Program Courses

• Career & Employment Strategies [CES4]

  • This course looks at the planning, preparation, execution, and follow-up stages of an interview: how people find jobs; employer expectations; presenting an enthusiastic attitude; focusing on the right job; transferable skills; the job interview; effective resume preparation; cover and thank you letters; effective telemarketing; tapping the hidden job market; handling objections; job search management; self-confidence and self-esteem building; mock interviews (video-taped); and individual counselling and coaching.

• Dental Radiography Practical [RD200]

  • This course prepares the students to take and process intra-oral and extra-oral dental radiographs according to Safety Code 30 standards. The students are introduced to basic physics and principles of radiography, safety precautions and the operation of the dental x-ray unit. Students will expose dental radiographs using bisecting angle and paralleling techniques. Instruction will be provided on recognizing dental radiographic errors and solving problems, patient education and management. The purpose of this course is to help the student develop an understanding of the basic principles of clinical dental radiography. Current radiographic techniques will be covered with the emphasis being on safe and effective use of x-rays in the dental practice. This course includes the technical and theoretical aspects of radiography, preliminary interpretation of radiographs, as well as the hazards and safety of radiation and the emphasis is placed on safe and effective use of x-rays in dental practice, application of this knowledge to the practice of dental assisting through the use of case studies and practical applications of x-rays. Throughout the course and program, learning activities are provided to integrate theoretical information and clinical practice. Upon completion, the student gains insight into radiography and integrates this knowledge with other dental topics.

• Dental Radiography Theory [RD100]

  • This course prepares students to take and process intra-oral and extra-oral dental radiographs according to Safety Code 30 standards. The students are introduced to the basic physics and principles of radiography; safety precautions and operation of a dental x-ray unit. Instruction is provided on exposing dental radiographs using paralleling and bisecting angle techniques, recognizing radiographic errors and solving problems, and client education/management. This course covers the theoretical aspects of radiography, preliminary interpretations of radiographs, and the hazards and safety involving radiation. Emphasis is placed on the safe and effective use of x-rays in the dental practice. Subject matter includes: The basic principles of radiation, Dental x-ray machines, The ALARA concept, Generation of an x-ray, Biological effects of ionizing radiation, Provincial and federal guidelines, and Quality assurance

• Chairside Assisting Clinical Practice [DCA160]

  • This course provides the clinical and practical applications to the chairside dental assisting practice. Students practice and apply the skills acquired from the theoretical component courses. Students are expected to demonstrate mastery of the core competencies associated with the didactic courses. Students are assessed on their practical clinical and laboratory skills. Infection Control and Safety practices Safe handling of dental materials and equipment Dental Laboratory Practices

• Charting and Records Management [DCA150]

  • Students begin this course with an introduction to ethics and protecting the privacy of dental clients. This course provides students with the knowledge and skills to maintain patient records. Topics will include patient registration, health history forms, records retention and records transfer. Students will learn symbols and abbreviations used in clinical charts and practise entering existing conditions and recording treatment procedures on a clinical chart.

• Foundation of Dental Assisting [DCA140]

  • Assisting with restorative procedures require smooth interaction between the dentist provider and the chairside assistant, who must be familiar a wide variety of instruments, materials and their uses, and be able to anticipate what the dentist will require for each step in the procedure. This course will provide the student with the basic knowledge on the elements of selected restorative procedures, which include armamentarium and their uses, as well as develop the skills required to be an efficient chairside dental assistant, with emphasis on the dental assistant's role in restorative procedures. The course will also cover identifying challenges, assessing needs and modifying treatment to accommodate medically and physically compromised patients.

• Dental Infection Control and Safety [DCA130]

  • This module will provide students with knowledge of the practices for infection control in dentistry. This course will cover terminology as it relates to the study of disease transmission and infection control and safety, chain of infection, methods of prevention and control of transmission of microorganisms, principles and techniques of disinfection and sterilization and processing of dental instruments, safety and workplace management of hazardous wastes. Emphasis on how to adapt federal, provincial and CDI clinic infection control and safety guidelines and recommendations will also be discussed. The course will also provide didactic background as pre-requisite knowledge for Dental Radiography building on the principles of infection control and safety. Students will also complete the WHMIS module as part of this course.

• Dental Emergency Procedures [DCA120]

  • This course provides students with the knowledge and skills that are required to recognize and prevent medical and dental emergencies within the dental office. It will prepare students to assist the dentist in administering immediate care for the patient in the dental office environment. Students also participate in CPR/First Aid training. Lectures and reading assignments will provide a basic understanding of medical emergencies and the role of the dental assistant in assisting with the administration of care used in the dental office. This information permits the student to interpret and relay information and to communicate on the dentist, and emergency workers.

• Dental Sciences Foundations [DCA100]

  • In this course, students will explore medical-dental language and dental terminology while learning the oral structures and facial anatomy, the general anatomy of the tooth and the eruption schedules for both primary and permanent dentition and tooth numbering systems. The course will also cover the introductory knowledge as a pre-requisite to the Dental Radiography course. The course will also provide a basic understanding of dental specialties and their unique requirements within the dental practice. This information permits the student to understand the importance and unique requirements of dental knowledge and equipment used in the specialty practices.

• Health Care Communication & Interpersonal Skills [MAA110]

  • This course is specially designed for the new healthcare professional. In any business or interpersonal contact, an impression of a person forms in the first 10 to 15 seconds, so it is crucial to the success of that relationship. The importance of the ‘customer’ and of customer relations, to business success is examined in this course, including through case studies and role playing. Students learn relevant techniques in human behaviour and how they may be applied to improve customer (patient) relations in the medical office. Learning basic communication skills, especially related to the medical field, will assist the student in dealing with all kinds of patients. Understanding cultural differences and appreciating diversity will add another dimension in how to deal with patients and provide safer healthcare delivery in the medical office.

• Introduction to Computers [ITC4]

  • This course is a broad-based introduction to using a personal computer. It teaches the fundamentals of an operating system and the most popular application software including word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations. You will also learn about the Internet, Web browsers, electronic mail and antivirus software. The course is based on the Windows 7 operating system, Microsoft office 2013 and a variety of popular software programs for the Internet-related and security-related applications