Program Overview
Graduates of Sprott Shaw’s fully accredited Dental Assistant program will have specialized knowledge, critical thinking and decision-making skills and will have developed and mastered all the technical, professional and interpersonal skills needed to perform within their clinical and administrative scope of practice. Working as part of a dental team students will learn how to assist with dental procedures, provide quality oral care, maintain equipment and supplies manage patient records and ensure that clinical and office procedures run efficiently and effectively.
This program has been designed to meet the regulations governing licensed dental assisting practices as defined by the British Columbia College of Oral Health Professionals (BCCOHP). Upon completion of the program, graduates will be eligible to write the National Dental Assisting Board examination.
Program graduates will be able to work in general and specialty dental practices, hospital dental clinics, community health agencies and educational institutions.
Career Opportunities
- Dental Assistant
Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to:
- Support a dental practice by providing a variety of supportive and direct patient care dental procedures
- Understand and work within the bylaws associated with provincial regulations
- Prepare and support patients for treatment by practicing universal precautions and infection control, organizing armamentarium, attending to patients’ comfort and collecting and updating health histories
- Assist with preventive, restorative, dental specialties and intraoral procedures
- Provide oral self-care, disease prevention, post-operative care, nutritional counselling and health education to patients and constituent groups
- Work collaboratively as part of a team to provide quality oral care for dental patients
- Perform routine maintenance of instruments and equipment so that patient care is delivered safely and effectively
- Perform fundamental practice management procedures including inventory control of dental supplies, patient bookings, and payment collection
Methods of Evaluation
Methods of evaluation vary amongst the courses in the program. Please see the individual course outlines on how students are evaluated for each course.
Why Study at Sprott Shaw?
- The Lower Mainland’s Best Dental Clinic for students was opened in 2020, designed from the ground up to provide the best place to learn the skills required to become a Dental Assistant using the same modern equipment and procedures you’ll find in dental labs across the province.
- Our Dental Assistant program is short but intensive and we are proud of our low attrition and high graduation rates
- Industry connections you won’t get anywhere else thanks to our Instructors being actively practicing in the field today. The dental industry is a tight-knit community that we’re proud to be a part of!
- Lifetime access to dedicated Employment Services Specialists (ESS) who can help you with resume and cover letter writing, interview skills, and the overall job search after graduation
- Lifetime tuition-free access to course refreshers if you ever need to retrain and update your skills
- Practicum opportunities with recognized organizations across BC
- Certificates including Standard First Aid Level C
- Multiple start dates so you can start your education when you want to without the wait
- Career and professional development success courses to help create a career development marketing plan, learn the cardinal rules of professionalism, and identify the target markets and employment resources in the counselling field
- Preparation and orientation courses to teach you how to find credible research, write papers, create proper citation formats including APA, and study effectively for exams
- All-inclusive program costs where what you see is what you pay. Our costs include registration fees, assessment fees, tuition, textbooks, supplies, course materials, uniforms, certificates, graduation fees, practicum fees, and much more
- Grant and scholarship opportunities are available to help you save on tuition. Up to $4000 in scholarships and grants are open to recent high school graduates, Sprott Shaw alumni, military veterans, and more! Click here to browse our full list of grants and scholarships.
Where Are Sprott Shaw Graduates Working?
Our Health Care, Nursing and Dental graduates can be found working throughout the province. In addition to health authorities across BC, our Practical Nursing and Health Care Assistant graduates are working at recognized hospitals like Vancouver General Hospital, Surrey Memorial Hospital, Chilliwack General Hospital, Kelowna General Hospital, Victoria General Hospital, and more.
Our Dental Assistant graduates can be found working at a variety of dental clinics throughout the province such as Family Care Dental Clinic, Heavenly Dental, NOVO Dental Centre, and more. Our Pharmacy Assistants can be found working in Walmart Pharmacies, Rexall Pharmacies, and numerous other independent pharmacies throughout BC.
Click below to learn more about where our graduates are currently working. Please note that these lists do not cover every single business that has hired a Sprott Shaw graduate, but they do provide a good representation of the sort of industries that Sprott Shaw graduates are working in
Program Details
Admission Requirements:
Applicants must meet all of the pre-requisites listed below, meet their financial obligations to the college at registration, and acknowledge their understanding of SSC’s policies and procedures provided in the Student Handbook, before starting classes.
Note: Students are provided with a detailed list of books, e-resources, workshop/lab supplies, and lab/tool kits that are included in the program’s fees and will have the opportunity to opt-in or out of purchasing from Sprott Shaw College or any other specific source any of these items at the time of registration.
