I am a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA), and an adult educator. I am passionate about both professions, and have been ‘practicing’ for many years in beautiful British Columbia. I like that the word ‘practice’ implies that my chosen careers are works in progress! I must also acknowledge that I am a grateful settler in Canada and specifically on the unceded territory of the Sylix Okanagan People.
Perhaps I should begin by explaining what being a Certified Dental Assistant involves, specifically in the province of British Columbia. Upon completion of a ten month accredited certificate program (I attended Okanagan College), a CDA must register with the British Columbia College of Oral Health Professionals (BCCOHP) to become licensed to practice. The license is renewable annually. Requirements for renewal include: mandatory proof of consecutive practice, and a minimum of thirty-six hours of continuing education every three years. I love that the BCCOHP fosters lifelong learning! A CDA is licensed to practice under the direction of a dentist or dental specialist in many capacities, which include: setting up for treatment, assisting the doctor during treatment (passing instruments, irrigating, suctioning, retracting, mixing materials, placing matrices, placing etch & bond), giving post-operative instruction, removing sutures, providing preventative care (polishing clinical crowns, applying fluoride and desensitizers, placing pit & fissure sealants, and giving oral healthcare instruction), obtaining patient’s records (medical and dental history, intra oral and extra oral radiographs, study models, and digital impressions), maintaining a chain of asepsis in the dental office, and lastly (and most importantly) providing professional and compassionate patient care. A CDA can work in general dentistry, and in the dental specialties by receiving further certification modules in Orthodontics, Prosthodontics, and Sedation. CDAs also acquire National Certification by examination (NDAEB).
My practice as an adult educator began the first time I mentored a new CDA graduate and modeled the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required by dentistry, and evolved through my Adult Education Diploma followed by my Master of Education Degree (Curriculum and Instruction Post-secondary). My research during my Master’s degree focused on recruitment and retention of lifelong learners, and the progression of innovative and individualized (equitable) learning strategies that align with curricular outcomes. My current research focuses on creating professional development opportunities, which ties in with the retention of professionals in practice.
This website archives my evolution from CDA to Adult Educator. I digress along the way: that is go off on a tangent once in a while, and rant about topics outside of, but still connected to dentistry and education. My Blog Posts are my tangent.
About the artwork: The art on my posts and pages are originals produced by my daughter Isabel Truant.
About the photographs: The photographs on my posts and pages are originals produced by myself, unless otherwise stated.
Kathryn Truant CDA MEd - A CDA's Role in Adult Education 