Dental Hygiene Program

Take a look at what our Dental Hygiene program has to offer.

Click on the tabs to view the courses and their descriptions.

BehSc 101 Psychology (1):

This course will introduce the dental hygiene student to a number of theories about human behaviour, needs and communication with a focus on how this knowledge can be applied to dental hygiene practice.

BehSc 102 Sociology (1):

This course will assist the dental hygiene student in understanding foundational concepts in Sociology. It will prepare them to consider how sociology impacts health care and how health care impacts society.

BehSc 103 Communications (1):

This course will provide the dental hygiene student the opportunity to develop, support, and expand on professional communication skills.  The review of structure, tone and mechanics will enhance the clarity and quality of the student’s communication.  The student will develop effective writing skills, and verbal and non-verbal communication skills using common language and dental terminology. The student will also explore applications of technology as forms of communication, including emerging technology tools such as social media in the practice of dental hygiene.

BehSc 201 Foundations of Ethics & Jurisprudence (1.5):

This course lays the foundation for the dental hygiene student to understand the implications and responsibilities of becoming a regulated health care professional.

BehSc 202 Educational Theories & Health Promotion (1):

This course will assist the dental hygiene student to acquire the knowledge and skills to initiate behaviour change and support individuals and communities in the behaviour change process. Evidence-based literature in education, health psychology, prevention, health promotion and oral epidemiology will be applied to oral health issues. Students will gain experience applying behaviour change theories to support the reduction of health risk behaviours.

BehSc 301 Science of Special Needs Clients (1):

This course is designed to familiarize the dental hygiene student with conditions that would contribute to a client being classified as having diverse needs, and how these diverse needs affect all aspects the dental hygiene process of care.

BehSc 302 Research & Statistics (1.5)

Knowledge of research and statistics is an essential skill to inform the evidence based dental hygiene practice. The sources and characteristics of evidence and the basics of statistical analysis will be examined to assist the students in all levels of education and practice.

BehSc 303 Community Program Planning (1.5):

This course provides the dental hygiene student with the foundational knowledge that will assist them in the promotion of oral health and prevent oral diseases through community-based programs. It provides the dental hygiene student with an understanding of the health care system, and the social, political and economic forces influencing the system.

BehSc 304 Inter-professionalism (0.5):

This course will provide the opportunity for the dental hygiene student to examine the principles behind collaborative health care, and to interact collaboratively with regulated health care practitioners and health care providers in diverse health care settings.

BehSc 401 Business & Practice Management (1.5):

This course will provide the dental hygiene student with business and practice management skills. Emphasis will be placed on the multi-disciplinary roles of the dental hygienist within a dental or dental hygiene-oriented office setting such as business plans and career management strategies.

BehSc 408 Advocacy, Policy and Politics (0.5):

This course will introduce the dental hygiene student to various components of health and dental health care delivery in Canada. It also examines the human resources, legal and ethical aspects of health care and dental health care in Canada.

BioSc 104 Anatomy and Physiology (2):

This course will provide learners with the scientific basis for understanding the human organism as a functioning unit. Emphasis will be placed on the relationship between systems of the body and oral health as learners gain the foundation knowledge about the human body.

BioSc 105 Microbiology and Immunology (1.5):

This course will assist learners to gain knowledge regarding the fundamental principles of the genetics, growth, metabolism, and death of microbes. The medical and dental aspects of host-parasite relationships, immunologic phenomena, and the biologic and clinical manifestations induced by major pathogens will be a major focus of this course. Particular emphasis will be placed on those organisms having an impact on oral health.

BioSc 203 Human Pathophysiology (1.5):

This course will provide the dental hygiene student with the scientific basis for understanding the human organism as a functioning unit.  Emphasis will be placed on the relationship between disorders of the systems of the body and their effect of these disorders on the dental hygiene process of care (ADPIE).

BioSc 204 Pharmacology (1.5):

This course will assist learners in gaining an understanding of the principles of pharmacology that apply to drugs used in general medical practice. Special emphasis will be given to therapeutic agents that have implications for oral health care.

BioSc 305 Science of Nutrition (1):

This course will provide dental hygiene students with foundational knowledge of nutrition as it applies to dental hygiene, including nutrients for growth, development of oral structures, diet and its’ implications for dental caries, caries risk management by assessment (CAMBRA), nutrition and periodontal diseases, and dietary counselling. The course also introduces the dental hygiene student to the nutritional recommendations of Canada’s Food Guide, nutritional implications of common illnesses and chronic conditions, as well as nutritional misinformation and food faddism.

DH 110 Dental Hygiene Process of Care (1):

The Dental Hygiene Process of Care is the basis for dental hygiene practice.  This course will serve as an introduction to the history, components, application and implications of using the Dental Hygiene Process of Care for client care.

DH 111 Foundations of Clinical Dental Hygiene (2):

This course is designed to provide learners with the conceptual framework for dental hygiene practice, as well as the fine psychomotor skills to support dental hygiene services.

DH 112 Clinical Prep (4.5):

This course will introduce the dental hygiene student to practical components of the Dental Hygiene Process of Care such as vitals, medical history, infection control, reprocessing and instrumentation that support Dental Hygiene practice.

DH 211 Clinical Preparation II (6):

This course will provide learners with opportunities to practice, expand upon, and refine their abilities in the dental hygiene process of care with a focus on all aspects of ADPIE.

DH 307 Pain & Anxiety Management (0.5):

This course will provide the dental hygiene student with the scientific basis for understanding the management of pain and anxiety in the dental hygiene setting.

