Scrubs are medical/dental uniforms that consist of a matching top and bottom and a head cover. The head cover does not have to match the scrub top and bottom.

Scrubs will be required for all simulation lab and clinic sessions both on campus and off campus. Please contact Keri Pilon with any queries regarding obtaining scrubs.

Scrub colours and styles are standardized and assigned to student groups based on their program and year of graduation. You are required to wear the designated scrub colours for your cohort at all times when participating in any simulation and/or clinic activity in any School of Dentistry location.

To prevent contaminating your outerwear, vehicle, home and family it is strongly advised that you change out of soiled scrubs (worn during working or learning in patient care areas) before leaving campus for the day.

Change rooms and/or washrooms are available in all school locations.

For health and safety reasons, shoes worn in all school clinical and simulation locations must have closed toes, closed heels and a non-slip grip on the outer sole. Sandals or clog-style shoes are not allowed.

Clinical shoes are to be used for clinics only and stored onsite.  These shoes should be removed before going home and stored (in a bag) in KEC lockers.

You may wear street shoes to the ECHA simulation lab, provided they have closed toes, closed heels and a non-slip grip outer sole. 

Your eyes must be protected at all times when in patient care areas, student labs or simulation areas. Either safety glasses or a face shield must be worn.

Safety glasses that are CSA / ANSI certified with a brow extension and integrated side shields are required to be purchased by each student. Safety Glasses are available from any safety, hardware or medical supply vendor and from the UofA Bookstore. 

Safety glasses are required to be worn at all times when in the Simulation Lab and in Patient Care Areas on campus or off. The only time safety glasses are not required when participating in simulation and/or clinical experiences is when you are wearing a full face shield (see next section). 

Face shields are worn to protect you by deflecting any potentially contaminated sprays or splashes away from your face during patient care. They increase the effectiveness of medical masks by preventing them from becoming wet.

A face shield that can fit over dental loupes and covers your entire face from brow to chin is required to be purchased by each student. Full-face shields are recommended to be worn for all Aerosol Generating Procedures (AGPs).

Safety glasses should be removed before donning a face shield and replaced after doffing a face shield. 

Magnifying loupes used in dentistry must double as safety glasses with integrated side shields and should always be worn with a full face shield for AGPs. You will receive more information on the required specifications and how and when to purchase loupes at the beginning of your program.

Lab coats are an optional PPE item you may wish to purchase. They help prevent self-contamination during breaks. Lab coats are worn over your scrubs once they have been worn during patient care when you are eating, or drinking at break times. If you need to run over to ECHA or the hospital wearing scrubs that have been worn for patient care, you can prevent self-contamination by covering them with a lab coat.

You can purchase a lab coat on campus from the U of A Book Store or you may choose to buy your lab coat online or in person from a retail medical/dental uniform vendor. We recommend lab coats that are knee length, with long sleeves & a high neckline. Lab coats must cover your scrubs entirely from the base of your neck to your knees.

If you already own a lab coat, it's fine to use as long as meets the above requirements and is in good condition and freshly laundered.

You will learn the why, when and how of using masks, gloves and overgowns in our Clinical Preparation Course, Infection Prevention and Control Modules. 

All masks, gowns and gloves will be provided for you at your simulation and clinical locations.