College Certificate - Dental Assistant

Certified dental assistants (CDAs) are educated, licensed and regulated members of an integrated dental healthcare team that provides oral care services to patients. There are approximately 26,000 to 29,000 dental assistants in Canada. The practice of dental assisting involves collaboration with patients, other healthcare professionals and society to achieve and maintain optimal oral health and overall health and well-being.

Certified Dental Assistants work alongside and assist a Dentist. Specific duties include:

• Preparing and maintaining dental instruments and equipment
• Maintaining appropriate infection control
• Assisting the dentist
• Preparing dental materials such as dental composites, amalgams and cements
• Providing patient education and comfort
• Performing patient care procedures such as taking health histories; assisting in patient assessment; exposing of dental images; patient charting; treatment planning; polishing teeth and delivering preventative fluoride applications.
• Carrying out office administration services, including management of dental records

To be successful as a dental assistant student and professional, the student requires: 

• a caring nature and interest in the well-being of others
• excellent interpersonal skills
• good time management skills
• good eyesight, hearing, and hand-eye coordination. It is strongly recommended that students have an eye examination and obtain corrective eyewear if needed.
• ability to accurate follow verbal and written directions
• ability to manage a fast-paced, demanding, and stressful work environment
• computer literacy especially experience with word processing and internet
• the same standard of oral health that they encourage in their patients