Are you looking for a rewarding career? Do you have manual dexterity, the ability to work as a member of a team, and an aptitude for precise performance? If so, the Dental Assisting program may be right for you. Let our professors help get your career on track in this valuable health care profession.

Professional Dental Assistants are found in dental offices, where they play an integral part in the prevention of disease transmission and in proper sterilization techniques. Along with many other technical duties, they contribute to the safety, comfort and support of clients.

Modifications to the Dental Assisting program are in response to professional demands and changes in the profession. In an on-going commitment to provide the most up-to-date training in the dental assisting field, the program has been upgraded to provide the graduate with the requirements necessary to complete the National Dental Assisting Examination Board examination.

The program prepares you to achieve competency in the skills that are mandatory for Level II National Certification.

The Level II National Standard will include instruction in all procedures listed in the mandatory category, as follows:

• Dental radiography*
• Application and removal of rubber dam*
• Taking preliminary impressions for study casts*
• Selective rubber cup polishing of coronal portion of teeth*
• Topical application of anti-cariogenic agents (fluorides)*
• Oral hygiene instruction*
• Application of treatment liners (no pulpal involvement)
• Application of matrices and wedges
• Dietary counselling relative to dentistry*
• Application of topical anaesthetics*
• Application of pit and fissure sealants*
• Application of desensitizing agents*
• Use, care and maintenance of coronal whitening by bleaching trays

The optional skills will include instruction in all procedures listed below:

• Polishing amalgam restorations*
• Use of oral irrigation devices*

* Under current legislation, these duties may be performed in Ontario when assigned by a dentist. In addition, you will receive instruction and practice in the traditional responsibilities of a dental assistant. The duties will include chair side assisting, office management, equipment care, maintenance of patient records and office supplies, and performing various lab procedures. Clinical experience is obtained in dental offices and the college dental clinic. The program prepares you to provide safe and competent dental care under the delegation and guidance of a dentist.

Ontario Secondary School Diploma at or above the general level or its equivalent.

Grade 12 English, senior level Mathematics, senior level Biology, and one of senior level Chemistry or Physics or equivalents are required.

Mature students:
Applicants aged 19 or over without the OSSD will be considered based on their results on the College’s Mature Student Test; however, students must possess the required subjects as indicated above. Equivalencies can be used if students do not possess appropriate secondary school courses using college, university or upgrading.

Graduates of the new Ontario Secondary School Curriculum must meet the following admission criteria:
Ontario Secondary School Diploma with courses from the College (C), University (U), University/ College (M), or Open (O) preparation levels.

Required courses:
Grade 12 Compulsory English (ENG 4C or ENG 4U), Grade 11 or 12 (M), (C) or (U) Mathematics (MCF 3M, MBF 3C, MCR 3U, MAP 4C, MCT 4C, MCB 4U, MGA 4U, MDM 4U), Grade 11 or 12 (C) or (U) Biology (SBI 3C, SBI 3U or SBI 4U) and one of the following two sciences: Grade 11 or 12 (C) or (U) Chemistry (SCH 3U, SCH 4U or SCH 4C) or Grade 11 or 12 (C ) or (U) Physics (SPH 3U, SPH 4U or SPH 4C).

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Rank Grade 12 English, Senior Math, Senior Biology, and the better of Chemistry or Physics.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS
A completed Canadore College Health Centre form including medical history, immunization record, Hepatitis B vaccination, and a two-step Tuberculosis (TB) test is required. The form is provided in the online registration handbook.

Students require a medical clearance card and • current Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) • Level C status in order to participate in intra- oral procedures, field placement and client care sessions.

• Current from date of program registration to the last date of the program.
• CPR Level C status is equivalent to one of the following:
• Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers (C)
• Canadian Red Cross, Level C

Seventy percent is the required level of achievement in all core courses.