Dental Assisting
The Dental Assisting Program is a comprehensive Level II program, accredited by the Commission of Accreditation for the Canadian Dental Association. The dental assistant is an important member of the dental team, utilizing his/her skills to provide knowledgeable and efficient dental care to patients, in a variety of dental procedures (i.e. restorative, oral surgery, orthodontic, endodontic, preventative and laboratory).
Upon successful completion of this fourteen-month program, students are required to obtain a license to practice prior to performing any intra-oral skills. Graduates are eligible to write the National Dental Assisting Board exam but this is not a requirement for the attainment of their Holland College Level II Diploma. It may be criteria for licensure in some provinces and individuals are responsible to contact the provincial licensing body of the province in which they will be employed, to determine specific provincial licensure requirements.
Level II Dental Assisting program - encompasses chair-side dental assisting skills with licensable intra-oral clinical procedures (i.e. application of dental dams, liners and varnishes, matrix retainers, fluoride, exposing radiographs, taking impressions, placing sealants, polishing amalgam restorations and suture removal).
The Holland College Dental Assisting program offers current theoretical and practical training designed to graduate dental assistants who display competence consistent with all skills required to work safely, effectively and ethically within a dental practice. Graduates will be able to demonstrate the knowledge, skills and attitudes required by industry for entry level dental assistants to ensure consistent safety and competency in dental practice.
The Holland College Dental Assisting program develops graduates who are able to:
- Maintain a safe environment for both patients and co-workers
- Display professional conduct appropriate to a dental setting
- Compile and maintain patient records
- Apply principles of practice management in a dental professional setting
- Demonstrate competence in all Intra Oral Dental Assisting core national skills
- Provide instruction regarding disease prevention, post-operative care, nutritional counseling and oral health education to patients and community groups
- Perform required dental laboratory procedures as a member of the dental health care team
- Maintain patient care clinic and laboratory equipment to prescribed health and safety standards
The Holland College Dental Assisting Program collaborates with local industry leaders, educational organizations as well as National Dental Assisting organizations to ensure that graduates are able to meet all aspects of the profession of dental assisting.
Other Dental related courses are offered on an ongoing basis via Distance Delivery.
Dental Assisting Courses
print full list with descriptionsTake the following course(s):
Basic Dental Assisting
Basic Dental Assisting
This course is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills required to perform basic dental assisting procedures efficiently and ergonomically. Theory and clinic practice will be combined to achieve competency with the instruments, equipment, materials, and techniques involved in restorative dentistry.
Hours: 60
Course Code: DENAST-1005
Oral Health
Oral Health
Students will assess the oral health of patients based on their individual needs. Students will learn about the oral disease process and how to communicate and teach patients about the health and maintenance of this process.
Hours: 60
Course Code: DENAST-1056
Dental Assisting Profession
Dental Assisting Profession
In this course students gain an overview of the dental assisting profession, the laws that govern it, and the professional skills needed to be successful in the field. Students will explore and demonstrate competencies in professional areas such as teamwork, effective communication, conflict resolution, personal management skills, and problem solving. Students will also learn about health and safety guidelines within WHMIS, ethics and legal rights in the dental setting and unique clinical needs that may be required for some dental patients.
Hours: 30
Course Code: DENAST-1100
Infection Control
Infection Control
Throughout the dental assisting program and into their careers students will be expected to continue to prove competency in all aspects of infection control. The infection control course will provide the student with the knowledge and skills necessary to ensure patient and team safety are maintained. Through clinical practice students will learn to; operate and maintain equipment while applying principles of infection control, prepare for dental procedures and assist for dental procedures while maintaining an aseptic environment, process instruments according to their surface classification. Students will gain a basic understanding of microbiology as it relates to infection control. Emphasis will be placed on ethical practice, organizations that provide guidelines for safe practice as well as legislation designed to protect all parties.
Hours: 45
Course Code: DENAST-1110
Dental Sciences
Dental Sciences
This course provides students with an overview of oral anatomy and physiology of the head and neck areas. Students will develop knowledge in appropriate terminology necessary to competently perform skills both as a dental operator and a dental assistant.
Hours: 45
Course Code: DENAST-1115
Dental Charting
Dental Charting
Students will be competent in the skill of dental charting and will be able to manage information found within a patient chart upon completion of this course. Students will be able to interpret information found within dental patient charts, transfer information delivered through verbal dictation into a patient chart and create graphic representations of existing and required treatment into a patient chart.
Hours: 45
Course Code: DENAST-1120
Dental Radiography
Dental Radiography
This course focuses on radiographic techniques, processing, and mounting. Through a combination of theory and clinical experiences, students will gain the knowledge and skills required to demonstrate the basic principles of radiography, perform digital imaging, and expose intra-oral radiographs. Students will also demonstrate safe operation of radiography equipment and appropriate use of radiographs in the dental field.
