Overview
This program prepares the future dental hygienist to become a leader in the promotion of oral health. During the course of the 3-year program, the students will learn to assess oral health needs of the client, design personalized dental hygiene care plans, provide preventive dental hygiene therapy to patients in our on-site high tech dental clinic, take radiographs, insert and carve restorative fillings, fabricate sports mouth guards and provide tooth whitening treatments. But most of all, the students will learn to assume their role as oral health professionals and educators.
Our program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC). As a result our graduates are eligible for licensure anywhere in Canada.
What distinguishes the Dental Hygiene program?
The John Abbott Dental Hygiene faculty takes pride in providing high level education to allow future graduates to acquire their competencies and practice their skills in a state-of-the-art dental clinic using the newest technologies and providing oral hygiene care centered on evidence-based practice.
Throughout the program, the students are exposed to a variety of learning experiences and benefit from ongoing tutoring and mentoring. Throughout the 3 years, the students are required to observe dental hygienists in private practice as well as specialty offices. In their third year, the students have unique hands-on experiences such as working with the McGill dental students at the Welcome Hall Mission dental clinic for the indigent, and participating in an outreach program for underprivileged children from an inner-city school.
Through stages in public dental health, students develop their abilities in providing oral health education to different communities. Stage opportunities in the regions are also available.
L’Ordre des hygiénistes dentaires du Québec (OHDQ) issues licenses to graduates with appropriate knowledge of French. In accordance with Québec’s Charter of the French Language, students who attended high school outside Québec may be required to pass the exam from the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) prior to licensure.
Graduates from the John Abbott Dental Hygiene program are sought after by employers due to their high level of preparedness for the the work place.
Click here to view the pictures during John Abbott College National Dental Hygiene Week.

This program is for you if…
- You possess good people skills
- You are scientifically inclined
- You enjoy working as part of a team
Where Dental Hygiene can take you!
Most graduates are employed in private dental practices; however public dental health and industry are also career options. Those interested in a career in education must pursue their studies to obtain a university degree which is the minimum requirement to teach in Dental Hygiene.
Information about program costs:
ITEM | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 |
Tuition (a) resident (b) non-resident |
a) $0 b) $1477 per semester= $2954 per year |
a) $0 b) $1477 per semester= $2954 per year |
a) $0 b) $1477 per semester= $2954 per year |
Registration fee | $162 per semester | $162 per semester | $162 per semester |
Instruments: (a) purchase (b) rental |
a) $210 b) $0 |
a) $1350 b) $0 |
a) $1250 b) $0 |
Laboratory fees | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 |
Diploma fees (convocation fee) | $ 60 | ||
Locker fees | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 |
Textbooks | $610 | $650 | $50 |
Miscellaneous fees for student associations, etc. | Included in Registration fee of $162/semester | ||
Clinic attire | $ 100-150. | $ 50. | $ 50. |
Additional items | Loupes: $900 – $1300 without a light | ||
These fees/costs are subject to change. |
Admission Requirements
CEGEP Requirements
A Secondary School Diploma which includes:
- Secondary 5 Language of Instruction
- Secondary 5 Second Language
- Secondary 4 Mathematics
- Secondary 4 Science and Technology
OR Secondary 4 Applied Science and Technology - Secondary 4 History and Citizenship Education
Program Prerequisites
This program has specific prerequisites.
- Sec. IV Science and Technology AND Sec. IV Environmental Science and Technology OR Applied Science and Technology AND Science and the Environment
- Sec. V Chemistry
- Sec. V Mathematics Technical & Scientific Option
OR Sec. V Mathematics Science Option
(EITHER OF THESE IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED)
OR a Secondary School Vocational Diploma which includes:
- Secondary 5 Language of Instruction
- Secondary 5 Second Language
- Secondary 4 Mathematics
Please Note
Applicants who have not studied in Québec must have education deemed equivalent by the College.
How To Apply
John Abbott College is affiliated with the Service régional d’admission du Montréal métropolitain (SRAM) and uses its online application service.
The application deadline is March 1.
Warning: The documents and payment must be submitted by the deadline.
Program start: Fall
To apply:
- Complete the online SRAM application
- Select John Abbott and the program of your choice along with the corresponding SRAM program number: 111.A0
- Upload any necessary documents directly to your online SRAM application
Students whose prerequisites are more than five years old should contact the Admissions Office.
Admissions Office
514-457-6610 x5358, 5355 & 5361
admissions@johnabbott.qc.ca
Dental Hygiene Department
514-457-6610 x5643
dental.hygiene@johnabbott.qc.ca
Student for a Day Program
You are interested in John Abbott College and would like spend a few hours on campus?
Please follow this link to fill out the form Student for a day, and someone will contact you to set up a time for you to come to JAC and discover our campus.
During the tour, you will visit our newly renovated library, our sports facilities, the campus store, the cafeteria, etc. You will also be shown all the services offered on “Main Street”. If you have questions about application and programs, you can speak to someone in Admissions.