Dental Assistant

HealthCaringKW; Kitchener; On-site; CAD 30,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a dedicated team at a community health center focused on improving health outcomes for individuals facing barriers. As a Dental Assistant, you will play a crucial role in maintaining clinic operations, providing chair-side assistance, and ensuring a welcoming environment for clients. This position offers the opportunity to work collaboratively with a diverse team of health professionals, contributing to meaningful initiatives aimed at reducing health inequities. With a supportive work culture and a comprehensive benefits package, this role is perfect for those passionate about making a difference in community health.

Benefits

Paid Vacation Leave

Paid Public Holidays

Sick Leave

Defined Benefit Pension Plan

Extended Health and Dental Insurance

Life Insurance

Employee Assistance Plan

Qualifications

• Completion of CDA Level II Dental Assisting program required.
• Excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills needed.
• Experience providing administrative support for a dental clinic.

Responsibilities

• Provide chair-side assistance to the clinic dentist as needed.
• Maintain daily schedule and contact clients for appointments.
• Assist clients with completion of various consent forms.

Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Problem-Solving Skills

Organizational Skills

Communication Skills

Knowledge of Dental Procedures

Education

CDA Level II Dental Assisting Program

National Dental Assisting Examining Board Certificate

Current CPR Level C Certification

Tools

Microsoft Office

Dental Practice Management Software

X-ray Machines

Dentrix

Job description

The Community Healthcaring KW provides a broad range of services aimed at improving the
health of individuals and the wider community. Our services include medical and dental care,
health promotion, illness prevention and outreach programming. Our expertise and resources are
focused on working with those who experience health inequities and barriers to accessing health
services. Collaborating as an interdisciplinary team, we provide services and supports that
address the social determinants of health including factors and barriers such as poverty,
inadequate housing, food insecurity, substance use, language and culture, as well as stigma and
social exclusion.

The Community Healthcaring KW works with the most complex client population served by
primary health care professionals within Waterloo Region. Our highly skilled and diverse team
works from a strength-based approach with individual clients as well as the broader community.
We collaborate with many partner agencies and organizations within Waterloo Region. Our team
consists of Family Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, Social Workers,
Dietitians, Chiropodists, Pharmacists, Psychiatrists, Health Promoters, Community Health
Workers, Administrative Staff and Volunteers.

We invite you to consider this opportunity to join our team and contribute to this important work.
The Health Centre is currently recruiting for the following position:

Job Title: Dental Assistant
Pay: $21.26 – $25.99 per hour
Full- Time Fixed Term Contract- FTE 1.0 until June 31st, 2026

Position Summary
The Dental Assistant maintains efficient operation of the dental clinic as well as providing
chairside assistance and other duties as defined in their scope of practice. Working alongside
other members of the Health Wellness administrative team, they help to create a welcoming,
respectful environment and provide information and support to clients seeking access to a variety
of Community Healthcaring Kitchener-Waterloo (the Health Centre) services and other social
supports.

Specific Responsibilities
1. Provide chair-side assistance to the clinic dentist, as needed.
2. Expose and mount radiographs as specified by HARP Act (1990) using digital X-ray
machines & software.
3. Perform other clinic duties, as needed (e.g., sterilizing, operatory clean-up & set-up,
charting).
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4. Answer client questions regarding the Program. Directs to the appropriate information
source when required.
5. Assist clients with completion of Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program application forms.
Screens client applications to verify eligibility.
6. Assist clients with completion of various consent / information forms.
7. Maintain daily schedule. Contacts clients to schedule appointments, re-scheduling, and
cancellations as required.
8. Maintain waiting list of clients.
9. Prepare, maintain, update, retrieve, track and file charts electronically.
10. Update client records and documents with completed treatment and procedures.
11. Maintain document management and distribution systems, as well as maintenance of
inventory of necessary forms and supplies.
12. Maintain records of statistics required by the Region of Waterloo.
13. Perform reception duties such as answering telephone, photocopying and faxing.
14. Work during both regular and extended hours (evenings/weekends) and in Outreach
locations within Kitchener as determined by the Health Centre..
15. Participate in team and staff meetings and other meetings and committee work as
appropriate to support both service delivery and organizational goals.
16. Work from a Social Determinants of Health perspective to improve health outcomes for
individual clients and/or for the development of community health and well-being, and to
reduce health inequities.
17. Work individually and collaboratively in the development and implementation of quality
improvement initiatives and activities.
18. Work in a manner that preserves privacy and confidentiality.
19. Work in a manner that ensures client safety and minimizes risk to clients, volunteers and
the Centre.
20. Work in a manner consistent with the Health Centre’s Vision, Mission and Values.
21. Work in a manner consistent with the Health Centre’s policy and commitment to
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in all processes and practices.
22. Work in a manner that demonstrates self-reflection and personal accountability for work
performance.
23. Contribute to the Health Centre’s practices of hiring, orienting and training of staff.
24. Collect, analyze and report on data and relevant information as required.
25. Participate in research as determined by the Health Centre.
26. Adhere to all Health Centre policies.
27. Adhere to appropriate infection control practices including those related to Covid -19.
28. Maintain status of fully vaccinated for Covid-19, including boosters as they become
available – or exemption documentation if appropriate.
29. Perform any other duties as assigned by your supervisor.

Accountability

The position is accountable to the Manager, Health Wellness

Qualifications

1. Completion of CDA Level II Dental Assisting program.
2. National Dental Assisting Examining Board Certificate and current certification with
Ontario Dental Assistants Association.
3. Highly organized, flexible and able to manage multiple responsibilities.
4. Excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills.
5. Experience providing administrative support for a dental clinic.
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6. Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office and dental practice management software
systems.
7. Knowledge of the safe operation of an X-ray machine and quality assurance protocols,
dental terminology, dental procedures, and the operation and care of dental equipment,
safety management in a dental setting, preventive strategies, infection prevention and
control protocols.
8. Good understanding of client privacy laws (PHIPA, 2004).
9. Experience with rubber dam placement and removal an asset.
10. Experience with Dentrix would be considered an asset.
11. Experience working with low-income seniors an asset.
12. Current CPR, level C certification.
13. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in English, both written and verbally.
14. Ability to work independently as well as an effective member of an interdisciplinary
team.
15. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively.
16. Experience working sensitively with culturally and economically diverse populations.
17. Ability to obtain a Police Vulnerable Sector Check satisfactory to the Health Centre.
18. 2-Factor Authentication for Outlook is App based (Microsoft Authenticator Application)
and used to ensure the security of our online accounts. 2-FA requires the use of a
personal mobile device with a recent operating system.

Benefit package:
• Paid Vacation Leave: 3 weeks to start; 4 weeks after 1 year
• Paid Public Holidays & Sick Leave
• Defined Benefit Pension Plan (through HOOPP)
• Extended health and dental insurance
• Life, Accidental Death, and Long-Term Disability insurance
• Employee Assistance Plan

Application Deadline: April 25th, 2025

The Health Centre values the diversity of its staff and welcomes applications from people of all
races, ethnicity, religions, culture, sexual orientation, gender identity and those with disabilities.
Individuals with a disability requiring accommodation during the application and/or the
interview process should advise the recruitment contact noted above so that suitable
arrangements can be made.

Personal information submitted will only be used for the purposes of this recruitment process.
We appreciate all expressions of interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be
contacted.