Official Program Outline
Program description
This diploma program prepares students to enter into professional practice as a dental hygienist. Practical experience in providing preventive and therapeutic dental hygiene services will be gained at Georgian’s Oral Health Clinics, located on the Barrie and Orillia campuses and in community settings. Graduates of the Dental Hygiene program are eligible to write the National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination and register with the College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario.
Why choose Georgian?
The faculty teaching in the program have years of experience in dental hygiene and are actively involved in the profession provincially and nationally. Georgian provides students with hands-on experience in our Oral Health Clinic, as well as in the community. Students will have the benefit of working in a new clinic with access to the latest technology. Our graduates are well respected for their knowledge and professional attitudes. Our graduates are very successfull with the national certification examination.
Placement opportunities
Job placements take place in our Oral Health Clinic or supervised in a long term care facility.
Lab/professional experience
The majority of student practical experience is completed in our clinic at the Barrie Campus. Students provide dental hygiene care for people of all ages from the community. Students also provide oral assessments for residents of long term care facilities. As part of these experiences, dental hygiene students have an opportunity to work with dental assisting students, dentists and other health care providers.
Employment
After graduation, students could work in a dental or dental hygiene practice or public health. With experience and further education, graduates could have a career as a teacher in post-secondary dental hygiene programs. Students will work as employees or be self-employed. New graduates often work in more than one office.
Entry-level salary:
The entry-level salary varies with location in the province and practice setting. The average wage for a new graduate working in a traditional dental practice is $30-$35 per hour.