Dental Assistant III

Classification & Regular Hours

• Hours per Week: 37.5
• Salary Grade: Level N

About Western

Since 1878, Western University has been committed to serving our communities through the pursuit of academic excellence and by providing students, faculty, and community members with life-long opportunities for intellectual, social, and cultural growth. We seek excellent students, faculty, and staff to join us in what has become known as the "Western Experience" - an opportunity to contribute to a better world through the development of new knowledge, new abilities, new connections, and new ways to make a difference.

About Us

Western's Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry is a leading Canadian Centre of outstanding education and research shaping health care for the next generation. The Schulich Dentistry team strives to obtain international recognition through excellence in dental education, research, and patient care. To foster that vision, Schulich Dentistry develops the knowledge and skills in dental professionals to provide exemplary care to the diverse communities that we serve and to influence the future of undergraduate and postgraduate dental education through scholarly inquiry, innovation, and research. The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry is the largest Faculty on campus and employs over 2,000 part-time and full time faculty and over 1,000 staff.

Responsibilities

The Dental Assistant provides dental assisting and related clinical support to faculty, students (Dental (DDS, Graduate and Post-Graduate), Dental Assisting and Hygiene) and accompanying persons (e.g. parents, guardians, spouses) within their assigned clinical area. The role provides chairside assisting to students to support their patients, including preparing models and specialized dental devices, assisting with taking and developing oral photographs and providing education on oral hygiene procedures and care of dental devices to patients and their families. The Dental Assistant facilitates sterilization of equipment and adherence to infection control procedures and ensuring clinic protocols, policies and procedures are followed. The work varies according to the schedule assigned (morning, day, or evening), the function of the assigned clinical area (Oral Surgery, Children's Clinic, Adult Clinic, Endodontic Clinic, Emergency Clinic, Radiology, Dental Outreach Community Service (DOCS), etc.), time of year (start, mid- or end-of-term), and the needs of the patients, students or faculty.

Qualifications

• Education:
  • 1 year community college diploma with a major in Dental Assisting Level 2
  • Health & Radiation Protection Certification (HARP)
  • Current Completion of 9 Public Health Ontario Modules, Reprocessing in the Community
• Experience:
  • 3 years experience in chairside assisting, fabrication of dental devices, sterilization and infection control in a dental clinic environment
• Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
  • Knowledge of 4-handed chairside dentistry techniques, dental terminology and procedures, infection control and sterilization standards
  • Ability to provide guidance on the proper and safe use of materials and equipment with proven ability to follow and ensure adherence with procedures that ensure safety
  • Verbal communication skills to clearly express ideas in an objective manner, and adapt communication style to suit the situation and audience
  • Demonstrated ability take initiative, to work independently and follow through on work assignments
  • Ability to apply active listening to hear and understand the complete message being communicated
  • Competency to maintain confidentiality and treat sensitive information with discretion
  • Ability to establish rapport with people from diverse backgrounds
  • Ability to maintain a positive, outgoing attitude with genuine customer service orientation
  • Ability to multi-task and maintain an organized and effective personal work environment
  • Adapts readily and effectively to changing priorities and demands
  • Personable and courteous in working relationships with colleagues, students and the public
  • Ability to demonstrate patience and focus to complete detailed tasks
  • Ability to work independently and effectively as a member of the team to achieve department goals
  • Basic proficiency required in Microsoft Office in order to prepare correspondence, emails and input departmental data into spreadsheets and databases
  • Familiarity with software applications used by Western preferred e.g. Patient Record System
  • Proven ability to follow and ensure adherence with procedures that ensure safety
  • Familiarity with Western policies and guidelines preferred
  • Due to the operations of multiple clinical areas, the Dental Assistants work schedule fluctuates periodically and may require ability to work evening and occasional weekend shifts

Union Statement

Western welcomes applications from all qualified individuals; however, it is the university's policy to give first consideration to all qualified UWOSA applicants.

Western Values Diversity

The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Western is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcomes applications from women, members of racialized groups/visible minorities, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation, and persons of any gender identity or gender expression. Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you require accommodations for interviews or other meetings, please contact Human Resources at hrhelp@uwo.ca or phone 519-661-2194.

Please Note:

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those chosen for an interview will be contacted.