Program Overview

Introduction to the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry

The Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry is dedicated to educating dental, dental hygiene, and graduate students in a progressive learning environment, conducting research in oral health, and serving the community and the oral health professions as a source of knowledge and expertise.

Academic Programs

The college offers the following academic programs:

• Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD)
• International Dentist Degree Program (IDDP)
• Dental Hygiene

Admission Requirements

Doctor of Dental Medicine

• Minimum 60 credit hours of pre-dentistry study
• High school prerequisites: Chemistry 40S, Pre-Calculus Mathematics 40S or Applied Mathematics 40S, Physics 40S, and Biology 40S
• English Canadian Dental Aptitude Test (DAT) must be written no later than November prior to the application deadline
• Personal interview required
• Admission is competitive, with selection criteria including grades, interview, and DAT score

International Dentist Degree Program

• Open to graduates of international dental programs not accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada
• Requires completion of a summer orientation program prior to entering the 3rd year of the regular dental program
• Upon satisfactory completion of the 3rd and 4th years, participants are awarded the DMD degree

Course Descriptions

The college offers a wide range of courses, including:

• Dentistry
• Dental Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences
• Oral Biology
• Preventive Dental Science
• Restorative Dentistry

College Academic Regulations

• Students are required to attend all scheduled classes, examinations, small group sessions, laboratories, pre-clinical labs, and clinics
• A minimum term GPA of 2.0 is required to qualify for standing in each year
• Students who fail to obtain a minimum term GPA of 2.0 may be considered to have failed the year
• The college has a professional unsuitability bylaw, which may require a student to withdraw if they are found unsuited for the practice of dentistry

Essential Skills and Abilities

The college has established essential skills and abilities required for admission, promotion, and graduation in the DMD program, including:

• Observation/perception
• Communication
• Motor/tactile function
• Cognition
• Emotional functioning

Immunization and Blood Borne Diseases Policy

The college maintains comprehensive immunization requirements to protect the wellbeing of students and the health of patients and communities with whom they will have contact during their curriculum.

Instruments, Computers, and Textbooks

Students are required to own or purchase a PC laptop computer and clinical instruments, and are responsible for maintaining the condition of their instruments and staying within allotted supply levels.

Registration Exceptions

The college completes registration for all students in their courses, and students who have a failing grade or other outstanding academic matters may not be registered in the next ensuing academic session until all outstanding matters have been cleared.