Introduction

 

Dental hygiene has been recognized and practised as a profession for over 50 years. Dental hygienists work with clients and can treat them independent of the dentist (with certain restrictions).

 

Dental hygiene is a dynamic and challenging health care profession, allowing a wide range of practice environments, including general dental practice, specialty offices, independent dental hygiene clinics, public health, education, or research.

Dental hygienists perform many client services, including scaling and root planning (cleaning teeth), oral self-care education, placing sealants, and whitening teeth.

By upgrading skills, a dental hygienist can take on additional duties and responsibilities.

Dental hygienists are in high demand. Once a graduate registers with the College of Dental Hygienists of British Columbia (CDHBC), their skills are well remunerated.

 

Full-time program:  Monday to Friday
Course length: 18 months
Expected salary range: $40 to $50 per hour

The College of Dental Hygienists of British Columbia (CDHBC) is the regulatory body for dental hygiene in British Columbia. In order to practise dental hygiene in the Province, a person must be registered with the CDHBC.

The practice of dental hygiene is regulated under
the Health Professions Act, 1995.

 

 

Program Description

 

The Vancouver College of Dental Hygiene is part of Canada’s largest private educational facility that is dedicated to the highest standards of dental hygiene education.

 

 

Program Duration

 

The Dental Hygiene Program offered at The Vancouver College of Dental Hygiene Inc. is approximately eighteen months in duration. It is presented in four semesters of nineteen weeks each. There is a one week break in between semesters.

Course Curriculum

 

The VCDH curriculum is delivered in a manner that fosters independent and critical thinking, preparing the student for clinical, evidenced-based decision-making.

Upon completion of the program, the dental hygiene practitioner will exhibit analytical skills, broad-based perspectives, and enhanced abilities to integrate theory, research and practice in the process of care based on individual needs.

This includes hands-on teaching for students who inevitably will develop technical mastery in the nonsurgical management of periodontal disease and excellence in client care delivery. Also, it promotes a learner centred environment and encourages learning to be a lifelong activity.

 

 

Student's Responsibility

 

All Students are responsible for providing their own dental clients for the clinical component of the program as well as surgical loupes.

 

 

Faculty Staff

 

The faculty members are professionals in the dental field that include British Columbia Registered Dental Hygienists, British Columbia Licensed Dentists and other Highly qualified health professionals chosen based on experience and their educational background.

 

 

British Columbia Dental Hygiene Registration Requirements

 

Upon completion of the Dental hygiene Program offered at the Vancouver College of Dental Hygiene, the graduate must write and be successful on the National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination.

Successful Dental Hygiene National Certification Certificate holders are then eligible to apply to the Provincial Regulatory Authorities.

In order to practice Dental hygiene in the province of British Columbia, the graduates must then register with the regulatory body - the College of Dental Hygienists of British Columbia (CDHBC) prior to starting their career.

All fees associated with National Board Examination and Registration with the CDHBC after graduation is the responsibility of the individual student.

Career Opportunities

 

Dental hygienists have an extremely high rate of employment and/or self-employment opportunities with an expected salary range
of $40 to $50 per hour.

 

The dental hygiene profession has been known to be desirable due to flexible hours and the many part-time and full-time career opportunities available.

 

These post-graduation career opportunities
are numerous and include:

 

• General dental office and/or clinic
• Specialty dental office and/or clinic
  ( i.e. Periodontics, Orthodontics)
• Independent Dental Hygiene clinics
• Pedodontics and Prosthodontics.
• Dental hygiene office and/or clinic
• Community health settings
• Public health Departments
• Research
• Educational Institutions
• Sales and Marketing
• Administration
• Private Consulting