Celebrating 50 years of excellence in Dental Assisting education
In early 1973, an exciting collaborative vision was born when the Department of Education, the Manitoba Dental Association, and RRC Polytech came together to create a dental assisting program at the College.
Today, RRC Polytech is proud to mark an incredible milestone: half a century of elevating the field of dental care and ensuring exceptional training for dental assisting professionals in Manitoba. As we look back on the program’s history and progress, we also look forward to the future, as we continue to deliver dental assisting education that’s in front of what’s ahead.
Building a Foundation
The program, which broke new ground for dental assisting training in Manitoba, would be 10 months long and offer two certificate options: a Chairside Dental Assisting Certificate, which learners could attain after seven months of comprehensive training; or the coveted, 10-month Dental Assisting Expanded Duties Certificate. This marked a new era of choice around how students entered the workforce after their studies and the program remains a cornerstone of dental education in Manitoba to this day.
The program was slated for kick off in September 1973. Tokeep everything on track and ensure the wheels of progress kept turning, the College hired Iris Gold as program coordinator and Diane Porter as instructor. The pair developed the curriculum from scratch and led the program with passion, determination, and a willingness to throw themselves into any task. They even oversaw the construction of a two-chair dental clinic and a platform where students would take notes. As luck would have it, construction delays gave them an extra month to refine the program curriculum.
The seven-month Chairside Program offered a mix of theory and hands-on practice. Alongside core dental subjects, students delved into psychology, learned to type, and even participated in physical education. They gained practical skills in chairside procedures, worked in a dental lab, and practiced mixing materials in specialized rooms. The highlight for many was the two-week practicum at the University of Manitoba’s (UM) Faculty of Dentistry, where they worked alongside fourth-year dental students and rotated through different specialty clinics.
As the Expanded Duties portion of the program approached, an unexpected twist unfolded.
Tec Voc High School expressed interest in joining the program. After much media attention and negotiations, the College agreed to take 14 Tec Voc graduates into the Expanded Duties Program, though no formal agreement was made. This phase of the program was more intensive, with students focusing on pre-clinical and clinical skills – including intra-oral procedures first on manikins and then on actual patients. RRC Polytech rented space from the Faculty of Dentistry at UM, and dental hygienists were brought in as clinical instructors.
In July 1974, the first class successfully graduated from the program. The following September, 36 students enrolled in the next intake of the Chairside program. To accommodate the growing demand, the College hired two dental assistants to support the instructors, splitting the class into smaller groups for practical skills. This routine continued for several years, with adjustments being made along the way.
By this point, a rhythm had been established: students completed the Chairside program, took a brief break, and then moved on to the Expanded Duties portion. Tec Voc students were integrated smoothly, writing exams during the break week to ensure they were at the same level as their college counterparts. Over time, the psychology classes were shifted to Fridays and held in rented classrooms at UM.
Evolution and Expansion
The program underwent another evolution in the late 1970s: the Chairside program became known as Level I and the Expanded Duties program was rebranded Level II. As demand for dental assistants with expanded duties increased, the decision was made to drop the Level I program, as most students were continuing to Level II. Around the same time, Iris Gold left her role as coordinator, passing the torch to Jeannette Sexsmith. With Jeannette at the helm and a third instructor added to the team, the program continued to flourish.
The 1980s brought about both challenges and changes. Varying approaches to teaching led to a new system where each instructor focused on specific courses. Meanwhile, the College was in the process of a year-long expansion of its facilities, which included a fully equipped dental clinic that eliminated the need to rent space from UM – a boon to students.
By the early 1990s, RRC Polytech’s new dental facility was complete, boasting a nine-chair dental clinic, radiology rooms, a sterilization room, and a lab with 20 workstations. For the first time, both the theory and practical portions of the program were held entirely on campus.
Students now gained experience in all aspects of a dental office, from sterilization to patient reception, adding an invaluable layer of interdisciplinary knowledge. As the program continued to grow, it was officially renamed Dental Assisting Level II, cementing its place as one of Manitoba’s premier dental education offerings. Tec Voc students became an integral part of the program, with a formal contract finally established between the two institutions.
What began as a simple collaboration in 1973 blossomed into a robust, ever-evolving program; one that has shaped dental care education in Manitoba for more than five decades and will continue to do so for decades to come.
Heartfelt Gratitude
The success and continued growth of the Dental Assisting Program at RRC Polytech would not have been possible without the dedication of countless individuals. A sincere thank-you goes out to all past and present staff members, whose expertise and passion have shaped the program into what it is today. The hard work and commitment to excellence of the program’s graduates have left an indelible mark on the field of dental care and set the bar for future generations of dental professionals.
Marking a Milestone
On November 14, graduates, current students, past and present faculty, and industry members will gather at RRC Polytech’s Notre Dame Campus to mark five decades of the Dental Assisting program for a special anniversary event to celebrate the achievements of both the educators and graduates who have played a key role in developing outstanding dental care in the province. If you wish to receive information about the event, please reach out to lifesciences@rrc.ca.