Browse our most frequently asked questions below.
If an answer to your question is not available, please contact us directly.
The Dental Hygiene Program
Is the school a registered private career college?
Yes, The Southern Ontario Dental College is a registered private career college with the Ontario Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development (previously known as Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities).
What are the employment prospects for a recently graduated dental hygienist?
A study performed by the Canadian Dental Hygiene Association in 2023 claims the unemployment rate among respondents is 1%, which is well below the national unemployment rate of 5.2% calculated in May 2023. The Dental Hygienists in Ontario hold an average hourly wage of approximately $49.69 or more with 5+ years of experience. The pay for 60% of dental hygiene jobs has increased by an average of 6% over the past 12 months
Dental Hygienists in Ontario also enjoy the flexibility of part-time employment and the opportunities of working in a variety of professional settings.
What is a dental hygienist?
A Dental Hygienist is a registered oral healthcare professional who performs a variety of roles including clinical therapy, health promotion, education, administration, and research in a variety of Dental practice environments. In all roles and environments, the Dental Hygienist works with the client and other healthcare professionals.
Using a problem-solving framework, they base all decisions, judgments, and interventions on current dental hygiene research and theory. As a member of a self-regulating profession, a Dental Hygienist must practice safely, ethically, and effectively for the promotion of the oral health and well-being of the public. In Ontario, the regulatory body responsible for dental hygiene is the College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario (CDHO).
What is the accreditation status of the SODC Dental Hygiene Program?
The Southern Ontario Dental College is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC). After graduation and upon successful completion of the National Dental Hygiene Certification Board (NDHCB) examination, SODC graduates are eligible for registration/licensure with the regulatory body for the province, College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario (CDHO).
What is the difference between an accredited and non-accredited school?
Graduates from non-accredited schools are required to participate in the CDHO Clinical Examination, where graduates from accredited schools are not required to participate in the CDHO Clinical Examinations. In other words, Graduates from non-accredited schools are required to write the NDHCB Exam along with the Clinical Exam whereas graduates from Accredited schools are only required to write the NDHCB Exams.
The Dental Assisting Program
What is a Dental Assistant?
Dental Assistants assist Dentists, Dental Hygienists and Dental Therapists during the examination and treatment of patients and perform clerical functions. Dental laboratory assistants assist dental technologists and technicians in preparing and fabricating dentures and other dental devices. Dental Assistants work in dentists’ offices, community health centres, clinics and in educational institutions. Dental laboratory assistants are employed in dental laboratories.
What are the employment prospects for a recently graduated dental Assistants?
The employment outlook will be good for Dental Assistants and Dental laboratory Assistants (NOC 33100) in Ontario for the 2023-2025 period. This is a very high-in-demand career across all of Canada.
The Dental Assistants in Ontario hold an hourly wage of approximately $20.00- $30.00.
Are there specific courses that I have to take in High School?
No specific courses are required, just an official transcript showing 30 credits or official diploma for proof of graduation.
Is there a co-op placement?
Yes, there is a 2-week co-op placement towards the end of Term 2.
Admissions
How do I apply to either The Dental Hygiene Program or the Dental Assistant level I & II program?
Submit a completed application form in hard copy to the College accompanied by your transcripts, two letters of recommendation and an essay describing why you would like to become a Dental Hygienist or Dental Assistant.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our Admission Office at admin@sodentalcollege.com at 905-304-4706 or 1-866-979-6334, and she will be happy to help you with the process.
When is the deadline for submitting an application for admission?
SODC has a limited number of available spaces because we pride ourselves in maintaining an effective Teacher – Student ratio. This provides greater support and one on one learning. There is no set deadline, however, classes fill up quickly, it is best to apply promptly.
Scheduling
What is the structure of the Dental Hygiene program?
The SODC dental hygiene program is similar in structure to comparable programs in Canadian universities and colleges. It is 22 months in duration, and divided into 4 consecutive terms. Each term consists of 20 weeks with a break of 1-2 weeks between terms. There are various individual courses per term, most of which include final examinations as part of the assessment. Each term includes both clinical and theory-based courses, and students begin acquiring clinical skills during the first week of classes.
During Term 1 and 2, students will be in class from Monday through Friday, with the earliest start time at 8:00 a.m. and the latest end time at 6:00 p.m. During Term 3 and 4, students will be in clinic for a half day on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in either the morning or afternoon. Tuesdays and Thursdays are lecture days which start at 8:00 a.m. and end at 6:00 p.m. at the latest. Detailed schedules are provided to students closer to the start date of each term based on instructor, course, and facility availability.
Lifestyle
Where can I find more information regarding the dental hygiene profession?
The Canadian Dental Association: www.cda-adc.ca
The Canadian Dental Hygienists Association: www.cdha.ca
The College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario: www.cdho.org
The Ontario Dental Hygienists’ Association: www.odha.on.ca
Dental Hygiene Educators Canada: www.dhec.ca
The National Dental Hygiene Certification Board: www.ndhcb.ca
Where can I get more information about living and studying in the Hamilton/Ancaster area?
GO Transit: www.gotransit.com
Hamilton Street Railway: www.city.hamilton.on.ca/Living-Here/Transit/default.asp
City of Hamilton: www.city.hamilton.on.ca
Continuing Education
All courses are fully refundable 48 hours prior to the course date. A participant must submit written notification to withdraw from a course. No refunds will be issued to individuals who do not attend a course without providing required notice.
Notification of cancellation under 48 hours prior to the course date will result in participant being placed in the next session for the same course only.
SODC reserves the right to cancel any course 72 hours prior to the course date.
SODC will provide a refund in the event that a course is cancelled with 72 hours notice or due to severe weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstances. Participants will be contacted via email or telephone should a cancellation occur.
Key Performance Indicators
What are KPIs?
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are the critical (key) indicators of progress toward an intended result that provides a focus for strategic and operational improvement, creating an analytical basis for decision making and help focus attention on what matters most. Click here for our KPIs.