In the last few decades, dentistry in Canada has become increasingly commercialized and has seen an increase in corporate-owned dental clinics. According to an Edmonton-based law firm that specializes in corporate dentistry, the practice is “a growing trend where a dentist (alone, with another dentist or with a non-dentist) owns and operates several dental practices through the use of corporate vehicles.” Dental corporations have a fiduciary responsibility to maximize profits, the same as any other corporation.

In Canada, corporate dentistry is following in the footsteps of the United States and Australia. Dental corporations are buying up assets of dental offices owned by dentists and taking over control of the administrative aspects of the office, such as hiring, firing, and bookkeeping.

Currently, there is no research showing the true prevalence of corporate ownership of dental clinics in Canada, but statements from dental corporations themselves paint a picture of a growing trend. 123Dentist states that it is an owner or partial owner of 350 dental practices in Canada. The Dental Corporation of Canada (or dentalcorp) owns over five hundred dental clinics. The fact that two corporations alone own 5 percent of the dental clinics in the country makes clear the reality of corporate consolidation of dental clinics in Canada.