Real-life, hands-on training preps you for roles on oral health care teams
Train to be a key member of oral healthcare teams by learning core dental hygiene services like scaling, stain removal, whitening, X-rays, fluoride treatments, pit and fissure sealants, athletic mouth guards, referrals, and oral health assessments and education. You’ll have ample opportunity to put your skills into practice, first with manikins and then followed by practice sessions with your classmates, where you will also assume the role of a client.
As you polish your skills, you will advance to providing clientele from the Sudbury community with dental hygiene services in Cambrian’s on-campus dental clinic. As a graduate, you are eligible to apply to write the National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination (NDHCE).
Program highlights
- Limited enrolment
- Hands-on, real-world experiences in on-campus dental clinic with clients from the community
- Community fieldwork and placements with many different populations of clientele
- Accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC)
- Grads are eligible to apply to write the National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination (NDHCE) conducted by the National Dental Hygiene Certification Board (NDHCB) to gain registration with the College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario (CDHO)
Program of study for 2025-26 Academic Year
| Semester 1 | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 1107 | Anatomy & Physiology I | 3 |
| ENG 1121 | Research & Writing/Health Sciences | 3 |
| DEN 1060 | Oral Histology | 3 |
| DEN 1103 | Orofacial Anatomy | 3 |
| DEN 1106 | Dental Hygiene Practice I | 6 |
| DEN 1107 | Dental Hygiene Theory I | 3 |
| DEN 1405 | Microbiology and Immunology | 3 |
| Credits | 24 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| BIO 1207 | Anatomy & Physiology II | 3 |
| DEN 1061 | Dental Hygiene Theory II | 3 |
| DEN 1112 | Dental Radiography | 4 |
| DEN 1067 | Professional Communication and Technology | 2 |
| DEN 1128 | Pre-Clinical Dental Hygiene | 8 |
| DEN 1311 | Oral Health Promotion | 3 |
| One General Education course. 1 | 3 | |
| Credits | 26 | |
| Semester 3 | ||
| DEN 1063 | Diverse Populations | 3 |
| DEN 1064 | Evidence based Practice | 3 |
| DEN 1114 | Dental Hygiene Theory III | 3 |
| DEN 1115 | Intro Clinical Dental Hygiene | 6 |
| DEN 1117 | Human Pathophysiology | 3 |
| DEN 1118 | Periodontics | 3 |
| DEN 1121 | Nutrition in Health Promotion | 3 |
| Credits | 24 | |
| Semester 4 | ||
| DEN 1065 | Community Health | 3 |
| DEN 1122 | Dental Hygiene Theory IV | 3 |
| DEN 1123 | Intermediate Dental Hygiene | 6 |
| DEN 1127 | Individuals with Special Needs | 3 |
| DEN 1129 | Oral Pathology | 3 |
| DEN 1140 | Pharmacology in Dental Hygiene | 3 |
| Credits | 21 | |
| Semester 5 | ||
| DEN 1066 | Health Care in Canada | 3 |
| DEN 1130 | Dental Hygiene Theory V | 3 |
| DEN 1131 | Adv Clinical Dental Hygiene | 9 |
| DEN 1232 | Health Promotion and Community | 3 |
| DEN 2436 | Orthodontics Theory Practice | 3 |
| One General Education course. 1 | 3 | |
| Credits | 24 | |
| Semester 6 | ||
| DEN 1135 | Dental Hygiene Theory VI | 3 |
| DEN 1139 | Prof Practice Jurisprudence | 3 |
| DEN 1146 | Clinical Consolidation | 9 |
| DEN 1147 | Community Inter-professnl Care | 2 |
| DEN 1148 | Business and Practice Mngmt | 3 |
| One General Education course. 1 | 3 | |
| Credits | 23 | |
| Total Credits | 142 | |
- 1
For more information regarding General Education courses, click here.
Admission requirements
For graduates of the new curriculum (OSS): Ontario Secondary School Diploma (30 credits) or equivalent or mature student status, including:
- Any grade 12 English (C), (U), or (M)
- Any grade 11 (U) or (C) or grade 12 biology (U)
- Any grade 11 (U) or grade 12 chemistry (C) or (U)
Please note: A minimum of 60% is required in each prerequisite courses
Program delivery
2025-2026
Fall term start
SEMESTER 1: Fall 2025
SEMESTER 2: Winter 2026
SEMESTER 3: Fall 2026
SEMESTER 4: Winter 2027
SEMESTER 5: Fall 2027
SEMESTER 6: Winter 2028
Winter term start
SEMESTER 1: Winter 2026
SEMESTER 2: Spring 2026
SEMESTER 3: Fall 2026
SEMESTER 4: Winter 2027
SEMESTER 5: Spring 2027
SEMESTER 6: Fall 2027
Accreditation
Cambrian's Dental Hygiene program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC).
Registration to practice / additional testing
As of January 1, 2022, the Federation of Dental Hygiene Regulators of Canada (FDHRC) and the National Dental Hygiene Certification Board (NDHCB) have joined together creating the organization FDHRC. To practice as a Dental Hygienist, you must pass a National Written Examination and, when successfully completed, graduates can register with the College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario (CDHO), which is a requirement to practice in Ontario. Graduates who pass the written exam may apply to register to practice dental hygiene in other provinces, however, each province holds their own licensing exams and has unique requirements to practice. It is the responsibility of the graduate to pursue certification and registration and to cover any associated costs. It is also the responsibility of the graduate to ensure that they have appropriately researched registration requirements in jurisdictions other than Ontario, as educational requirements vary. Cambrian's program prepares students for registration in Ontario, specifically.
Specific program pathways
College or university degree opportunities
If you are a graduate of this program, you may continue your studies at a college or university and you may receive credit(s) for your prior college education. Refer to Cambrian's college and university agreement details for further information.
Employment opportunities
Graduates are prepared for employment opportunities in:
- General and specialized dental practices
- Independent dental hygiene practices
- Public health dental hygiene practices (including home care, long-term care, or community clinics)
- Military
- Education
- Research
- Industry (sales/marketing of dental products/equipment)
- Insurance Companies
- Product development and distribution
Please note: Cambrian College strives to ensure the accuracy of the information on this website. Please note that the academic curriculum is continually reviewed and revised to ensure that Cambrian's programs and courses remain relevant. The College reserves the right to cancel or make changes to any course or program, fee, procedure, or campus location at any time.