ADMISSION INTERVIEW(S)
• Complete interview with Coordinator/Director
EDUCATION LEVEL (one of the following)
• Grade 12 or equivalent (GED, Adult Basic Education) with evidence of a “true certified copy” or original transcript
• Mature student status (age 19 and one year out of high school)
LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY POLICY
All programs at Sprott Shaw College (SSC) are conducted in English, making proficiency in the English language a requirement for enrollment.
The required proficiency can be demonstrated through:
1) Completion of secondary or post-secondary education where English is the language of instruction and is also one of the country’s official languages; or
2) An approved English Language Assessment; or
3) For mature (≥ 19 years) students who are facing barriers and cannot access their educational records or provide sufficient evidence of secondary or post-secondary education.
SSC programs that have a higher English language level, require additional years of secondary or post-secondary education where English is the language of instruction, or where language proficiency is to be otherwise demonstrated, are identified within the relevant program outlines.
For all other SSC programs, English language proficiency is demonstrated by:
1. EDUCATION
a) Secondary Education
Evidence of Successful Full-time Secondary Education Completion*, where English is one of the principal languages of instruction:
i) Showing two (2) years, if all Grades successfully completed are 10, 11, or 12; or
ii) Showing three (3) years if the successful Grades are 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12; or
iii) Showing validation of both language of instruction and credential level is provided by WES, ICES or IQAS.
OR
b) Post-Secondary Education
Evidence of 2 years of full-time Post-Secondary Education Completion*, where English is one of the principal languages of instruction. Language development courses (i.e. ELL courses) cannot be included in this calculation.
* This may be demonstrated by providing a high school transcript, completion of a BC Adult Graduation program or providing validation of both language of instruction and credential level is provided by WES, ICES or IQAS.
Countries where English is the language of instruction:
American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guam, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malta, Mauritius, Montserrat, New Zealand, Nigeria, Saint Helena, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Tanzania, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, United States Virgin Islands, Zambia, & Zimbabwe.
OR
2. ASSESSMENT
By achieving a recognized standardized language test/assessment. Approved English language assessment options:
• IELTS. International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic: Minimum overall score of 5.5.
• TOEFL. Test of English as a Foreign Language IBT: Minimum overall score of 46.
• CAEL. Canadian Academic English Language Assessment: Minimum overall score of 40.
• CELPIP (General). Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program: Listening 6, Speaking 6, Reading 5 and Writing 5.
• DET. Duolingo English Test: Minimum overall score of 95.
• PTE. Pearson Test of English Academic: Minimum overall score of 43.
• Cambridge English Qualifications: Minimum overall score of 160 or “C”.
• Cambridge Linguaskill: Minimum overall B2 level.
• LANGUAGECERT Academic: Minimum overall B2 level.
• MET. The Michigan English Test: Minimum overall B2 level.
• iTEP Academic: Minimum overall score of 3.5.
• EIKEN: Minimum placement of Grade Pre-1.
OR
3. ACCUPLACER
For mature (≥ 19 years) students who are facing barriers and cannot access their educational records or provide sufficient evidence of secondary or post-secondary education.
Applicant must be 19 years or older at the start of the program and a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, and provides attestation that they have completed at least three years of full-time of secondary or post-secondary instruction in English in a country where the English is one of the principal languages (please refer to Countries where English is the language of instruction).
Accuplacer English Assessment (Next Generation) and achieves the following minimum scores required:
• Reading: 230
• Writing: 230
• WritePlacer: 4
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
• Completed SSC Health Declaration form (or Physician’s Waiver)
• Criminal Record Check from the Criminal Records Review Program including clearance to work with vulnerable adults
• Provide evidence of a negative TB result prior to acceptance (must be done no more than three months before program start date)
Diploma Requirements
70% average upon successful completion of all courses, including courses given a complete.
Students can expect a minimum of one to three hours per day to complete homework and outstanding projects and assignments.
Contact Us Today!
Our advisors are happy to answer any questions.
Courses List
This 45 week Diploma program requires the student to complete the following courses.- This course provides an overview and introduction to the elements of the program, including the role of lectures, labs, and practicums, fundamental dental assisting skill sets, instrumentation, and armamentaria, dental office workflow, clinic safety, and quality control policy, procedures, and practices.
- This course is designed to provide students with an opportunity to consider their profession.
- This includes scope of practice (legal and regulatory framework), ethical responsibilities, accountabilities, and practice of dental assisting by exploring the role of the dental assistant as part of a dental team cope of practice (legal and regulatory framework), ethical responsibilities, accountabilities, and practice of dental assisting by exploring the role of the dental assistant as part of a dental team.
- This course will introduce students to the regulated standards for the recognition, control, handling, storage, disposal of controlled hazardous materials and occupational health and safety in the workplace.
