Dental Assisting (Levels I and II) Program

Preparing students to work as dental assistants for 25 years.

Program Overview

The Dental Assisting program provides the education required to work as a certified dental assistant (Levels I and II).

As a student in this program, you will develop the skills, technical knowledge and clinical experience necessary to work in a professional, ethical and collaborative manner in a variety of settings.

Full Description

The one-year Dental Assisting (Levels I and II) (S113) certificate program will prepare you to become a valued collaborative member of the oral health-care team.

You will develop competencies related to clinical assisting, oral health education and business administration consistent with national and provincial standards.This program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada.

Dental Assistants Promote:

• direct client care
• oral health education
• business administration

As a student in the program, you will develop experience in:

• intra-oral skills
• digital intra-oral imaging
• laboratory procedures
• infection prevention and control protocols
• safety protocols
• business skills

Learning takes place alongside students enrolled in the Restorative Dental Hygiene program. Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible to apply to write the National  Dental Assisting Examining Board (NDAEB) examination.

(Note: Additional fees apply.) Upon successful completion of the examination, candidates are eligible to apply for certification with the Ontario Dental Assistants Association to work as a Level II dental assistant in the province of Ontario.

See odaa.org for further information about how to become certified as a Level II dental assistant in Ontario.Interested in this program but need more competitive marks? Consider enrolling in the Pre-Health Sciences Pathway to Certificates and Diplomas (A109) program.

This program will help you develop new and strengthen existing skills in math, biology, chemistry, physics, and communication. PLEASE NOTE: While successful graduates of the (A109) program will be eligible to apply to this advanced diploma, it does not guarantee entry into this program.

Your Field Education Options

This Dental Assisting (Levels I and II) program offers both on-site and off-site field education opportunities.In semester 1, the curriculum is focused on building the core skills of a dental assistant while working with mannequins in our on-site, state-of-the-art WAVE Dental Clinic and dental laboratories.

In semester 2, you will build on this foundation by practising on each other. You will then progress to practise your consolidated skills with real patients both in the WAVE Clinic and off-site in the community.

Typical field education sites include private dental practices, public health units and teaching hospitals.

As we support interprofessional educational opportunities, you will have the chance to collaborate with one of our 12 George Brown College Child Care Centres, where you will teach oral health education to the children, students and staff at a centre as scheduling permits.

Off-site travel may be required. Clinical hours include early mornings that can extend into the evening.

Career & Postgraduate Study Opportunities

Career Options

Graduates of this Dental Assisting (Levels I and II) program are eligible to take the National Dental Assisting Examining Board (NDAEB) examination. (Note: additional fees apply.)

Upon successful completion of the exam, candidates are eligible to apply for certification with the Ontario Dental Assistants Association to work as a Level II Dental Assistant in Ontario.

Visit the Ontario Dental Assistants Association website for additional information about how to become certified as a Level II Dental Assistant in Ontario.

Graduates Find Employment In:

• general and specialty private dental practices
• public health units
• hospital dental clinics
• dental industry
• armed forces
• insurance companies

Educational Pathways

Graduates of this Dental Assisting (Levels I and II) program may apply in the future to other dental programs at George Brown College but must meet the minimum admission requirements for each of the following programs:

• Denturism (S101)
• Dental Technology (S100)
• Dental Hygiene (S134)

Graduates are not given priority admissions based on successful completion of the Dental Assisting program but may be eligible for some course exemptions.

Alumni Impact

We are immensely proud of the contributions of our alumni in Toronto and around the globe.

From Michelin-starred restaurants to major construction, entertainment, community and financial organizations, our graduates are truly making an impact across a range of industries.