Dental Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences, Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry
Rady Faculty of Health Sciences
Position number: 37111
Date posted: August 12, 2026
Dental Assistant - DA2 (AESES)
Existing Regular Sessional Full-Time (Budget Funded)
Work schedule:
35 hours/week, Various Shifts (Monday to Friday, between 8:00 – 5:30)
Salary:
$22.91 to $31.34 per hour ($41,696.20 to $57,038.80 per annum)plus vacation pay
Expected Start Date
September 14, 2026
For more information please contact: Michelle Oshanyk - [email protected] (2042952737)
MINIMAL FORMAL EDUCATION REQUIRED:
- Successful completion of a recognized Phase II Dental Assisting/ Chairside course, including the advanced module.
EXPERIENCE:
- One year of related experience in a dental office is required.
- Current unrestricted active dental assistant licensure with the Manitoba Dental Association is required.
- Experience with dental billing.
- Experience working with patients of all ages.
- 2 years dental assisting experience in a dental office with Perio Surgery experience preferred.
- Computer Training (Excel, Word, Microsoft 365 – Teams, SharePoint, and Clinic Management Systems such as axiUm).
- An acceptable equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
- Ability to work well with students, staff and the general public is required.
- Ability to maintain calm professional demeanor during times of high operational tempo and multiple demanding tasks is required.
- Ability to assist and provide direct patient care in all dental specialties, including oral pathology, dental sleep medicine, oral surgery, periodontics, paediatric dentistry, prosthodontics, endodontics, undergraduate orthodontics, oral radiology and TMJ clinics is required.
- Ability to communicate well with others is required.
- Use specialized instruments and equipment is required.
- Reassure patients to help reduce anxiety with dental procedures are required.
- Provide assistance to patients with special needs is required.
- Physically capable of performing the duties as assigned, which include working in awkward positions and sitting and standing for period of up to three hours is required.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills in order to communicate effectively and diplomatically and work harmoniously and provide effective assistance to co-workers, residents, and the public is required.
- Ability to prioritize tasks in a fast-paced work setting with shifting priorities is required.
- As a requirement for employment in the College of Dentistry, all staff in a clinical setting is required to submit a Child Abuse Registry Check at the time of hire.
- A satisfactory work record, including satisfactory attendance and punctuality, is required.
OTHER JOB RELATED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Current health care CPR certification.
- Formal WHMIS training preferred.
- Advanced course in Implants preferred.
CHAIRSIDE DENTAL ASSISTING:
The incumbent works closely with the full- time Graduate Periodontic Dental
Assistants during scheduled and non-scheduled times. During this time, duties may
include:
- Assists students, residents and faculty during a variety of dental procedures working with
a vast array of patients.
- Assists and helps to provide direct patient care in all dental specialties, including oral
pathology, dental sleep medicine, oral surgery, periodontics, paediatric dentistry,
prosthodontics, endodontics, undergraduate orthodontics, oral radiology and TMJ
clinics.
- Performs specialized and delegated intra-oral Perio services.
- Assists surgical procedures such as tooth extractions, hemi-sections, root amputations,
full quadrant open flap surgery, implant surgery, periodontal splinting, free gingival graft
surgery, connective graft surgery, pocket elimination surgery, crown lengthening
surgery, indirect and direct subantral augmentation, block grafting and particulate bone
grafting with non-resorbable membranes.
- Takes and exposes x-rays upon request.
- Monitors and assists in assuring that a high level of infection control procedures is
maintained in the clinical areas.
- Provides chair side assistance to Residents at all levels of training in the Graduate
Periodontic Clinic including:
- Seats the patients in the dental chairs and takes blood pressure readings,
administers prescription pre- rinse as directed by resident or instructor and drapes
the patient prior to surgery.
- Performs specialized and delegated intra-oral Perio services:
- Intra-oral suture cutting and removal.
- Places topical anesthetic as directed by resident or instructor.
- Desensitizes areas of sensitive teeth as required by Residents.
- Mixes and takes alginate impressions as required.
- After supportive therapy performs prophylaxis as required.
- During surgery, the incumbent is required to reflect the tissue flaps when a student does degranulation.
- Incumbent must have the knowledge and be able to mix and handle specialized surgical materials.
