1.1 Clinic Protocol
NSCC has a responsibility to its health and human services partners to ensure that Dental Assisting students understand and demonstrate appropriate professional behaviour. A student must demonstrate respectful, appropriate professional behaviour and effective interpersonal interactions with others to successfully complete the Dental Assisting Skills Courses.
The following criteria support professional behaviour and effective interpersonal interactions:
- Students are required to attend all clinical sessions, prepared and on time.
- Students are required to telephone to report if they must be absent or late:
- the Dalhousie Clinic @ 494-4593 (during Dalhousie Rotation) or
- the NSCC clinic at 491-4598 prior to 8:00am
- Students must attend all sessions in the NSCC clinical uniform.
- Cell phones are not permitted in the clinic areas.
- Teamwork is an essential aspect in the role of a dental assistant. Students must be available to complete all duties and equipment maintenance for each session.
- Students should accept feedback and faculty supervision, courteously. Show respect for fellow students and faculty by using professional communication skills.
- Students will be accountable for their actions. Practice time management and work independently when required.
- Show respect for instruments and equipment and practice conservation. Practice accident and injury prevention.
Required Clinic/Lab Uniform
- Clean, pressed lab jacket with long sleeves and fitted wrist cuffs.
- White scrub top under the lab jacket. Long sleeved white top may also be worn if needed, under the scrub top.
- Black colored scrub pants (appropriately hemmed) or black skirt (length must be below the knee).
- Solid black leather duty shoes (full shoe required, black only) to be worn in clinic/lab only.
- Properly fitting safety glasses are required. Corrective lenses must be worn if required.
- Nametag and dosimeter (radiation badge, for NSCC clinic only).
- Jewelry acceptable during sessions = only plain finger ring (no stones). All oral piercings and other jewelry must be removed during clinic/lab sessions.
- Cell phones are not permitted in the clinic/lab areas.
Directive
- Change into and out of clinical uniform (including head coverings or hair accessories) in designated change room area.
- Sweaters and sweatshirts are not acceptable in the clinic/lab.
- Long and loose hair must be contained. Any hairstyle that hangs forward over the face when head is tipped forward should be secured back.
- Head coverings must be secured and contained.
- Oral health must be maintained. It is recommended that students brush their teeth and use mouth rinse before entering the clinic/lab.
- Gum chewing is not acceptable during sessions.
- There should be no smoking prior to sessions or during breaks while participating in the sessions.
- Fingernails must be kept short and clean. Natural nails must be neatly trimmed (no more than 2 mm of whites of nails remaining). Nail polish is unacceptable. Artificial nails are not permitted.
- Any makeup worn should reflect a professional image.
- Avoid using scented personal care products as they can cause allergic reactions for some individuals.
- Food and beverages are not permitted in the clinic and lab areas.
- Cell phones must be disinfected regularly.
- Dental Assisting Skills Manuals must be kept in an accurate and neat manner. Manuals are property of the NSCC Dental Assisting Program. It is the student’s responsibility to safeguard their manual as a record of their completed practice and evaluations.
Note
A student who does not follow the uniform protocol will be asked to leave the clinic and/or lab area until the acceptable protocol is met.
Specific PPE will be required, depending on the procedure being performed.
Evaluation Process
- An evaluation will be automatically considered unsuccessful if a student cannot accurately demonstrate a critical aspect of a skill (outlined in bold under “Procedure Protocol”).
- An evaluation will be automatically considered unsuccessful if a student fails to follow Safety Measures and/or Infection Control Protocol or does not demonstrate Professionalism and appropriate Communication.
- If a student is unsuccessful in 3 or more skills, the student must return to the NSCC laboratory for further preclinical practice. This could delay the student’s externship. An appointment with the Academic Chair would be scheduled to determine further action.
- Attending all clinical assignments is mandatory. Any missed assignment could result in the delay of a student’s externship, until a make-up assignment could be completed.
- All skills practiced will be recorded, monitored and evaluated. A Successful or Unsuccessful mark will be awarded after each evaluation.
- Students must demonstrate professionalism and appropriate communication skills during all clinic sessions. The NSCC Dental Assisting Program’s Infection Control protocol must be adhered to at all times.
Infection Control, Hazardous Material, and Waste Management
Refer to the Nova Scotia Community College’s Dental Assisting Program Infection Control, Safety, and Equipment Information manual. All students must know the location of the medical emergency equipment and Material and Safety Data sheets.
Safety Measures
Safety measures to be followed during sessions include but are not limited to:
- The use of safety glasses for the operator and patient
- The use of the dental light during procedures
- The use of a mouth mirror to inspect the oral cavity before beginning a procedure
- The use of an intraoral fulcrum for all working instruments
- Correct insertion of the air/water syringe tip into the tri-syringe
