Dental Hygiene Program

The Dental Hygiene program prepares students to practice as primary oral health care providers. This three-year program focuses on developing interpersonal communication skills and professionalism while applying the dental hygiene process of care. Emphasis is placed on preparing students to function effectively within a collaborative relationship including the client, the community and other health-care providers.

What You’ll Learn

• Practise in a professional and competent manner within the defined scope of practice and consistent with current regulations and standards of practice.
• Evaluate clients’ 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, preventative and ongoing 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 interprofessional relationships that contribute to client care safety and positive health care outcomes.
• Facilitate the development of specific oral health attitudes, knowledge, skills and behaviours in clients by selecting and utilizing principles of teaching and learning.
• Develop and present a model for a DH practice that addresses relevant business principles, current legislation and standards of practice.