Dental Assisting

Start Your Career With the Dental Assisting Program

Sydney Campus

Program Length:

39 Weeks

Program Hours:

1462

Online Learning

Program Length:

Campuses Available

Upcoming Start Dates

Sydney:

September 3, 2024

Sydney:

September 3, 2024

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Start Your Career With the Dental Assisting Program

Students trained in our Dental Assisting program will be prepared to assist the dental team in all aspects of care in a dental office. You will learn to assist the dentist in all dental procedures performed in a general dental practice and administer individualized patient education and treatment as outlined under the scope of practice for dental assistants practicing in Nova Scotia.

The Dental Assisting program offered at our Sydney campus consists of classroom and clinical instruction, office rotations, and a work-term placement. You will be exposed to various dental offices and practice areas throughout the program. The dental assistant courses taught in this program cover areas such as:

Chair Side Procedures
Communications
Dental Office Administration
Dental Laboratory Techniques and Procedures
Dental Specialties like endodontics, periodontics, orthodontics, and more
Dental Radiography
Microbiology and Infection Control

Successful completion of both the classroom, clinical, and work term components of the program will qualify the student to receive their CBBC diploma. Students must write and successfully pass the National Dental Assisting Board Examination to receive provincial licensing. The cost for this examination will be included in the tuition costs for the program.

Job Market

Dental assistants can obtain employment in general and specialty dental practices, in the oral surgery department of a hospital, within a dental supply company, as an educator or as dental office administrators.

Program Outline

Please click on the course title to see the course description.

This course will introduce students to the career opportunities available to dental assistance, as well as licensing, the need for continuing education and duties of each member of the dental health care team. This course provides the students with the ability to effectively communicate with their patients and co-workers. It will also look at the professional code of conduct expected of a dental assistant and it allows the students, through classroom role playing experiences, to experience real life situations that require effective communication and ethical decision making, as well as how to deal with difficult conflicts by taking the course Non-Violent Crisis Intervention. This course will also help students develop a professional resume and cover letter that they may use and update as new skills are learned.

The students will be placed for 4 days at a dental office. This placement will take place upon completion of Chair Side Procedures DA105 and Dental Laboratory Techniques DA 206. This will be a supervised placement in which the students will be required to perform those skills learned in DA 105 and DA 206 to gain practical experience and enhance knowledge in chair-side skills. This placement is mandatory and a prerequisite to Intra-Oral Procedures and Skills DA 205.

Students will be introduced to the clinical setting, proper clinic protocol and procedure. Students will be familiarized with chairside skills and demonstrate proficiency and be evaluated in all these skills. Each student will be evaluated on the chairside skills on both manikin and peer, where applicable, and will be deemed acceptable or unacceptable. Each student must obtain an acceptable in these clinical evaluations in order to proceed to Intraoral Skills and Procedures (DA 205).

This course will provide the students with the ability to effectively communicate with their patients and co-workers. It will also look at the professional code of conduct expected of a dental assistant and it allows the students, through classroom role playing experiences, to experience real life situations that require effective communication and ethical decision making. It will also demonstrate the proper procedures required to effectively operate the front office of a dental practice and it will emphasize the importance of the front office staff. Students will be exposed to insurance forms, claim procedures, basic information regarding account management, as well as being exposed to some of the specialized computer software and programs used in the dental office setting.

This course will encompass the study of basic dental terminology, introductory anatomy and physiology with special emphasis on head and neck anatomy, the natural dentition, and the occlusion and development of the teeth, as well as an introduction to the oral cavity and its structures in a healthy normal state. This course will allow the student to identify abnormal dental conditions caused by oral diseases or systemic diseases with oral manifestations.

The students will be placed on a 2-week work rotation in a dental office. This will be a supervised practical experience that will allow the student to perform and become familiar with the day-to-day operations of a general dental practice. Each student must have completed all courses successfully, with emphasis on DA 205 Intra-Oral Skills, DA 302 Dental Radiography Practical, DA 206 Dental Laboratory Skills and DA 305 Oral Care and Theory to be eligible for participating in this final placement. A minimum of 72 credit hours must be attained in all of the intra-oral and chairside skills required within a Nova Scotia dental assistant scope of practice; this will include 6 hours attained in front office duties. Students must complete and submit a student workbook reflecting their final placement in order to receive credit for this course and their diploma.

Students will be educated in the importance of proper aseptic technique from basic hand washing procedures to disinfection and sterilization techniques. They will also be introduced to common microorganisms present in the oral cavity and their role in the prevention of patients’ oral health as well as their role in infectious diseases and understanding standard precautions. This course will also include WHMIS and OH&S.

This course will provide the student with the basic knowledge and skill required to successfully assist in all clinical procedures. The students will be expected, in a clinical situation to practice and demonstrate such intra-oral skills as placement and removal of a rubber dam, placement of cavity liners, insertion and removal of matrices and wedges etc. The student will be expected to demonstrate proper infection control when practicing all procedures. The student must successfully complete this course before moving on to DA 305 Oral Care and Theory (Patient Clinic).

