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  • Dental Hygiene

Dental Hygiene

Ministry-approved title: Dental Hygiene


Credential
Ontario College Advanced Diploma
Location
Oshawa
OCAS Code
DENT
Next Intake
May 2026
View all intakes
Faculty
Faculty of Health Sciences (HS)
Length
Six semesters
Laptop
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Delivery
In person Learn more.
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Program Overview

Specializing in preventive oral health, dental hygienists work collaboratively with other health professionals to provide client-centred care. Equipped with knowledge of current standards of practice, ethical principles and a dedication to oral health, you will give your clients another reason to smile. DC’s Dental Hygiene program emphasizes hands-on learning opportunities and students will hone their skills through clinical practice at the college’s Dental Clinic. 

Intakes and Availability

Date Domestic Availability International Availability
September 2025Closed Apply now
May 2026Open Apply now
ProgramHighlights
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Durham College 2025 Program Guide
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  • Financial Aid Information

Admission Requirements

  • Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or Mature Student Status
    AND
  • Grade 12 English (C or U) (minimum 60 per cent average)
  • Grade 11 or 12 biology (C, M or U)
  • Grade 11 or 12 chemistry (C, M or U)
  • Grade 11 or 12 mathematics (C, M or U)

Please note: This program may be highly competitive and have a specific selection process and application deadline. Please refer to Admission Processes for details regarding highly competitive programs.


Tuition

  • Year one domestic: $8,968 (CAD)

View full costs


Semester 1 Courses

  • Microbiology and Infection Control (BIOL 1104)
  • Communications for The Dental Health Professional (COMM 1112)
  • Dental Radiography 1 (DENT 1107)
  • Orofacial Anatomy 1 (DENT 1108)
  • Introduction to Dental Materials (DENT 1109)
  • Dental Hygiene Theory and Practice (DENT 1110)
  • Introduction to Professional Practice (DENT 1111)

View all courses


Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

  • Dental hygienist

View all career options

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I AM A CANADIAN APPLICANT

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Program Details

The Dental Hygiene program prepares future dental hygienists to become leaders in the promotion of oral health. Integrating academic studies and clinical practice, the program prepares you to practice with the client and the community, providing collaborative oral health care in a variety of settings. The dental hygiene process of care is foundational to the clinical experience, emphasizing the acquisition of critical thinking skills while fostering a client-centred approach and upholding the most current standards of practice and ethical principles. 

Your acquisition of skills will progress from the demonstration of learning on a mannequin to student partners, followed by clients in the college’s Dental Clinic. 

Dental hygiene is a self-regulated profession, and graduates must successfully complete the National board exam and registration requirements as determined by the College of Registered Dental Hygienists of Ontario. This program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada. 

Please note: This six-semester, advanced diploma program has September and May intakes and is a 3-1-3 delivery model. This means students complete Semesters 1 through 3, then they have one semester off before completing Semesters 4 through 6. 

Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Practice in a professional and competent manner within the defined scope of practice and consistent with current regulations and standards of practice.
  2. Evaluate the client’s oral health status using determinants of health and risk analysis to identify needs, justify treatment decisions and provide appropriate referrals to other health care professionals, as required.
  3. Design, implement and evaluate a range of primary, interceptive, therapeutic, preventive, and on-going oral health care services to meet the unique needs of clients.
  4. Analyze oral health issues in need of advocacy identify networks and promote actions that will support change and facilitate access to care.
  5. Identify, select, implement and evaluate quality assurance standards and protocols which contribute to a safe and effective working environment.
  6. Establish and maintain professional and inter-professional relationships which contribute to client-care safety and positive health-care outcomes.
  7. Facilitate the development of specific oral health attitudes, knowledge, skills, and behaviours, in client’s, by selecting and utilizing principles of teaching and learning.
  8. Develop and present a model for a dental hygiene practice that addresses relevant business principles, current legislation and standards of practice.

Admission Requirements

  • Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or Mature Student Status
    AND
  • Grade 12 English (C or U) (minimum 60 per cent average)
  • Grade 11 or 12 biology (C, M or U)
  • Grade 11 or 12 chemistry (C, M or U)
  • Grade 11 or 12 mathematics (C, M or U)

Please note: This program may be highly competitive and have a specific selection process and application deadline. Please refer to Admission Processes for details regarding highly competitive programs.

Courses

The courses listed below are for incoming students. If you are a current student, please refer to your program of study for the year you began your program. Your program of study can be found on MyDC.

Semester 1

  • Microbiology and Infection Control (BIOL 1104)
  • Communications for The Dental Health Professional (COMM 1112)
  • Dental Radiography 1 (DENT 1107)
  • Orofacial Anatomy 1 (DENT 1108)
  • Introduction to Dental Materials (DENT 1109)
  • Dental Hygiene Theory and Practice (DENT 1110)
  • Introduction to Professional Practice (DENT 1111)

Semester 2

  • Anatomy and Physiology (ANAT 1200)
  • Dental Radiography 2 (DENT 1208)
  • Orofacial Anatomy 2 (DENT 1210)
  • Dental Hygiene Practice 2 (DENT 1211)
  • Dental Hygiene Theory 2 (DENT 1212)
  • Histology and Embryology (DENT 1213)
  • Preventive Dental Hygiene (DENT 1214)

