Faculty of Health Sciences
Dental Assisting Program
Information Booklet for Prospective Students
June 2015
DENTAL ASSISTING PROGRAM IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Additional information about the Program can be obtained from the following sources: COLLEGE INFORMATION SESSIONS
Check the Douglas College website at http://www.douglas.bc.ca/new-students/information-sessions.html for scheduled Dental Assisting Program Information sessions. A Dental Assisting Program Faculty Member and an Academic Advisor from the Registrar’s Office will provide both general & specific information and answer your individual questions.
WEB PAGE
Our Web Page address is: http://www.douglas.bc.ca/programs/dental-assisting.html
COLLEGE ADDRESS
The mailing address of the College is: P.O. Box 2503, New Westminster, BC V3L 5B2 The Dental Assisting Program is located at 700 Royal Ave., New Westminster
CONTACT NUMBERS
Debbie McCloy Coordinator 604.527.5092 [email protected] Janice van Veen Instructor 604.527.5084 [email protected] Barbara Leighs Admissions Officer 604.527.5351 [email protected] Assessment Services Room 2700 604.527.5501
Faculty of Health Sciences Room D3039 604.777.6407 David Lam Campus Fax Machine Room 2660 604.527.5664
Switchboard 4th Floor 604.527.5400
The Dental Assisting Program at Douglas College is a fully accredited 10-month full time program that prepares you for a career as a Certified Dental Assistant or Intra Oral Level Two Dental Assistant. The program consists of academic and clinical courses, with a strong field experience and practicum component. There is currently one intake each year in September. The objective of the program is to prepare Certified Dental Assistants to practice their technical and professional skills with a high degree of competence.
Certified Dental Assistants provide support services to dentists during patient care, contribute to the efficient delivery of dental services and share in the responsibility for patient education, while providing preventive patient care procedures. Certified Dental Assistants may also work in research, education and marketing.
Graduates of this program receive a Certificate in Dental Assisting and are eligible for
registration and licensure with the College of Dental Surgeons of BC. This program is accredited by the Canadian Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada.
LENGTH
The program, including field experiences and practicums, is a 10-month full-time program consisting of three consecutive semesters. Students begin class in September and conclude the following year in June. Students must attend the practicum placements and be responsible for their own transportation.
CREDENTIALS
Graduates of this program receive a Certificate in Dental Assisting and are eligible for registration and licensure with the College of Dental surgeons of BC. All graduates from accredited programs in Canada are required to write the National Dental Assisting Examining Board examination. This program is accredited by the Canadian Dental Association,
Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada. Graduates from Douglas College are exempt from the clinical exam.
MINIMUM ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Application Deadline: February 1st
Please note: minimum admission requirements must be complete at the time of application. Applicants will not be kept on the waiting list with courses in progress. Students may re-apply each year. (Preferential admission requirements will re-apply when a waitlist exists).
• Grade 12 graduation or equivalent (i.e. Mature Student).
• English 12 with a minimum grade of “C” or approved substitution. Equivalencies may be found at
http://www.douglas.bc.ca/calendar/general-information/admissions.html#generaladmissionrequirements
Students with approved substitutions for English 12 should be able to listen and converse at a level of Grade 12 English with a grade of “C” or better.
• Completion of Biology 12 with a grade of “C” or better, or completion of exemptions for Biology 12 (University Transfer Biology with a minimum grade of “P”).
• 18 years of age or older by December 31st of the year of entry.
• Submission of signed forms proving a minimum of two days of observation in a B.C. dental office. The purpose of this observation is to provide the applicant with an
opportunity to gain a realistic view of the responsibilities of a Certified Dental Assistant. An introductory letter and forms will be provided for the applicant.
• Participation in a group Orientation Session. This session will be held by a dental
assisting instructor during the spring of the entering year. The orientation is mandatory and is designed to provide the applicant with information about the profession and the program. Applicants will be notified by mail of the Orientation date.
PREFERENTIAL ADMISSION PROCESS
All applicants must have met the minimum admission requirements. In the case of more applicants to the program than seats, available preferential admission criteria will be applied. The preferential admissions process uses a structured format to evaluate all applicants in relation to the additional recommended admission criteria (listed below) established for the program. Following the review, applicants may be awarded additional points and ranked. Seats are offered in descending order according to ranking.
Criteria Points
Biology 12 with a grade of “B” or higher
Or UT Biology with a minimum grade of “P” 1 points
Related work experience-minimum of 6 months as a level one chair side dental assistant or as a dental receptionist in British Columbia (Dentist must complete a form provided by Douglas College)
1 point Community Service – (minimum 30 hours within the last 2 years) focused on children,
geriatrics or service within a hospice, hospital or mental health residential care facility (supervisor or administrator must complete a form provided by Douglas College)
1 point
Maximum total achievable 3 points
OTHER CRITERIA
When offered a seat in the program, the following criteria must be satisfied:
• Submission of completed Douglas College medical, immunization, and dental assessment forms.
