. (Ottawa: The First Nations Information Governance Centre, September 2012).

Evans, A. et al. Healthy Smiles for Life: BC’s First Nations and Aboriginal Oral Health Strategy. (British Columbia: 2014).

The following is a list of Canadian organizations whose websites offer dental publications, data, and statistics that may be useful for your research.