Introduction

The Canadian Academy of Dental Hygiene (CADH) is located in the heart of Mississauga, Ontario, just minutes west of the City of Greater Metropolitan Toronto. Mississauga, with a population of over 600,000 people of diverse ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds is home to attractions such as the Living Arts Center, Civic Center, Playdium, Hershey Center and the Bradley and Benares historic museums.

Established in November 2002, CADH is a private school that provides current, quality education in dental hygiene. The faculty is comprised of health care professionals including dental hygienists, dentists and other selected health care personnel. Individualized instruction is enhanced by current, state-of -the-art clinical and laboratory facilities. Students also have access to a research library with internet capability.

Enrolment in the program occurs in May and November of each year

The Profession of Dental Hygiene

Dental Hygiene, one of the largest regulated health care professions, has been recognized and practiced as a profession for over fifty years. The College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario (CDHO) is the regulating body for dental hygienists in Ontario. CDHO is responsible for implementing and monitoring that standards of care provided by its members are acceptable and current.

A dental hygienist is a licensed primary health care professional who provides preventive, educational and therapeutic services and promotes total health through the maintenance of optimal oral health.

Employment Opportunities

As members of a dental team, graduates are prepared to help clients achieve and maintain optimal oral health. The majority of dental hygienists provide care in dental offices. However, employment opportunities are also available in hospitals, health institutions, dental and dental hygiene schools, armed forces, community health departments, government agencies, research facilities, administration, program development, consulting and dental sales.

CADH Curriculum

The curriculum at CADH is approximately eighteen months in duration and it prepares the student to become a qualified Dental Hygiene practitioner. The program is divided into three academic levels. Each academic level is 22 weeks in length.

The curriculum material and the duration of the modules are functionally divided between theory and technique in dental sciences. The program provides the knowledge and skill development necessary to assess, plan, implement and evaluate dental hygiene care to the standards necessary to maintain proper oral health. The program contains, at the very least, all of the elements currently offered within programs at Ontario Community Colleges and adheres to the current standards of practice published by the College of Dental Hygienists’ of Ontario (CDHO).

Dental hygiene education at CADH focuses not only on the preventative aspects of dental disease and education of clients, but also on the development of strong interpersonal communication skills and the ability to apply the dental hygiene process of care in a competent and professional manner. Courses are offered in biomedical sciences, behavioral sciences, oral health sciences and dental hygiene theory and practice. Please refer to the section on Courses for a complete list and description of all courses offered in the program.