DH 308 Medical Emergencies (1):

This course will provide the dental hygiene student with the necessary knowledge required to prevent and manage a medical emergency in a dental setting.

DH 309 Clinical Client Care I (6.5):

This course will provide the dental hygiene student with opportunities to expand and refine their abilities in the dental hygiene process of care in the clinical setting. The foundational knowledge gained in supporting courses will be integrated into the care provided in clinical practice.  This course will also provide opportunities for rotations into dental practices.

DH 403 Professional Jurisprudence (1):

This course focuses on the entry to practice for newly graduated dental hygienists.  The course will explore the opportunities for employment which reflect the diverse skills of dental hygienists as well as the concrete issues of becoming registered.

DH 404 Health Informatics & Emerging Trends (0.5):

This course will provide the dental hygiene student the opportunity to gain foundational knowledge regarding the effects of emerging technology on healthcare.  The dental hygiene student will consider emergent technology in relation to the dental hygiene process of care, focusing on privacy and health privacy regulations.

DH 405 Orthodontics (1):

This course will provide the dental hygiene student with the fundamentals in the study of orthodontics.  Dental hygiene students will receive both didactic instruction and be given the opportunity to experience the hands-on practical application of skills.

DH 406 Community Practice (1):

This course will allow the dental hygiene student to apply their knowledge of theoretical underpinnings of community practice in a live project. This course will provide learners the opportunity to integrate the ADPIE process into community practice.

DH 407 Inter-professional Practice (0.5):

Dental hygiene students will work with students from other programs and/or practitioners from different health professions. They will apply the theoretical learning/teaching assignment from the previous term’s BehSc 304 Interprofessional Education to a real-world application in order to promote health and education for students, practitioners and clients and bring about praxis.

DH 409 Evidence Based Practice (0.5):

The evidence-based practice course will provide the dental hygiene student the opportunity to learn the Evidence Based Decision Making Process. The dental hygiene student will use specific skills for interpreting scientific evidence in conjunction with their experience and judgment, the client’s preferences and values along with the specific clinical circumstances in order to make sound practice decisions.

DH 410 Clinical Client Care (7):

This course will provide the dental hygiene student with continued opportunities to integrate the ADPIE process into clinical dental hygiene services using the best available evidence upon which to base decisions and actions.

OHS 106 Oral Anatomy and Physiology (2.5):

This course will assist learners in gaining foundation knowledge regarding the anatomy and physiology of the head and neck region. It will also include a focus on the principles of occlusion, and the structure and function of the deciduous and permanent dentition.

OHS 107 Oral Histology and Embryology (1.5):

This course is designed to provide learners with the foundation knowledge regarding the microscopic structure of oral and dental tissues. It will enable learners to relate embryonic development to the normal and abnormal structures of the head and oral cavity.

OHS 108 Oral Disease Prevention (1.5):

This course introduces the dental hygiene student to the concepts of preventing oral disease through therapeutic and educational interventions. It also provides the dental hygiene student with the foundation to provide appropriate oral disease prevention information in a variety of settings with the focus on individualized programs presented within the framework of the dental hygiene process of care.

OHS 109 Oral Microbiology (0.5):

This course will introduce the dental hygiene student to microbes, and assist the learner gaining knowledge of the complex relationship between microbes and their host and the role of microbes in health and disease.

OHS 205 Foundations of Periodontology(2):

This course is designed to assist the dental hygiene student to acquire foundational knowledge regarding principles of periodontology ranging from microscopic details to clinical signs and systems using evidence-based decision making.

OHS 206 Oral Pathology (2.5):

This course is designed to assist learners to gain foundation knowledge regarding principles of pathology ranging from microscopic details to clinical signs and symptoms. Attention will be directed to systemic and oral pathologies, but the emphasis will be placed on oral pathologies including periodontal pathologies.

OHS 207 Foundations of Radiology (1.5):

This course is designed to provide learners with an understanding of the fundamental scientific principles upon which oral radiography is based. They will develop the ability to produce diagnostically valuable radiographs while minimizing client and operator exposure.

OHS 208 Principles of Dental Biomaterials (1):

This course will provide the dental hygiene student with the foundational knowledge related to dental biomaterials with an emphasis on their composition, properties and application. It will include an analysis of the effects of materials on the oral environment, and the effectiveness of specific materials on the prevention and treatment of oral disease.

OHS 209 Radiology Practical (1):

This course is designed to provide the dental hygiene student with the foundational knowledge to meet the requirements of the Healing Arts Radiation Protection Act (H.A.R.P.).  Learners will develop the ability to produce diagnostically valuable radiographs while minimizing client and operator exposure.

OHS 210 Dental Biomaterials Practical (1):

The dental hygiene student will have an opportunity to develop essential skills based on their knowledge of dental biomaterials theories in a laboratory and clinical environment.

OHS 306 Dental Specialties (1):

This course will provide the dental hygiene student with basic information about each of the dental specialties (excluding periodontics and orthodontics), and dental hygiene specialities.  The dental hygiene student will gain foundational knowledge regarding the referral process, need for treatment, basic techniques and materials required for each speciality and clinical and radiographic processes with special focus on the impact on the dental hygiene process of care.

OHS 402 Advanced Periodontology (1):

This course is designed to assist the dental hygiene student to gain advanced knowledge and skills regarding principles of surgical and non-surgical interventions of the periodontal client. Attention will be directed to evidence-based approach to surgical and non-surgical periodontal therapy, emergencies and advances in client management.