Program Details
The Dental Hygiene program prepares future dental hygienists to become leaders in the promotion of oral health. Integrating academic studies and clinical practice, the program prepares you to practice with the client and the community, providing collaborative oral health care in a variety of settings. The dental hygiene process of care is foundational to the clinical experience, emphasizing the acquisition of critical thinking skills while fostering a client-centred approach and upholding the most current standards of practice and ethical principles.
Your acquisition of skills will progress from the demonstration of learning on a mannequin to student partners, followed by clients in the college’s Dental Clinic.
Dental hygiene is a self-regulated profession and graduates must successfully complete the national board exam and registration requirements as determined by the College of Registered Dental Hygienists of Ontario. This program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada.
Please note: This six-semester, advanced diploma program has September and May intakes and is a 3-1-3 delivery model. This means students complete Semesters 1 through 3, then they have one semester off before completing semesters 4 through 6.
PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES
- Practice in a professional and competent manner within the defined scope of practice and consistent with current regulations and standards of practice.
- Evaluate the client’s oral health status using determinants of health and risk analysis to identify needs, justify treatment decisions and provide appropriate referrals to other health care professionals, as required.
- Design, implement and evaluate a range of primary, interceptive, therapeutic, preventive, and on-going oral health care services to meet the unique needs of clients.
- Analyze oral health issues in need of advocacy identify networks and promote actions that will support change and facilitate access to care.
- Identify, select, implement and evaluate quality assurance standards and protocols which contribute to a safe and effective working environment.
- Establish and maintain professional and inter-professional relationships which contribute to client-care safety and positive health-care outcomes.
- Facilitate the development of specific oral health attitudes, knowledge, skills, and behaviours, in client’s, by selecting and utilizing principles of teaching and learning.
- Develop and present a model for a dental hygiene practice that addresses relevant business principles, current legislation and standards of practice.
Admission Requirements
- Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or Mature Student Status
AND - Grade 12 English (C or U) (minimum 60 per cent average)
- Grade 11 or 12 biology (C, M or U)
- Grade 11 or 12 chemistry (C, M or U)
- Grade 11 or 12 mathematics (C, M or U)
Please note: This program may be highly competitive and have a specific selection process and application deadline. Please refer to Admission Process for details regarding highly competitive programs.
Mature Student Status :
At Durham College, we welcome students with a range of education and experiences, and we are here to support you on your post-secondary journey.
A mature learner is anyone who is over 19 and:
- Has a college or university credential and is looking to further their education
- Has taken a break after high school and is ready to upgrade their skills or explore new interests
- Does not have an Ontario Secondary School Diploma and is interested in pursuing post-secondary education (this is considered Mature Student Status)
No matter what brings you here, we’re happy you’ve chosen Durham College. We offer a wide range of programs and resources tailored to meet your needs and career goals.
We have so much to offer – more than 145 programs taught by industry experts, co-op and hands-on learning opportunities, state-of-the-art facilities, two amazing campuses and more.
We understand this may be both exciting and overwhelming, which is why we are here to support you every step of the way. There are lots of ways to connect: visit us on campus, explore our programs, talk directly with a staff member online or at a recruitment event. We are here to answer all your questions so reach out today and see how you belong at DC!.
Career Options
WHAT YOU COULD BE:
- Dental hygienist
WHERE YOU COULD WORK:
- General dentistry practice
- Independent dental hygiene practice
- Institutional and hospital dental clinic
- Public health unit
- Specialty practice such as periodontics and orthodontics
Clinical Practice
Your learning experience will be complemented by a clinical practice component that provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to be an effective care provider.
PRE-PLACEMENT REQUIREMENTS
Please note: There are costs associated with Electronic Requirements Verification (ERV), immunizations, lab tests and certifications. Be sure to keep all of your receipts for income tax purposes. These costs include:
- Service fees for Verified, our documentation collection and ERV verification partner.
- Costs to complete mandatory immunizations, lab tests, and certifications.
It is required that students have completed the ERV with Verified to be eligible for the field placement component of this program. You must (at your expense) provide:
- A clear and current Criminal Reference Check (CRC) with Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS) (Semester 4 and 6 students only). If you cannot provide a clear CRC with VSS, you may not be accepted for placement by a field placement agency. CRCs with VSS must be obtained from your local police station. You may be required to obtain additional CRCs with VSS to meet field placement agency requirements
- Current Level C CPR from a recognized provider
- Current standard first aid certification from a recognized provider
- Entry immunization form completed by a health-care provider
More Info:https://durhamcollege.ca/programs/dental-hygiene#tabTransfer