• Applicants may be required to attend a personal interview that will be used for the purposes of clarifying suitability and readiness for the program.
• Current Emergency First Aid Certificate with CPR Level C course with AED. HCP CPR with AED is also acceptable. CPR must be current at time of graduation/licensure. Please check the expiry date on your certificate.
• Criminal Record Search (CRS) - This program requires students to train in an
environment that demands individuals to provide proof of a satisfactorily completed, current Criminal Record Search for the protection of the clients. To meet this
requirement, prospective students must submit to a current Criminal Record Search as a condition of entry to the program. All costs related to the completion of this search are the responsibility of the individual student.
REQUIRED TEXTS – The most current edition is required and is available in the bookstore. 1. Adler, R.B., Towne, N., Rolls, J., Looking out looking In. Harcourt Inc.
2. Bird, D., Robinson, D., Modern Dental Assisting. (with CD). Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company.
3. Brand, R. W., Isselhard, D.E., Anatomy of Orofacial Structures. (with flash cards) Mosby. 4. Ianucci, J.I., Dental Radiography. W.B. Saunders Co
5. Optional Text: Wilkins, E.M., Clinical Practice of the Dental Hygienist. Philadelphia: Lea and Febiger.
And other texts as required. DRESS
Scrub uniforms, infection control cover-ups, duty shoes, name tags (with first name only) and personal safety glasses must be purchased and worn to all clinical and lab sessions.
The infection control cover-ups will be worn over uniforms during all patient care sessions. Students will require two cover-ups, and information regarding purchase will be sent to them prior to entry in the program.
A copy of the detailed dress code will be provided at the mandatory orientation session. PRACTICUM
All student complete practicums in dental offices.
In third semester, students will be spending approximately three weeks in a dental office. During this practicum students will practice all the skills of a Certified Dental Assistant. This will occur in June for September intake students.
It is the responsibility of the student to work with the faculty to locate a dental office for each practicum.
PATIENT REQUIREMENTS
Each student will be responsible for working with the faculty to identify approximately six patients between the ages of 4 and 24 for patient care procedures which are performed during third semester. These patients must be screened by a dentist at Douglas College so that the patient care procedures (rubber cup polish, fluoride treatment, sealants and x-rays) can be performed by the student. The student will perform the necessary services for these patients as prescribed by the dentist. Patients will be required to pay a nominal fee of $25 for the services provided.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Semester I Fall: September to December
CREDITS
CHDA 1107 Dental Radiology Theory 1.5
CHDA 1108 Applied Dental Sciences 1.0
CHDA 1109 Applied Anatomy for Dental Assistants 3.0 CHDA 1118 Reception Skills for Dental Assistants 1.0
CHDA 1111 Basic Dental Assisting Skills 9.0
CMNS 1215 Interpersonal Communications for Dental 3.0 Assistants (offered by the Communications Department)
18.5 Semester II Winter: January - April
CHDA 1212 Dental Health Education 3.0
CHDA 1214 Plan for Direct Patient Care 3.0
CHDA 1215 Applied Nutrition/Pharmacology 1.5
CHDA 1216 Dental Assisting Theory 1.5
CHDA 1217 Advanced Dental Assisting Skills 9.0
18.0 Semester III Summer: May and June (Two months only)
DENTAL ASSISTING PROGRAM COURSE DESCRIPTIONS (41.5 CREDITS)
CHDA 1107 Dental Radiology Theory (1.5 credits)
The purpose of this course is to help the student develop an understanding of the principles of clinical dental radiography. Current radiographic techniques will be covered with the emphasis being on safe and effective use of x-rays in dental practice.
Prerequisite: None Lecture: 30 hours Offered: Fall
CHDA 1108 Applied Dental Sciences (1 credit)
This course provides the student with the skills, values and the knowledge required to practice effective infection control procedures in the dental environment.
Prerequisite: None Lecture: 15 hours Offered: Fall
CHDA 1109 Applied Anatomy for Dental Assistants (3 credits)
This course will provide the student with the basic knowledge of the structures of the face and oral cavity. Integration of this knowledge is required by Level II dental assistants in clinical practice. Prerequisite: None
Lecture/Practice: 60 hours Offered: Fall
CHDA 1111 Basic Dental Assisting Skills (9 credits)
This course will provide the student with the skills required to perform basic dental assisting procedures and a clinical environment to apply and adapt knowledge related to infection control, patient records, dental radiology and anatomy.
