General Information
The Department of Dentistry offers a Bachelor of Science (Dental Hygiene). The Dental Hygiene Program enables students to acquire knowledge and develop understanding and abilities so that they may assume varied responsibilities in clinical practice, health promotion, teaching, community health care, and research.
The dental hygienist is an integral member of the health care team and strives to improve oral health by providing education, preventive services and therapeutic treatment to the public. The dental hygienist with a baccalaureate degree is a leader in developing, initiating and evaluating oral health interventions in diverse patient populations that prevent and control oral disease and promote oral wellness. The ultimate goal of a baccalaureate program is to educate professionals who contribute significantly to the improvement of oral health.
Bachelor of Science (Dental Hygiene) graduates are prepared to work in a large number of settings including, but not limited to private dental practices, independent dental hygiene practice, research, education, industry, health care institutions or health promotion agencies. Graduates are prepared for intra and inter professional collaborative practice. This degree prepares graduates to pursue post baccalaureate or graduate level programs.
The Dental Hygiene curriculum includes courses from biomedical, behavioural and clinical sciences. In each year of the program, students participate in external practicum experiences within the city and surrounding districts in various community settings, such as hospitals, schools, long-term care facilities, and community agencies/clinics. An experience in an external rural clinic is required.
The Dental Hygiene Program is approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation Education of Canada. Successful students are eligible to complete the National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination (Canadian) and the National Board Dental Hygiene Examinations of the American Dental Association.
Further details may be obtained from the Director of the Dental Hygiene Program, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry.
Orientation
It is mandatory that each student, after acceptance into the program, attend Orientation. This is scheduled immediately before the beginning of the first term of each year.
Return to: