(AKA: caffeine, charts, and controlled chaos)
"I arrive early, because nothing says professional like showing up before your coffee kicks in. Uniform? Passable. Loupes? So clean you could use it to spot plaque on Mars. Documents? Ready and under my temporarily dry armpit.
I’m greeted by my fellow students, the only people who truly understand what it’s like to dream about perio charts and desmosomes. We celebrate each other’s small victories (“I didn’t drop the suction today! ”) and share our impending sense of doom over the upcoming board exams.
Downstairs in the clinic, the staff welcomes us with the patience of saints. Clinical instructors greet us with kind smiles, and that slightly suspicious look that says, “Did you REALLY run the lines today? ” My clinic instructor asks me, “How can I support you today?” To which I give my routine answer: “By pretending in front of my client/family-member that I know what I’m doing.”
With help from my classmates (because no one survives clinic alone), I set up my operatory like a well-oiled machine, (if that machine ran on nerves and hand sanitizer.) My client arrives, thankfully a sweet and patient soul who doesn’t mind that I’m learning and moving like a caffeinated robot trying to remember 100 things at once.
My instructor pops by with the perfect mix of encouragement and “Let’s fix that before you accidentally floss their tonsils.” It’s the kind of support that makes you feel like you might actually survive this semester. After the appointment, I disinfect like it’s an Olympic sport, finish my paperwork (every “t” crossed, every “i” dotted like a dental ninja), and help clean up other operatories. At SODC, no one stands alone.
Then it’s time for food, more coffee (obviously), and class. Lectures are packed with info, but our instructors keep things real with stories that make us laugh and horror tales that ensure we’ll never forget to retract a cheek properly again.
All in all, exhausting, rewarding, hilarious, and just a little bit chaotic. But I wouldn’t trade it for the world. On a scale of 1-10, I would give SODC a bunch."
"As a term 1 SODC hygiene student I look forward to clinic days. The hands-on aspect is the most exciting part for me. Arriving on campus, getting dressed in our scrubs and setting up our stations for skills practice and evaluation gets me revved up and ready to learn.
The instructors are all great! I appreciate the smaller groups so that there is opportunity for one-on-one instruction. They really take the time to ensure we understand and feel confident with our instrumentation.
I’ve learned so much not only from the instructors but from fellow classmates with different backgrounds and previous experiences in the field.
My time here so far has been great, and I look forward to what’s to come!"
"This is a blessing. I never expected my daily life would be like this before the course. Waking up at 5 a.m. every day, getting a nice shower, and finishing my breakfast, I’m now in front of a desk piled with papers and textbooks. I’m sure I’m not alone. After reviewing the lessons from the previous day, I clear my mind for additional storage space to accommodate another lecture starting at 8 a.m.
At noon, we have an hour for lunch. I'm glad I cooked it in the morning, so I’m not in a hurry before the lecture starts at 1 p.m. If there is a test in the afternoon, I cram for it after lunch. The lectures in the afternoon mostly finish around 4 p.m. At that time, I either head to the gym or the basketball court—I need that break.
Before I go to bed at 10 p.m., I study for the next test. Believe me, you study so much that you start to enjoy those tests. The more I learn, the closer I am to my goal of becoming a dental hygienist, and that motivates me. This new lifestyle has not only taught me professional knowledge but also revealed who I am and disciplined me to become a better person."
"My journey to becoming a dental hygienist started a long time ago during years of travelling and includes the special relationship I had formed with regular visits to my family dentist and the resident hygienist. As my life experience and maturity grew so did my interest in the health sciences and in particular dental hygiene. After researching available programs and a very good discussion with my hygienist (who is a former SODC graduate), it became apparent that SODC was the obvious choice. They had a reputation for excellence in learning, success of their students and professionalism at all levels at the school. The icing on the cake for me was after attending the twentieth anniversary party for SODC where I was warmly welcomed by the faculty and current students. This is where I wanted to start my journey to my dental hygiene career.
My classes commenced mid-February of 2025. That means I’m halfway through my first term and let me tell you…. time has flown by. Being in a fast-track program, we came out swinging with exams and assignments immediately. Thankfully, due to the skills of the teaching staff and encouragement offered at all levels, I feel challenged but comfortable and it has reminded of me of my ability to learn something I am not familiar with.
At SODC, we learn through a hybrid platform joining many of our classes online but attending the school for clinic and exams. At first, this scared me, but being online has been one of the most beneficial ways to learn from a time management perspective. I must admit that clinic days are my favourite but having the ability to access classes from my own home, allows me to juggle school and home priorities more cohesively. My classmates are from all different age groups and cultures so this may mean something different to each student. For me, a dog mom, and having a new house and family to take care of, allows me to be successful at school without having to sacrifice my home priorities.
SODC cares about my success and the teachers and staff members are helpful and always available in helping students overcome problems. I find the resources given to us well managed with great portals of communication to all. We have so far been involved in multiple presentations in the oral health care, getting us exposed to the industry we are about to enter. There is much more to come for me here, and I am excited to see what the future holds at SODC."
“When I got asked to write a day in the life as an SODC term 1 student, my first thought was “where do I begin”? Each weekday is quite different, with some busier than others, but with each day there is a new challenge or achievement that I have the privilege of experiencing. Some days I face the challenge of learning new things that makes my brain want to explode. Other days I am challenged with preclinic skills like scaling the distal of tooth 38. And sometimes… I just face the challenge of being tired. HOWEVER, each challenge has been followed by an achievement. I’ve successfully learned new material that I never thought I could. I can now (almost fully) scale the distal of 38 and lastly, I discovered that power naps are my super power. The balance of challenge & success in this program is what keeps us all going. It is just as rigorous as it is fulfilling (in my opinion). Although uncomfortable at times, this program fosters growth, resilience & success. And I wouldn’t want my days to be filled any other way.”
“Hi! I’m Wania — a SODC student and an immigrant to Canada.
This journey has been one of the most difficult and transformative experiences of my life. Just 12 days before starting the program, I lost my father. Starting something this demanding while going through the deepest grief I’ve ever felt was almost unbearable. I had so many moments — and breakdowns — where I questioned if I could keep going. But I knew my dad wanted this for me. He believed in me. And I knew he’d be proud to see me keep going, even when it hurt.
There were days when I felt completely defeated — mentally, emotionally, and physically. The workload, the pressure, the constant learning curve… it was a lot. I broke down more times than I can count. But through all of it, I kept pushing, because I felt like my dad was with me every step of the way, telling me not to give up.
Clinic days were a whole different kind of chaos — prepping, organizing, reviewing, trying to stay calm when everything felt overwhelming. But little by little, things started to click. I became more confident. I stopped second-guessing myself so much. I started believing that I could do this — not perfectly, but with purpose.
One thing that truly got me through was my classmates. The friendships I’ve made here are something I’ll carry with me forever. These are the people who saw me on my worst days and never let me fall behind. We helped each other through everything — late-night study sessions, early clinic mornings, emotional breakdowns, and all the moments in between. They became my chosen family, and I honestly don’t know how I would’ve made it without them.
Outside of school, my free time has mostly been spent recharging — watching shows, calling my family, or just catching my breath. When life feels heavy, even the smallest moments of rest can make a difference.
SODC’s hybrid format made it possible for me to balance school and personal life during a time when I truly needed that flexibility. Learning online and in-person allowed me to process my grief while still staying on track. It reminded me that healing and growth don’t always happen on a schedule — sometimes, they happen side by side.
This program challenged me in every way. But I came out of it stronger, more resilient, and more sure of myself. I know my father would be proud. And now, so am I.”
"As you read this post, my journey at SODC has officially ended—I’m a graduate now!" Such a happy and proud moment. After 22 months of hard work! A heartfelt thank you to my husband, all my friends, faculty, and staff.
I was struggling to find a career path in Canada, as my friends and family presented various non-dental suggestions. But deep down, I knew I couldn’t walk away from the field I was truly passionate about. So, I decided to become a dental hygienist - a path that would let me stay connected to dentistry. Next challenge was to find a reputable college. I got admission to various other colleges, but certain factors made me reconsider my decision. After I moved to Burlington, I heard about SODC. The more I learned, the more it felt like the perfect fit. And just like that, I began my journey with SODC.
Mark my words! You need good friends by your side to make all the difference in this course. Thankfully, I got a few amazing ones! Even though we had few in person sessions I was able to build strong connections with my peers. Late night study sessions, assignments, presentations, and countless group activities helped us bond together. They all brought a wealth of knowledge and were always supportive. Through the stress and the laughter, we built friendships that made this journey unforgettable.
Every day was filled with new learning opportunities. Not a single day in client care passed without gaining new insights. Our clinical instructors were always available, generously sharing their expertise and offering practical tips and tricks that made a real impact.
Hybrid learning was the key highlight. As a mom of two, it helped me and my husband to create a schedule that fit our family's needs. The Nearpod lessons were extremely beneficial in helping us stay focused during online classes, while In-person classes provided valuable clinical and hands-on experience. Maintaining home and work life balance was quite challenging for me. The online classes and clinicals, running from 8 to 5, were exhausting. It wasn’t until I learned the power of time-boxing that I began to manage my responsibilities more effectively.
Kind advice to my fellow dentists who are considering pursuing dental hygiene- let me share a little piece of advice... While my background in dentistry certainly helped in understanding the theory and foundational courses, I quickly realised that dental hygiene is a distinctive field of its own.
Yes, you heard it right!
When it comes to the process of care, especially writing treatment plans and working with clients, be prepared to shift your perspective. It’s a different approach, and adapting to it is key. I still remember my term 1 pre-clinicals like it was yesterday. I was learning the instrumentation skills starting from scratch along with my classmates regardless of our background.
Come in with an open mind. Be flexible. Embrace the learning curve. Your previous experience will support you, but it’s your willingness to adapt that will truly help you succeed.
Special shoutout to all the amazing staff and faculty who work tirelessly to keep the program running smoothly! Your dedication, support, and behind-the-scenes efforts never went unnoticed. Grateful for everything you do!”
"When I picture myself as a student, my brain goes straight to Don Carlton from Monsters University. Academic ambition + dad vibes = me.
Balancing parent life with school? Let’s just say creativity is a survival skill. Example: while working on my policy review assignment, I casually handed my daughter a picture of a tongue so she could sculpt one out of Play-Doh for my typodont. Now that is true family commitment.
Being a student also means frequent episodes of zoning out. The never-ending parade of assignment deadlines and engagement activities keeps marching through my brain.
And in clinic, time management is king. I have developed the odd superpower of pulling exactly seven barriers off the blue tape roll in one motion. This is precision at its finest.
Not to mention the raised eyebrow when the male hygienist walks into the Victoria Room to call a client, because being a guy in a profession where women are the overwhelming majority feels a lot like being a highlighted sentence in the Darby & Walsh textbook, impossible not to miss.
Overall, being a male and mature student has been a constant exercise in breaking paradigms. It’s a shout-out to all the Don Carltons out there who enjoy being part of a profession that, in so many ways, impacts people’s lives.
P.S. I never imagined how much value a single green pen could have in the daily survival kit of a dental hygiene student at SODC."
"As an almost graduated Dental Assisting student at Southern Ontario Dental College, my experience has been both challenging and incredibly rewarding. From waking up at 4 a.m. to study for a test, I was determined to ace, to stepping into clinic and working on each other and truly experiencing what it means to be a DA, every moment has pushed me to grow. The instructors were amazing, always guiding us with patience and helping us build confidence in our skills.
The support from my classmates and the warmth of the staff truly made the school feel like home. It’s bittersweet to see this chapter come to an end, but I’m so excited to see where the future takes all of us. I’ve learned so much in just 10 months, and I’m forever grateful for the experience. It’s been an unforgettable journey, and I can’t wait to continue being part of the SODC community in the future."