Prerequisite: None
Clinical Experience: 60 hours Simulation Environment: 120 hours Field Experience: 20 hours
Offered: Fall
CHDA 1118 Reception Skills for Dental Assistants (1 credit)
This course will provide the learner with the knowledge, skills and values related to the fundamental principles of dental office management, focusing on basic dental reception procedures. The course will include the organization and management of client records, appointment scheduling, insurance claims, financial records and inventory control systems. Prerequisite: None
Lecture/Practice: 15 hours Field Experience: 5 hours Offered: Fall
CHDA 1212 Dental Health Education (3 credits)
In this course the student will learn the fundamentals to provide dental health education to a variety of individuals and groups. The student will learn to perform an oral assessment and provide individualized oral health instruction, based on the various needs of the patient.
Prerequisites: CHDA 1108, 1109 Lecture/Practice: 55 hours Field Experience: 5 hours Offered: Winter
CHDA 1214 Plan for Direct Patient Care (3 credits)
This course will provide the student with knowledge, skills and values required by a Level II Certified Dental Assistant to perform direct patient care. An ethical decision-making framework will enable students to utilize problem-solving skills to plan for and manage direct patient care and to respond to patient-specific needs as they relate to the clinical practice of a Level II Certified Dental Assistant. Prerequisite: CHDA 1109, 1111, 1107, 1108
Lecture/Discussion: 60 hours Field Experience: 5 hours Offered: Winter
CHDA 1215 Applied Nutrition/Pharmacology (1.5 credits)
This course will provide the student with a basic understanding of the fundamental principles of nutrition and pharmacology as they apply to the role of a Level II Certified Dental Assistant. The nutrition portion of this course will include an emphasis on the relationship between nutrition and dental health. The pharmacology portion of this course will emphasize commonly administered dental drugs.
Prerequisite: CHDA 1109 Lecture: 30 hours
Offered: Winter
CHDA 1216 Dental Assisting Theory (1.5 credits)
This course will provide the student with the skills, knowledge, and values necessary for the dental assistant’s role in basic restorative and specialty procedures. This will include an emphasis on the clinical uses and handling of dental materials.
Prerequisites: CHDA 1108, 1109, 1111 Lecture/Practice: 30 hours
Field Experience: 15 hours Offered: Winter
CHDA 1217 Advanced Dental Assisting Skills (9 credits)
This course will provide the student with the skills, knowledge and values required to assist with basic restorative and specialty procedures, to take and process dental radiographs, and to obtain study model impressions. This will include an emphasis on the clinical application and adaptation of dental assisting theory to a variety of specialty areas, different situations and different operator preferences.
Prerequisites: CHDA 1111, 1107, 1108, 1109, 1118 Corequisite: CHDA 1216
Clinical Instruction: 67.5 hours Simulation Environment: 150 hours Field Experience: 30-40 hours Offered: Winter
CHDA 1360 Provide Direct Patient Care (5 credits)
This clinical and practicum experience will provide an environment for the student to apply and adapt knowledge and skills related to medical histories, oral assessment, rubber cup polish, topical fluoride, desensitizing agents, radiographs, fissure sealants, dental health education and emergency situations.
Prerequisites: CHDA 1212, 1214, 1215, 1216, 1217 Clinical Experience: 76 hours
Field Experience: 100 hours Offered: Summer
PROGRAM COSTS
These are approximate costs as of June 2015 and are subject to change. Tuition fees can be calculated through the website www.douglascollege.ca .
The total cost for the program is approximately $7,500.00 and includes the following estimated costs:
Emergency First Aid & CPR Course $135.00
Safety glasses $50.00
Association Membership $35.00 Professional Conference $50.00 Uniforms and Laboratory Fees $350.00
Textbooks $650.00
Upon graduation students are required to pay: Registration & Licensing Fee $450.00 National Board Exam $400.00
MISSION STATEMENT
To develop competent, caring dental professionals who are valued by colleagues and in the marketplace by maintaining a high quality certified dental assisting program which facilitates student engagement through active learning so that students may reach their full potential. Faculty will work to provide high quality education to support students as they become self-determining healthcare professionals.
VISION STATEMENT
We believe that as dedicated dental professionals and faculty that we will create a dental assisting program that is recognized as graduating skilled professionals whose abilities and knowledge are second to none. Graduates will embody the qualities of an empowered care provider who is educated, compassionate and skilled. These new professionals will lead by example and be respected in their field.
PHILOSOPHY
We believe in active learning, student participation and creating an environment where students can achieve their full potential. We believe the student experience must take
precedent over personal achievement. We believe in sustainability, global citizenship and social responsibility. We believe we must lead by example and demonstrate current knowledge, a strong work ethic and social responsibility. We believe it is our responsibility to ensure that the socialization and culturalization of students into the field of healthcare encompasses
