Dental Assisting (Levels I and II)

Program Overview

A career as a level II dental assistant requires dynamic technical and interpersonal skills to provide patient care and chair-side support assisting dentists before, during and after a wide variety of procedures including fillings, crowns and extractions. If you’re looking for a career providing dependable, patientcentred care, our dental assisting program is for you!

Program Details

Program Code

DAS3

Credential:

Ontario College Certificate

Delivery

Full-Time

Duration

36 weeks

Your Learning Experience

In less than 10 months after starting your dental assisting program, you’ll be ready to become a professional dental assistant. Your career is almost guaranteed, with 95 percent of our graduates finding work in the field.

You’ll get there by learning the necessary hands-on skills – including sterilization and disinfecting instruments, preparing materials and assisting with dental procedures – in our newly renovated simulation lab, modelled after a typical dental office.

Throughout your studies, you’ll work alongside professors in a supportive, mentoring environment designed to help you succeed. You’ll also gain amazing experience rotating through specialty practices in the London area and complete two work placements at dental offices to ensure that you are prepared and feel comfortable starting your career.

When you graduate, you'll be prepared to successfully complete the National Dental Assisting Examination Board (NDAEB) Exam in order to practice as a Level II Dental Assistant. You'll also be eligible for accreditation with the Ontario Dental Assistants Association and the Canadian Dental Assistants Association.

The Dental Assisting (Levels I and II) program will prepare you to be an entry-level practitioner, capable of working interdependently and collaboratively with community health professionals in a variety of practice settings.

Graduates will be able to assume a variety of roles including clinical, education, health promotion, business administration and laboratory assistant, consistent with national and provincial standards

Career Information

Upon certification, graduates of Fanshawe’s Dental Assisting program are qualified to assume a position as a Level II dental assistant to perform a variety of intraoral patient care, office, and laboratory duties as well as working chair-side with dentists to examine and treat patients. There are many career opportunities in a variety of areas, including

Dental industry
Public health units
General dental practice
Specialty dental practices
Insurance companies
Armed forces
Dental sales
Dental supply companies
Correctional institutions
Chronic care institutions
Teaching institutions

Did you know Fanshawe consistently ranks high in graduation employment rates among large colleges in Ontario?

Here are some examples of career opportunities for graduates of Fanshawe’s Dental Assisting (Levels I and II) program:

Dental Assistant
Work in a progressive dental office with an upbeat, friendly team who enjoy providing excellent dental care to patients of all ages.
Level II Dental Assistant
Assist a dentist by taking digital x-rays, setting up and tearing down operation rooms, taking and pouring dental impressions while being responsible for managing the sterilization bay.

New Oral Health Clinic - Now Open!

The Dental Assisting program facilities have received a complete make-over and are returning the clinical portion of the program to Fanshawe's London Campus. This space features a new, state-of-the-art, public oral health clinic with a dental radiography suite that includes the latest in digital radiography. Students will begin learning skills utilizing fully functional modern dental manikin simulators and will progress into live patient care in the new clinical and restorative spaces. Students can safely learn decontamination and sterilization processes on a sterilization centre in their simulation labs, modelled after a typical dental office. View the clinic

Dental Assisting student working in the lab

My time in the Dental Assisting program was incredible! The instructors are very knowledgeable and supportive. The new clinic makes the transition from classroom to workplace very smooth.

Ganith Dayasundara

Recent Graduate

Learning Outcomes

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

1. maintain client* and personal safety in the practice environment.

2. contribute to the development of a comprehensive client* profile* by using a variety of data collection methods in collaboration with the client and other health professionals and in compliance with privacy legislation.

3. contribute to the development of a comprehensive plan* for oral health services and programs* in collaboration with the client* and other health professionals

4. provide oral health services and programs*, as identified in the comprehensive plan* and as permitted within the scope of practice

5. contribute to the evaluation and reporting of appropriate aspects of the oral health services and programs* by using a variety of sources including the client profile

6. act in a professional and competent manner.

7. maintain client* records and manage office procedures in compliance with relevant legislation and regulations.

Admission Requirements

OSSD with courses from the College (C), University (U),
University/College (M), or Open (O) stream WITH:
- Any Grade 12 English (C) or (U)
- Mathematics ONE OF:
      - Grade 11 Mathematics (U) or(M)
      - Grade 12 Mathematics (C) or(U)
- Grade 11 or Grade 12 Biology (C) or (U)
- Grade 11 or Grade 12 Chemistry (C) or (U)
(Note: minimum final grade required for each course is65)
OR
Academic and Career Entrance Certificate(ACE) WITH:
- Communications
- Core Mathematics
- Biology
- Chemistry
  (Note: minimum final grade required for eachcourse is 65)
OR
General Arts and Science Ontario CollegeCertificate AND:
- minimum final grade of 'C+' or 65 in the required courses statedabove
OR
Ontario High School EquivalencyCertificate (GED) WITH:
- The combined Language Arts - Reading AND Language Arts -Writing test results having a minimum average Standard Score of 520AND:
- Mathematics ONE OF:
        - Grade 11 Mathematics(U) or (M)
        - Grade 12 Mathematics(C) or (U)
-  Grade 11 or Grade 12 Biology (C) or (U)
- Grade 11 or Grade 12 Chemistry (C) or (U)
   (Note: minimum final grade required for each course is65)
OR
Mature Applicant with standing in therequired courses and grades stated above

Competitive Programs

This is a competitive program; the number of qualifiedapplicants exceeds the number of seats available. Please seewww.fanshawec.ca/hcp fordetails. International students, please note: you must successfullygraduate from Pre-Health Sciences before being considered for thisprogram.

