Dental Assisting

Want to help people smile? Dental assisting may be the career for you.

Dentists need caring, dedicated professionals to assist with dental procedures, provide patient care, maintain equipment and supplies, record patient information and ensure that procedures run efficiently.

In 10 months at Douglas College's Dental Assisting Program, you can develop all the technical, professional and interpersonal skills you need to succeed as a certified dental assistant.

Theory classes provide the foundation knowledge you apply in clinical courses. Clinical classes give you a chance to practice your professional skills while delivering patient care. The final semester also features an intensive practical course combining clinical and practicum (workplace) experience, so you graduate with work experience.

Dental assistants work within the dental team providing care to people of all ages. Program graduates develop technical skills while exercising time management and interpersonal skills. Certified Dental Assistants are licensed to expose and process radiographs, assist dentists during procedures, polish teeth, apply fluoride, take impressions and educate clients about oral health.

Graduating from the Dental Assisting program will prepare you as a professional to apply for the Certified Dental Assistant registration license with the College of Dental Surgeons of BC and to write the National Dental Assisting Examining Board exam.