Programs of Study

				Dental hygienists remove soft and hard deposits from teeth, teach patients how to practice good oral hygiene, and provide other preventive dental care. They examine patients’ teeth and gums, recording the presence of diseases or abnormalities.
				
				Dental hygienists use an assortment of different tools to complete their tasks. Hand and rotary instruments and ultrasonic devices are used to clean and polish teeth, including removing calculus, stains, and plaque. Hygienists use x-ray machines to take dental pictures, and sometimes develop the film. They may use models of teeth to explain oral hygiene, perform root planning as a periodontal therapy, or apply cavity-preventative agents such as fluorides and pit and fissure sealants. In some States, hygienists are allowed to administer anesthetics, while in others they administer local anesthetics using syringes. Some States also allow hygienists to place and carve filling materials, temporary fillings, and periodontal dressings; remove sutures; and smooth and polish metal restorations.
				
				Dental hygienists also help patients develop and maintain good oral health. For example, they may explain the relationship between diet and oral health or inform patients how to select toothbrushes and show them how to brush and floss their teeth.
				
				Hygienists sometimes make a diagnosis and other times may prepare clinical and laboratory diagnostic tests for the dentist to interpret. Hygienists sometimes work chair side with the dentist during treatment.
				
				Our programs are designed to cater all needs of the students to successfully train in the field of dental hygiene. The programs listed below are required to earn the degree in dental hygiene.

CADH Curriculum

The curriculum at CADH is approximately eighteen months in duration and it prepares the student to become a qualified Dental Hygiene practitioner. The program is divided into three academic levels. Each academic level is 22 weeks in length.

The curriculum material and the duration of the modules are functionally divided between theory and technique in dental sciences. The program provides the knowledge and skill development necessary to assess, plan, implement and evaluate dental hygiene care to the standards necessary to maintain proper oral health. The program contains, at the very least, all of the elements currently offered within programs at Ontario Community Colleges and adheres to the current standards of practice published by the College of Dental Hygienists’ of Ontario (CDHO).

Dental hygiene education at CADH focuses not only on the preventative aspects of dental disease and education of clients, but also on the development of strong interpersonal communication skills and the ability to apply the dental hygiene process of care in a competent and professional manner. Courses are offered in biomedical sciences, behavioral sciences, oral health sciences and dental hygiene theory and practice. Please refer to the section on Courses for a complete list and description of all courses offered in the program.

Psychology

The initial goal of the psychology component is to assist the student to better his/her personal values, ethical decision making ability and working relationships through the development of self-awareness, effective communication and problem-solving.

Biology

Dental hygiene students are introduced to microbiology and human pathophysiology. In microbiology, specific emphasis is placed on microscopy, prokaryotic cell structure and function, bacterial nutrition, microbial metabolism, control of microbial growth, oral microflora, animal viruses and epidemiology. In human pathophysiology, emphasis is placed on the pathogenesis of injury and disease processes rather than the pathology of specific diseases.

Dental Science Courses

These courses deal with scientific knowledge directly related to the practice of dental hygiene. Specific topics covered in these courses include nutrition, embryology, pharmacology, periodontology, tooth morphology, pain and anxiety control, head and neck anatomy, radiology theory and practice, orofacial histology and pathology.

Professional Courses

Professional courses deal with the concepts and issues related to professional practice. The students are initially introduced to the basic concepts of teaching/learning ethics, professional roles, problem solving, time-management, self-directed learning, a dental team, responsibility and accountability, professional associations (with a focus on the roles and responsibilities of dental hygienists). Students then focus on research in preventitive dentistry, dental health education and disease control.

Dental Hygiene Practice

The classroom setting provides students with the opportunity to learn the theory underlying dental hygiene skills, which includes client care procedures, clinical support procedures and practice organization. The laboratory and clinical settings afford students the opportunity to practice and apply the skills and concepts obtained in theory work. Initially the students act as clients for each other. Care is then given to selected healthy clients and finally to clients requiring advanced dental hygiene care. Appropriate referral procedures are followed.

Community Dental Health Courses

These courses provide students with the opportunity to learn the theory underlying community dental health. Field placement experiences provide an opportunity to design, implement and evaluate community projects as well as promote the role of dental hygienists at community, provincial and national levels. Basic concepts studied are the provision and financing of dental care and community dental health programming.

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