Oxford College of Arts, Business and Technology
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HANDS-ON CLINIC · SCARBOROUGH

Become aDental Hygienist.A hands-on healthcare career with strong earning potential.

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Get hands-on training in Oxford College's fully equipped on-site dental laboratory
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Gain real-world experience providing supervised care to real dental patients in Oxford College's student clinic
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Explore opportunities in a field with strong demand and a median wage of $76,960 a year
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Build a rewarding career helping people protect their oral health and feel confident about their smiles
18
MONTHS TO ANEW CAREER
92.1%
BOARD PASS RATENDHCB, 2025
$76,960
MEDIAN SALARYIN THIS FIELD*
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Training careers since 2003
20+ years of career-focused education in Ontario
20+
YEARS
PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Train with real patients. Prepare for professional practice.

Oxford College’s 18-month Dental Hygiene diploma program combines classroom learning, hands-on laboratory training and supervised clinical experience to prepare you for a career in oral healthcare. You’ll develop practical skills in patient assessment, preventive care, oral health education, radiography and other core areas of dental hygiene practice.

At our Scarborough campus, you’ll gain experience providing supervised care to real patients in Oxford College’s student dental clinic. With guidance from experienced instructors, you’ll build your confidence while applying what you learn in a real clinical environment. Your coursework also helps prepare you for the next steps toward national certification, registration and employment as a Dental Hygienist in Ontario.

WHAT YOUR 18 MONTHS WILL LOOK LIKE
01
BUILD YOUR FOUNDATION
Oral health sciences
Learn anatomy, oral health sciences, infection control and the principles that support safe dental hygiene care.
02
DEVELOP YOUR CLINICAL SKILLS
Laboratory and clinical training
Apply your knowledge through laboratory training and supervised work with real patients.
03
PREPARE FOR PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
Professional readiness
Strengthen your confidence, professionalism and patient-care judgment as you prepare to move from student to working Dental Hygienist.
SCARBOROUGH
JANUARY MAY SEPTEMBER
WHY OXFORD

Hands-on training that brings learning into practice.

Real clinic
Oxford's own Dental Hygiene Clinic Treat real clients under supervision — the hands-on clinical hours the profession demands.
CDAC accreditation
Ask about CDAC-accredited Dental Hygiene study options Learn how accreditation relates to national certification and registration requirements in Ontario.
91.25%
graduation rate And a 92.1% pass rate on the NDHCB national board examination in 2025, across our Scarborough and Mississauga cohorts.
CAREERS

Put your Dental Hygiene training to work.

$76,960
median annual wage in this field · Canada Job Bank, NOC 32111
General dental practices Long-term care Public health Educational institutions Hospital dental facilities Independent practice
CAREER PATHS
Registered Dental Hygienist PRIMARY OUTCOME
Provide preventive and therapeutic care in a dental practice — the core outcome
Clinical Dental Hygienist
Work chairside in general and specialist dental offices
Public Health Hygienist
Deliver community and school oral-health programs
Dental Hygiene Educator
Teach and mentor the next cohort of hygienists
Independent Practice Hygienist CAREER PROGRESSION
Advance to running your own practice once registered with the CDHO
AREAS OF FOCUS · THE CURRICULUM
✓ Anatomy & Physiology
✓ Dental Anatomy
✓ Histology & Embryology
✓ Infection Control
✓ Microbiology
✓ Dental Hygiene Theory
✓ Dental Radiography
✓ Head & Neck Anatomy
✓ Oral Health Education
✓ Health histories
The hands-on skills the profession is built on. OXFORD CLINIC
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Admission requirements

Dental hygiene is a regulated profession, so entry is specific. There are two ways in.

ROUTE ONE
OSSD with the science credits
An Ontario Secondary School Diploma including Grade 11 Math, Grade 11 or 12 Biology, and Grade 12 English. Recognised equivalencies are accepted.
ROUTE TWO
Mature Student Status
If you left school without those credits, you can qualify as a mature student by writing the Wonderlic assessment.
WHY ACCREDITATION MATTERS
CDAC accreditation is the gate
Oxford's program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada. Graduates of non-accredited programs may not be permitted to write the national certification exam — and without that exam you cannot practise.
05 · FROM A GRADUATE
I chose Oxford because you actually treat clients in a real clinic, not just practise on mannequins. By graduation I'd worked with dozens of real patients and felt ready to register.
The clinic is what makes the difference. You walk out having already done the job.
S. P.
Oxford College Graduate
Now: Dental Hygiene program
LAST STEP

Start building your future in Dental Hygiene.

Talk to an Oxford College advisor about tuition, admission requirements, financing, start dates and the path toward a Dental Hygiene career.

Ask about tuition Check if you qualify Learn about financial aid
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