A Dental Hygiene first

Kelly O'Donnell and Joanna Grant are the first two graduates of Dalhousie's Bachelor of Dental Hygiene program. (Marilyn Klein Photo)

The first two graduates from Dalhousie’s Bachelor of Dental Hygiene program received their degrees May 22. The first dental hygiene degree program in Canada is a one-year program offered to graduates with a Diploma in Dental Hygiene and who are qualified to be licensed in Nova Scotia and meet the entrance requirements.

Broadening the knowledge base for dental hygienists, the degree focuses on teaching, health policy, research, leadership and preparation for alternate practice settings such as cancer care.

“We’re proud to be part of history,” says Kelly O’Donnell of herself and fellow graduate Joanna Grant. “It was an opportunity to create options I might not have previously considered within my profession,” explains Ms. O’Donnell, a native of Cole Harbour, N.S.

“I feel more confident in my skills and knowledge of the profession of dental hygiene,” says Ms. Grant, of Brudenell, PEI. “I believe more opportunities may arise for me with the degree – for example, I may want to teach (dental hygiene) one day.”

A four-year program, the BDH requires one year of prerequisite study, followed by the two-year diploma program, culminating in a final year to complete the bachelor’s requirements. Though the road to the baccalaureate program for the School of Dental Hygiene began in the 1980s, the process ran up against a moratorium on new programs that lasted several years. Former director of the school Glenda Butt spent much of her career reviving the discussion.

“My personal mandate as director for 12 years was to resurrect the baccalaureate discussion, work with the dental hygiene faculty to develop a curriculum plan and write a comprehensive proposal for Faculty of Dentistry and Senate approval,” says the recently retired Ms. Butt.

With the establishment of the College of Dental Hygienists of Nova Scotia in 2009, dental hygienists may now ‘self-initiate’ and work in some settings without the direct supervision of a dentist. “This bachelor’s program helps prepare students for some of the expanded roles beginning to emerge for dental hygienists,” says Nancy Neish, current director of the school.

With all 41 diploma graduates in job placements, the market for dental hygienists is good. As Ms. Neish explains, the bachelor’s degree only enhances employment opportunities. “It also helps prepare students to become dental hygiene educators, provides basic research knowledge and additional preparation for working in public health.”

Beginning more than 20 years ago, the evolution of the Bachelor of Dental Hygiene involved collaboration, vision, dedication and effort on the part of the dental hygiene faculty, the Dean's Office, Faculty of Dentistry, and Dalhousie University's Administration. The process of evaluating, revising, planning and implementing the program will be ongoing in an effort to provide quality oral health care to the populations the graduates serve.

“Hopefully populations lacking in oral health care will have better access to it through dental hygienists choosing to work in alternate practice settings,” says Ms. Neish.

“Dental hygiene is now entering a new and exciting phase of its life,” adds Ms. Butt.