- This course prepares students to provide first aid procedures (Basic Life Support with CPR-C), in a safe, timely, and effective manner.
- Provide students with the requisite knowledge to recognize, prevent, and assist in medical and dental emergencies.
- This course provides a brief survey of the human skeletal structure, the structure and function and anatomy of the respiratory, digestive, nervous, endocrine, and sensory systems and the medical terminology associated with each.
- Building on this knowledge, students will then examine in detail the structure and anatomical features, function, physiology, dental orphology, and development of the facial complex and neck and oral cavity.
- This course will provide students with a fundamental understanding of diseases of the oral cavity through a person’s life their clinical manifestation.
- The knowledge and skills necessary to detect and differentiate oral tissue anatomy deviations from the norm.
- The patient file should be a highly accurate, legal, and compliant record of clinical, diagnostic, treatment, and outcome histories.
- In this course students will learn how to obtain and/or review and update medical and dental patient histories so that this information will assist with evaluation, treatment planning, and subsequent care.
- This course is designed to introduce students to the preparation and application of dental materials in restorative and aesthetic procedures.
- Students will learn the clinical uses and the chemical, physical, mechanical and surface properties, handling characteristics, bioactivity, and biocompatibility of a wide variety of purpose specific dental materials.
- The utilization of dental materials, mixing techniques, and safety protocol will be examined in the fabrication of mouth guards, diagnostic casts, study models and custom trays.
- This course explores the principles of effective oral health care and practices including injury prevention, control of disease, and the role of proper nutrition.
- Students will be introduced to the knowledge necessary to perform direct client care, manage clients with special needs, and to methods of assessing, implementing, and evaluating individualized oral hygiene.
- Importance will be placed on the ability to develop individual or group oral dental health education.
- On occasion, general dental practitioners encounter circumstances that require them to refer patients to dental specialists.
- Students will learn to assist with a variety of procedures performed in specialized dentistry such as endodontics, oral surgery, orthodontics, prosthodontics, periodontics, and pedodontics.
- Effective and efficient administrative office procedures are essential to the success of any organization. In this course students will be introduced to the fundamental principles and workflow of a professionally organized and managed dental office.
- Focus will be on dental reception skills and will include the organization and management of patient records, appointment scheduling, dental claims, financial procedures, inventory control and the utilization of dental management software.
- (co requisite)
- Infection-control procedures are designed to prevent the
spread of disease. This course introduces students to the
fundamentals of microbiology as applied to dental clinic
settings - Emphasizing the importance of understanding of the
principles of infection control, transmission routes,
prevention of disease transmission, disinfection/sterilization
procedures, aseptic techniques, and PPE. - The role and responsibility of the chairside dental assistant
for infection control in the dental care setting will be
reinforced
- This course introduces students to the principles of dental pharmacology, terminology, and the classification of drugs as they apply in a dental context.
- Medical conditions and the use of various pharmaceuticals, their physiological actions and negative reactions, and their relationship to dental care will be examined.
- Students will work under the direct supervision of the dentist in a general dental practice.
- Students will apply and build on the skills learned in assisting chairside with instrumentation preparation, sterilization, infection prevention and safety practices.
- Students will also assist with office and patient management.
- Students will work under the direct supervision of dentist in a general dentistry office to advance their intra oral knowledge and skill sets, further integrate theory into practice.
- Demonstrate consolidation of knowledge and skills across the complete spectrum of their regulated scope of practice.
- This is a comprehensive course designed to allow students to integrate, apply, and further develop previously acquired conceptual knowledge.
- Including but not limited to patient management techniques, taking dental histories, and charting, moisture control, armamentarium operating.
- Maintaining dental equipment and sterilization, fundamental aspects and skill sets of collaborative assisting at chair-side in a clinical environment.
- Emphasis will be on the dental assistant’s role in operative procedures and communication methods used within the dental health team.
- The is an extended practice that will provide students with opportunities to practice, refine, integrate and consolidate their knowledge and skills focusing on direct client care.
- Clinical support for basic restorative and specialty procedures, complete intra-oral practices, and laboratory and office management procedures in a supervised clinical lab setting.
- This course prepares students for their transition to the professional world of work.
- Students will learn how to present themselves using a variety of social media vehicles.
- How to conduct a successful job interview, how to effectively distribute and manage personal marketing collateral and social media presence, and to understand work place etiquette and office politics.
- Students will be provided access to the clinical laboratory and instructional assistance to further their theoretical knowledge and practice their clinical skills.
- This will culminate in a comprehensive summative didactic and practical clinical laboratory examination.
- This introductory course provides learners with a variety of student centric learning strategies and techniques.
- Students will learn goal setting, planning and time management, problem solving, writing skills, computer skills, and the effective use of information technologies.