Semester 3

  • Human Pathophysiology (BIOL 2102)
  • Advanced Dental Materials (DENT 2100)
  • Dental Hygiene Practice 3 (DENT 2101)
  • Dental Hygiene Theory 3 (DENT 2102)
  • Periodontics (DENT 2103)
  • Indigenous Elective (INDG 0000)
  • Pharmacology (PHRM 2100)

Semester 4

  • Principles Of Community Health (DENT 2200)
  • Dental Hygiene Practice 4 (DENT 2201)
  • Dental Hygiene Theory and Advanced Periodontics (DENT 2202)
  • Nutrition and Oral Health (DENT 2203)
  • Oral Pathology (DENT 2204)
  • Research Methods (RSCH 2201)
  • Populations and Diversity (SOCI 2201)

Semester 5

  • Business Principles for Regulated Health Professionals (DENT 3100)
  • Advanced Clinic Practice (DENT 3101)
  • Dental Hygiene Theory and EVidenced Informed Practice (DENT 3102)
  • Dental Hygiene In Orthodontics (DENT 3103)
  • General Education Elective (GNED 0000)
  • Interprofessional Practice and Health Policy (HPOL 3100)

Semester 6

  • Clinical Case Presentations (DENT 3200)
  • Dental Hygiene Administration and Software (DENT 3201)
  • Consolidation Of Clinical Practice (DENT 3202)
  • Health Promotion and Community Experience (DENT 3203)
  • Professional Practice and Jurisprudence (DENT 3204)
  • General Education Elective (GNED 0000)

Courses, course descriptions and delivery formats are subject to change.

Course delivery

In person

Students will come to campus to complete in-person learning requirements. Detailed schedules, with course-specific delivery information, will be available after registration. Courses, course descriptions and delivery formats are subject to change.

In person:
Course is delivered in person, on campus within a classroom, lab, shop or studio.
Hybrid:
Part of the course is delivered online, remotely, and part is in-person on campus within a classroom, lab, shop or studio.
Online:
Fully remote course delivery.

Costs

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

  • Dental hygienist

where you could work:

  • General dentistry practice
  • Independent dental hygiene practice
  • Institutional and hospital dental clinic
  • Public health unit
  • Specialty practice such as periodontics and orthodontics

Clinical Practice

Your learning experience will be complemented by a clinical practice component that provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to be an effective care provider.

PRE-PLACEMENT REQUIREMENTS

Please note: There are costs associated with Electronic Requirements Verification (ERV), immunizations, lab tests and certifications.  Be sure to keep all of your receipts for income tax purposes.  These costs include:

  • Service fees for Verified, our documentation collection and ERV verification partner.
  • Costs to complete mandatory immunizations, lab tests, and certifications.

It is required that students have completed the ERV with Verified to be eligible for the field placement component of this program. You must (at your expense) provide:

  • A clear and current Criminal Reference Check (CRC) with Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS) (Semester 4 and 6 students only). If you cannot provide a clear CRC with VSS, you may not be accepted for placement by a field placement agency. CRCs with VSS must be obtained from your local police station. You may be required to obtain additional CRCs with VSS to meet field placement agency requirements
  • Current Level C CPR from a recognized provider
  • Current standard first aid certification from a recognized provider
  • Entry immunization form completed by a health-care provider
  • Confirmation of current N95 mask fit test (Semester 4 to 6) 

Links:

  • Clinic Requirements Information
  • Verified ERV User Guide

Program Transfer, Degree Completion and Additional Credentials

Durham College also offers degree completion opportunities with a number of Canadian and international institutions. Sample diploma-to-degree opportunities include:

  • Bachelor of Allied Health Sciences (Honours) - Ontario Tech University (Ontario Tech)
  • Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) bridge – Ontario Tech
  • Bachelor of Arts (Honours) – Educational Studies and Digital Technology – Ontario Tech
  • Honours Bachelor of Science (Dental Hygiene) -- George Brown College 
  • Bachelor of Science - Athabasca University
  • Bachelor of Science Human Science - Athabasca University
  • Bachelor of Science (Health Services Administration) - Davenport University
  • Bachelor of General Studies - Thompson Rivers University
  • Bachelor of Health Sciences - Thompson Rivers University
  • Bachelor of Education - Technological Education - York University
  • Bachelor of Dental Science (Dental Hygiene) -- University of British Columbia 

Please visit our pathways page to learn more about how you can transfer your credits towards a degree.

Looking for more pathway opportunities or to transfer to Durham College? Click here for more information.

Tech Requirements

To help students have the best remote learning experience possible, Durham College’s IT Services department has identified technology recommendations for each program based on course needs and software requirements. While not required, students may want to consider these suggestions if they are purchasing a computer or laptop for the upcoming academic year.

Processor: i3
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 256GB SSD
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Professional or Education x64 SP1
Internet Browser: Internet Explorer 11 or Google Chrome (newest version) or Firefox (newest version)
Network Adapter: 802.11ac 2.4/5 GHz wireless adapter
Camera: Webcam/built-in camera
Internet connection

Questions regarding technology recommendations can be directed to the IT Service Desk  or the school office.

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Land Acknowledgement

Durham College is situated on the traditional lands of the First Peoples of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation. These lands are covered under the Williams Treaties and rest within the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg. We offer our gratitude to the Indigenous Peoples who care for and, through the treaty process, share the lands on which we live, learn, teach and prosper today.

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