Hours: 90
Course Code: DENAST-1125
Dental Office Management
Dental Office Management
In this course students gain knowledge and practical experiences related to basic dental reception. Students develop competencies in patient and office communications, appointment control, recall systems, patient accounts, dental claims, financial records, office corespondence, filing, and supply systems for the dental assisting setting.
Hours: 45
Course Code: DENAST-1130
Clincial Skills and Procedures
Clincial Skills and Procedures
Through this course, students will become competent in the following intra oral skills: application and removal of dental dam and alternate isolation methods, application and removal of matrices and wedges, placement of topical anesthetic, placement of cavity liners and polishing of amalgam restorations. Students will gain knowledge for each skill within the classroom and will then be required to apply that knowledge in a clinical setting by practicing and demonstrating each skill on a dental manikin. Upon proving competency on the manikin each student will be given the opportunity to practice and prove competency in the application of some of these intra oral skills on fellow students.
Hours: 120
Course Code: DENAST-1135
Orthodontics
Orthodontics
The orthodontics specialty of dentistry deals with the detection and treatment of irregularities of the teeth, jaws and face. In this course, students will develop skills and knowledge in the diagnosis and treatment of orthodontic therapy. Through a combination of theory and clincial experiences, students will learn to prepare and sterilize instruments, prepare the patient for treatment, assist the operator during treatment, and provide post-operative instruction to the patient. Students will also learn to place and remove elastic separators, perform clinical photography, and create cephalometric tracings.
Hours: 30
Course Code: DENAST-1145
Endodontics
Endodontics
This course provides students with the knowledge and skills required to assist with procedures related to the dental specialty of endodontics. Through a combination of theory and clinical experiences, students will learn about various endodontic procedures and the instruments and materials required for them. Students will also learn the techniques necessary for taking acceptable diagnostic endodontic radiographs.
Hours: 30
Course Code: DENAST-1150
Prosthodontics
Prosthodontics
Upon completion of this course students will have a working knowledge and clinical skills related to assisting with fixed and removable prosthodontic procedures and the materials associated with these procedures. During this course students will also become competent in the construction of custom impression trays, mouthguards, whitening trays, baseplates and occlusal rims using a variety of materials and lab equipment. Safe use and maintenance of dental lab equipment will also be of primary focus during this course.
Hours: 90
Course Code: DENAST-1155
Preventative Patient Care Procedures
Preventative Patient Care Procedures
Through a combination of theory and clinical experiences students will gain the knowledge and skills to provide patient care in specific areas such as vital whitening techniques, enamel sealants, desensitizing agents, anticariogenic agents, and coronal polish.
Hours: 90
Course Code: DENAST-1160
Pharmacology, Emergency Treatment and Special Needs
Pharmacology, Emergency Treatment and Special Needs
In this course students will gain a basic understanding of specific patient assessment and procedures related to health history, vital signs, and prescription drugs and how to incorporate this information into patient treatment. Students will also gain competencies in preparing and handling emergencies and managing special needs patients in the dental setting.
Hours: 30
Course Code: DENAST-1165
Practicum: Dental Assisting
Practicum: Dental Assisting
Students will be given the opportunity to experience two practicum experiences during this course. The first placement will provide the student with the opportunity to observe procedures within a dental clinic as well as demonstrate receptionist and chairside skills. During the second practicum students will be expected to perform effectively as an Intra Oral dental assistant and exhibit professional conduct in the work place. This practicum is designed to provide the student with an opportunity to integrate their knowledge and demonstrate competency in all skills and knowledge gained throughout the program.
Hours: 180
Course Code: DENAST-1170
Nutrition
Nutrition
Students will gain knowledge in the effectiveness of a preventive program that relies not only on client self-care but also on the dental assistant?s ability to educate and support patients to achieve and maintain dental health. Students will learn about the importance of the interrelationships of nutrition to oral health and disease in order to assist dental patients in achieving optimum oral and general health.
Hours: 30
Course Code: DENAST-1175
Oral Surgery
Oral Surgery
Upon successful completion of this course the student will have the knowledge and skills to assist in oral surgical procedures, including implantology. Students will be able to recognize and understand abnormal pathological conditions within the mouth. Throughout this course the students will gain experience in identifying, preparing and handling specialized instruments used in oral surgery. Students will also become competent in the national core intra oral skill of suture removal.
Hours: 30
Course Code: DENAST-1180
PEI Occupational Health and Safety
PEI Occupational Health and Safety
An overview of the Occupational Health and Safety Act of Prince Edward Island. Students examine the legislation, how PEI employees are protected while on the job and the responsibilities of employees and employers.
Hours: 0
Course Code: SAFE-1005
