In 2022, the WHO Global Oral Health Status published a report about the adverse oral health situation worldwide. Approximately 3.5 billion people are infected with different dental problems. Estimated 3 out of 4 people suffer from dental caries in middle-income countries. Globally 2 billion people suffer from permanent tooth decay, and approximately 514 million children have multiple dental problems such as Periodontal, Edentulism, Noma, etc.
There are numerous core reasons for dental health problems; one is inadequate fluoride exposure in the water and dental hygiene products such as toothpaste and mouthwash. The oral health problem is perilously growing due to unhealthy lifestyles, especially in children. Another reason is the frequent availability of sugar content in people’s diets. Tobacco and alcohol intensify the already worse situation, and poor access to oral health is another leading cause of bad buccal health.
Besides all the primary reasons for poor oral health, one major reason is the lack of technology and innovation in dentistry. Compared to the other medical field, odontology is far behind in applying modern technology in treatment processes. The reason is a) people neglect oral health and don’t pay enough attention compared to the other body parts, and b) the notorious cottage industry aspect is still prevalent in dentistry. The oral healthcare sector is still reluctant to adopt high-tech equipment. Incompetent dentists and insufficient dental colleges are also significant causes of slow-paced development.
Western Community College (WCC), a British Columbia-based college, offers an excellent, extensive 40-week program. The Dental Assistant Program is specially designed to provide up-to-date training to handle complex cases. The program enables students to prepare for the National Dental Assistant Examining Board.
The USP of the WCC’s Dental assistant program is it follows the laws and SOPs of the Health Professions Act of British Columbia. This program helps to prepare students to provide the services of a certified dental assistant as outlined in the BC College of Oral Health Professionals (BCCHOP).
Preparing dental students for future challenges is the primary objective of the WCC. Besides academic development, the institute pays special attention to personal skill development. The outcomes and objectives of the dental assisting program include communication, collaborative training and teamwork, problem-solving, critical thinking, chairside assisting skills, clinical treatment, professional conduct, dental laboratory skills, and many more.
Founded in 2012, WCC is one of the most prestigious colleges that offers various programs on over six campuses. The college offers diploma and certificate programs in various professional fields, including Health Care, Business, Accounting, Pharmacy, and IT. WCC also provides career-based programs prepared for graduates. The college is also an approved Amazon Career Choice provider and a CompTIA Authorized Academy Partner.
WCC promotes quality education along with philanthropism. The college is not a money-making organization like many other educational pedagogies. WCC offers scholarships to deserving students, and through its semiannual campaign, the college donates to ten educational institutes to propel the cause of providing advanced and modern education to students from all walks of life. WCC donated $5,000 to the Surrey Food Bank and another $5,000 to the Archway Food Bank Abbotsford, $10000 to Vancouver General Hospital, and $10000 worth of toys to The Children’s Foundation as part of its initiative to celebrate its tenth anniversary by giving back to the community.
Throughout the years, WCC has focused on high-quality education through its programs and courses. To pay homage to its efforts, different renowned and esteemed names honor the WCC’s efforts. The Times of Canada awarded the institute for its Excellence in Education Services. WCC also received the Teacher of the Year Award from Surrey Now-Leader.
In desperate times where access to premium dental education is hard and expensive, Western Community College is devoted to providing accessible, affordable, and high-quality education to all of its students. To enhance student success and close gaps in achievement levels, the college regularly evaluates student-learning outcomes so that amendments can be made to improve course efficacy and institutional effectiveness.