English Language Requirements

Applicants whose first language is not English will be requiredto demonstrate proficiency in English by one of the followingmethods:

A Grade 12 College Stream or University Stream English creditfrom an Ontario Secondary School, or equivalent, depending on theprogram's Admission Requirements
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) test with aminimum score of 79 for the Internet-based test (iBT), withtest results within the last two years
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academictest with an overall score of 6.0 with no score less than 5.5 inany of the four bands, with test results within the last twoyears. SDSProgram Requirements.
Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL) test with a score of60 in writing, reading and speaking and a score of 50 in listening,with test results within the last two years
Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE) with a minimum score of53, with test results within the last two years
A Cambridge English Test (FCE/CAE/CPE) with an overall score onthe Cambridge English Scale of 169 with no language skill less than162, with test results within the last two years
An English Language Evaluation (ELE) at Fanshawe College with aminimum score of 70% in all sections of the test, with test resultswithin the last two years
Fanshawe College ESL4/GAP5 students: Minimum grade of 80% inESL4/GAP5 Level 8, 75% in ESL4/GAP5 Level 9, or 70% in ESL4/GAP5Level 10

Recommended Academic Preparation

Grade 12 Business and TechnologicalCommunication (O)
It is highly recommended that students be proficient inword processing skills before entry into the program. Studentsshould consider enrolling in a computer course to ensure thatskills are attained prior to entry in the program.

Recommended Personal Preparation

Students should develop personal responsibility, emotionalmaturity and those characteristics which will enable them toco-operate with others in the delivery of health care and inmeeting the public in a dental office

Applicant Selection Criteria

Where the number of eligible applicants exceeds the availablespaces in the program, the Applicant Selection Criteria willbe:

Preference for Permanent Residents of Ontario
Receipt of Application by February 1st (After this date,Fanshawe College will consider applicants on a first-come,first-served basis until the program is full)
Achievement in the Admission Requirements

Note:

Admission to the Fanshawe College General Arts andScience program does not guarantee admission in a subsequent yearto the Dental Assisting (Levels I and II) program. Successfulcompletion of the Fanshawe College General Arts andScience program, however, does enable the student to be givenadditional consideration when applying to the Dental Assisting(Levels I and II) program. The General Arts andScience program is the preferred designatedpreparatory program for admission to the Dental Assisting (Levels Iand II) program.

Post-Admission Requirements

SeePost-Admission Requirements

More Information

More info about post-admission requirements.

Courses

Level 1
Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:
WRIT-1048	Reason & Writing 1 for Health Sciences	3
This course will introduce health sciences students to essential principles of reading, writing, and reasoning at the postsecondary level. Students will identify, summarize, analyze, and evaluate multiple short readings and write persuasive response essays to develop their vocabulary, comprehension, grammar, and critical thinking.
DENT-1063	Emergency Management	2
This course integrates emergency theory with prevention and management in the clinical practice setting using a body system in health and disease approach. Pharmacological classifications and principles including drugs frequently prescribed or used in dental practices will be highlighted. The potential impact of patient medications and recreational drug use to both oral health and the safety of patients during clinical care will be explored.
DENT-1053	Infection Prevention & Control	3
This course provides the theoretical foundation in the study of microorganisms that contribute to disease transmission in dental settings. Through the study of infection prevention and control procedures, students will gain an appreciation and understanding of their role in reducing the risk of disease transmission to the healthcare team and members of the public.
DENT-1054	Dental Materials for Clinical Practice	1
Students will learn the properties and manipulation of materials used during restorative and clinical procedures in the dental office. Emphasis will be placed on achievement of optimal outcomes to ensure that materials meet requirements needed for clinical use.
DENT-1055	Patient Care Procedures 1	3.5
This course provides students with the theoretical and practical skills required for assisting operative dentistry. Using clinical simulations and peer experiences, students will demonstrate a variety of dental assisting skills used in fourhanded dentistry. Health and safety procedures and optimal infection prevention and control protocols will be emphasized to ensure clinician and patient safety in the clinical setting.
DENT-1056	Oral Health Records	1
This course provides students with an understanding of effective communication skills used when interacting with patients, the public, allied health professionals and the dental team. Utilizing patient management software, the student will collect and record patient oral health records using the process of care model in keeping with clinical protocols, regulatory and legislative requirements.
DENT-1061	Dental Radiography 1	2
This course provides a basic knowledge of radiation generation and factors influencing image formation. The student will become familiar with oral radiography equipment and the techniques for producing digital radiographic images of diagnostic quality. Quality assurance, health and safety and infection prevention and control measures will be introduced in accordance with current legislation, guidelines and standards.
DENT-1058	Head & Neck Anatomy	3
This course provides the student with foundational knowledge of the human dentition including tooth designation systems, tooth surfaces and tooth development. It explores anatomical landmarks of the head and neck, the nerve supply and vascular circulation of the head and neck, salivary structures and the anatomy of the tongue. Students are introduced to the etiology, clinical appearance, symptoms, treatment and prevention of common oral pathological conditions.
DENT-1059	Oral Disease Prevention & Treatment 1	2
This course introduces students to caries and periodontal disease processes. Through theoretical and case based learning opportunities, students will develop individualized approaches to patient education, preventive home care strategies and treatment recommendations that optimize oral health.