The students will be placed on a 2-week placement in a dental office. This will be a supervised practical experience that will allow the students to perform the skills learned and completed in DA 205, as well as DA 206 (Dental Laboratory Techniques), DA 302 (Dental Radiography) to gain practical experience and enhance learning. Students must have successfully completed and passed competencies in order to perform these skills on this placement. Students will not perform any skill on this placement that has not been acceptably completed prior to this placement. This placement is mandatory and a pre-requisite to Oral Care Theory and Clinic (Patient Clinic) DA 305. Upon completion of this placement, students must submit a daily journal of their office practicum in order to receive credit for this course.

This course will provide students with the knowledge and skills to properly prevent, assess, and handle medical emergency situations. Students will learn about different medical conditions, the emergencies that can arise as a result and the proper ways to manage the emergency. The course will also provide knowledge of common drugs used in dentistry and the effects of certain drugs as relevant in dentistry. Students will also be required to research and present a medical condition and how this relates to dental health. This course will also include First Aid/CPR and Oxygen Administration.

The students will be placed for one day at a dental office. This placement is an observation only and will take place in early October. At this point in the program, students will have gained limited knowledge and concepts with infection control, dental terminology and some chair side topics. Students are not permitted to perform any activities on this placement, only to observe. This will provide the student with a beneficial opportunity to gain a better perspective and appreciation for the profession.

This is a hands-on clinic where students will provide care for real patients from the community in a supervised clinical setting. This will allow the student to bring together all aspects of the curriculum and demonstrate their competency, knowledge and acquired skills. The lecture portion will simply be a time to reflect on the students’ clinical experiences for that week and work out any issues of concern involving the clinic. Students must complete and pass this course, in order to move onto DA 405 (Final Work Term Placement).

Oral Health Education and Nutrition will educate the students in all aspects of oral health and oral care. The students will learn the progression of oral disease and how to identify oral concerns. The course will allow the students to properly educate and direct their patients in proper oral care and oral hygiene techniques, including detection and prevention of oral disease. This course will also encompass the effects and importance of nutrition on oral health and by use of Canada’s Food Guide will allow the students to provide basic nutrition counselling in relation to oral health concerns. Students will also be expected to participate in various Community Health Projects.

Admissions Requirements

Standard Admissions Policy:

Academic Grade 12 consisting of a grade 11 science or integrated grade 10 science
Vulnerable Sector Check
Admissions Interview

Additional Requirements and Information

Students must provide a completed medical form and immunization record documenting vaccinations against tetanus, diphtheria, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, Hepatitis A/B and chickenpox. Students are also required to have a tuberculosis test within the first two months of the program. These forms will be sent to you upon acceptance into the program.

For applicants whose first language is not English, an English proficiency exam must be completed successfully in order for further consideration for admission to the program.

It is recommended that students have basic computer knowledge for this program. Basic computer skill levels would include basic word processing (ex. Microsoft Word), internet and e-mail.

Students must be aware that the profession of dental assisting requires excessive hand washing and long periods of sitting. Therefore any health problems involving the neck, back, arms or hands should be considered by the student before applying.

This program is an excellent fit for:

Anyone who is looking to upgrade their skills and become a licensed dental assistant.
Someone is a people person and has great customer service skills.
A person looking for a fast-paced and exciting career.

Why choose the Dental Assisting program?

A combination of online and in-class learning.
Upgrade your skills and gain new opportunities if you already work in a dental office!
Lifetime support of career services!

Save time & money

Finish most programs and become job-ready in less than a year!
Get the skills you need to get hired with programs that cut the extras and give you the skills you need to get hired.
With career support for life with CBBC Career College, our experts will help find you employment no matter how long ago you graduated.
You don't need three to four years of school to enter the workforce with the skills to start a great paying career!

Your future is our priority

Start school NOW with most program intakes happening frequently (no need to wait!)
No waiting lists, even in our most-popular programs. We'll get you the job training you need to start your career ASAP.
We take a student-centric approach to learning, with small class sizes to empower you to collaborate with your peers and receive more attentive support from your instructors.

Career-relevant education

Our programs are programs aligned with real-world, in-demand occupations. We will get you job-ready!
Most CBBC Career College programs include practicum experience so you can hit the job search running with a great education AND experience.
We have real relationships with employers who are waiting to hire qualified CBBC Career College graduates!

What Our Graduates Are Saying

I highly recommend CBBC Career College to anyone interested in pursuing what they have to offer. They have gone far to support all the students in my class in pursuing their goals. I have been very satisfied with my experience at the college.

Thom H. Boehm

Continuing Care Assistant Program

What Our Graduates Are Saying

CBBC is the best decision that you can make for yourself. The education, the hands-on experience, and the amazing instructors make the time fly by. You learn skills that translate into real job experience. If you are looking to go to college, choose them! Once you become a part of the CBBC family, your dreams become realities!

Stephanie Melski

Medical Office Assistant / Cape Breton Regional Hospital Program

Dental Assisting

Start Your Career With the Dental Assisting Program

Start Your Career With the Dental Assisting Program

Job Market

Program Outline

Admissions Requirements

Standard Admissions Policy:

Additional Requirements and Information

Related Programs

This program is an excellent fit for:

Why choose the Dental Assisting program?

Save time & money

Your future is our priority

Career-relevant education

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What Our Graduates Are Saying

What Our Graduates Are Saying

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