It takes specialized training and education to become a dental hygienist so when the demand for their services increases, there must also be an increase in the number of students who can be trained. That was the situation in 2004 when the Canadian College of Dental Health opened its doors.

The college boasts a $1.4 million, technologically current dental facility complete with 28 individual clinical stations, four x-ray rooms and dental materials laboratory, according to its founder and president Kevin Sloan.

“The program is heavily weighted in practical skills development as well as the theory components of the program,” says the college president.

The state-of-the-art dental hygiene clinic is equipped with a VELscope, described by Sloan as “probably the most cutting-edge technology”. The scope is able to detect oral cancer at its beginning stages. The college has a panoramic x-ray that provides a 360-degree view and students are also exposed to digital radiography, a system that digitizes x-rays and inputs them to computer files.

Of course the clinic needs more than students and equipment, it needs clients. The general public is invited to attend the clinic for treatments.

“It’s very important for students to get hands-on experience,” the college president explains.

Services performed at the clinic include dental hygiene examination, teeth cleaning, teeth polishing, fluoride treatments, oral hygiene instruction, teeth whitening and oral cancer screening. Clients are treated by a dental hygiene student under the direct supervision of industry professionals. The clinic offers a scheduled appointment service for ongoing dental hygiene treatments.

The industry professionals who are involved in clinic treatments are members of the college’s “excellent faculty”. Sloan says most are practicing dental hygienist in the field as well as dentists and medical doctors. They bring practical knowledge and experience to the students in addition to current practices and regulations. The college provides professional development to faculty to equip them to be effective classroom instructors.

Job placement success for graduates is virtually 100 per cent. Before entering the profession they must successfully complete the National Dental Hygiene Certification examination to be eligible for registration by the provincial regulatory body. Graduates are qualified for positions in general and specialty dental practices as well as opportunities to practice in hospitals, public health units, community health clinics, collective living centres, research, industry and educational institutions.

According to Sloan, “What’s inspiring is really changing people’s lives. All of the college’s programs focus on skills development that leads to a regulated health care profession and a job at the end.”

To find out more about the Canadian College of Dental health, visit www.ccdh.ca.