Dental Hygiene

Start Dates & Ontario Colleges Program Codes:
Fall Start (September): 0641

Healthy mouth/Healthy body!

Confederation College’s three year advanced Dental Hygiene diploma program provides students with all the knowledge and hands-on experience they need to succeed in this challenging health care discipline.

Professional dental hygienists have five primary responsibilities: clinical therapy (cleaning teeth), health promotion, education, administration and research. Generally, dental hygienists may work in private practice or independently providing client-centred care. Oral health promotion and disease prevention are their main focus.

Students will learn in the state-of-the-art classrooms and labs. Coursework includes topics such as microbiology for dental hygienists, principles in dental hygiene, preventive oral health promotion, research methods, health policy and advocacy and evidence-based practice.

Top Highlights

• Students get hands-on experience at placements in long-term care facilities, schools and dental offices
• Program is fully accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC)
• Graduates of the program will be able to take the National Dental Hygiene Certification Board Examination (NDHCB)
• After successful completion of the NDHCB, graduates are eligible for registration with the College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario

Program Learning Outcomes

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

1. practice in a professional and competent manner within the defined scope of practice and consistent with current regulations and standards of practice.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. analyze oral health issues in need of advocacy, identify networks, and promote actions that will support change and facilitate access to care.
5. identify, select, implement and evaluate quality assurance standards and protocols which contribute to a safe and effective working environment.
6. establish and maintain professional and inter-professional relationships which contribute to client-care safety and positive health-care outcomes.
7. facilitate the development of specific oral health attitudes, knowledge, skills, and behaviours in clients by selecting and utilizing principles of teaching and learning.
8. develop and present a model for a dental hygiene practice that addresses relevant business principles, current legislation and standards of practice.

As a graduate of this program, you may find employment in private dental offices, community dental clinics, hospital dental clinics, public health units and specialty dental practices such as orthodontics, paedodontics and periodontics. Some dental hygienists go on to careers in independent practice.

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