Volume 9 • 2022 • Issue 4

Recognizing these challenges, CDA is joining with the Canadian Dental Assistants’ Association (CDAA) on a project called Building the Professional Dental Assisting Workforce of the Future . The project will look to address the mental health and wellness of dental office staff, as well as aiming to develop an online certified dental CDA — Days on the Hill 2022 (T. to b.): AdamChambers, ConservativeMP for Simcoe North, Dr. Christopher Robinson, CDAAdvocacy Committee, Dr. Michael Sullivan, CDAAdvocacy Committee, Dr. Daniel Albert, CDAAdvocacy Committee. (Top. to bottom): Dr. DeboraMatthews, CDAAdvocacy Committee, Dr. Heather Carr, CDAPresident-Elect, Dr. Daniel Albert, CDAAdvocacy Committee, Carol Hughes, NDPMP for Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing. MPswere concernedwith staff shortages across many sectors and were intrigued to learn more about what is causing the dental staff shortage and how it is affecting patient care. in dentistry to have someone from our community at the highest academic level, and this is significant. The women that are currently in place are fantastic role models for our younger women,” said Dr. Debora Matthews, periodontics professor in the department of dental clinical sciences at Dalhousie and a member of CDA’s Advocacy Committee. However, women still comprise 98% of dental hygienist and 99% of dental assistant positions in Canada. Dental offices face challenges recruiting and retaining people for these roles, and staff shortages were an issue before the COVID-19 pandemic, but the challenges have been worsened in the last two years. “I thought the MPs would be excited to hear our thoughts about federal dental care, but they were more interested in the shortage of dental care staff. They were concerned with staff shortages across many sectors and were intrigued to learn more about what is causing the dental staff shortage and how it is affecting patient care,” says Dr. Sanjukta Mohanta, a general dentist from Brampton, Ontario, and member of CDA’s Advocacy Committee. 15 Issue 4 | 2022 |