- Incumbent assist surgical procedures such as tooth extractions, hemi-sections, root amputations, full quadrant open flap surgery, implant surgery, periodontal splinting, free gingival graft surgery, connective graft surgery, pocket elimination surgery, crown lengthening surgery, indirect and direct subantral augmentation, block grafting and particulate bone grafting with non resorbable membranes.
- Assures proper sterile technique is used while the operatory is prepared for the surgery
taking place and the proper instruments and materials for specific surgeries are
available for graduate periodontal Residents and undergrad Perio surgery students.
- Obtains biopsy bottles from the lab and maintains an adequate supply for the clinic.
- Measures fill and label bottles of Chlorhexidine Oral Rinse.
- Assists with preparing dental materials.
- Monitors and assists in assuring that a high level of infection control procedures is maintained during surgical procedures as well routine procedures and maintains a standard of cleanliness in the clinical areas, which is acceptable for proper patient care.
- Prepares operatories for surgical procedures before and after clinic session, cleans instruments and operatory.
- Prepares surgical trays, cleans, and lubricates handpieces, does the ultrasonic cleaning of implant components, and organizes in kits, for sterilizing.
- Disinfects and prepares equipment for storage.
- Unpacks dental supplies as they arrive at the clinic and keeps an inventory of items used, and items that need to be ordered.
- On a daily/weekly as need basis replenishes consumable supplies routinely stocked in the Graduate Periodontal Clinic. Prepares items for surgery i.e., gown sets, sterile towel packs, iodine rinse and sodium hypochlorite used in the Cavi-Med.
- Reports any malfunction of dental equipment to Director.
- The incumbent monitors the post-surgery cleaning of the instruments and re-setting of the surgical tray and takes equipment to sterilizing.
- Sets-up for and assists with procedures in monthly specialty clinics (Periodontic and Oral Pathology).
- Monitor’s oxygen tank levels and orders oxygen cylinders for clinical use. Orders Medi Gas maintenance as required.
- Skilled at using digital dentistry technology.
- Assists part-time Periodontist instructors with student computer entries.
- Perform universal IPAC precautions while monitoring and reporting on student, staff and faculty compliance with College IPAC and Clinic Manual policies and procedures.
- Verifies appropriate fees are charged using MDA or College fee guide.
RECEPTION DUTIES:
The incumbent works closely with the full-time Graduate Periodontic Clinic Patient Care Coordinator during scheduled and non-scheduled clinical times. During this time, the following duties would need to be covered:
- As required, answers questions and solves problems in reception regarding
appointment bookings of patients.
- Assists with scheduling appointments for patients treated in the Graduate Periodontics program including Dental Hygienists.
- Provides appointment schedules to the Residents; contacts patients for missed appointments.
- Sends out contact letters as needed.
- As required, answers the telephone, handles inquiries, and relays messages to Residents and staff.
- Problem-solving, i.e., directing patients who need immediate assistance in resolving medical needs, pertaining to periodontal surgeries.
- Prepares laundry for pick-up and contacts Health Sciences Laundry or Canadian Linen for pick-up and cleaning of surgical gowns, delivers a statement to administration, as required.
- Assists with scanning of patient charts and documents into the Clinic Management System (axiUm).
- Opens and closes the Reception Office, as required.
- Assists with receptionist duties when the Patient Care Coordinator is away due to illness or absence from the Clinic.
- Upon completion of treatment, the incumbent assists with end of year clearance duties which may include ending the assignment of the patient to the Grad student, preparing charts and models as inactive for storage, and shreds charts at year end, etc.
OTHER:
- Participates in special projects as needed in the clinic and as assigned by the Director of the Program.
- Participates in special projects (Research), as required.
- Assists in other clinics within the College when needed.
- May be required to perform related duties not exceeding skills and capabilities as required.
Please note this position is subject to a seasonal layoff.
The University of Manitoba is committed to the principles of equity, diversity & inclusion and to promoting opportunities in hiring, promotion and tenure (where applicable) for systemically marginalized groups who have been excluded from full participation at the University and the larger community including Indigenous Peoples, women, racialized persons, persons with disabilities and those who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ (Two Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, questioning, intersex, asexual and other diverse sexual identities).
If you require accommodation supports during the recruitment process, please contact [email protected] or 204-474-7195. Please note this contact information is for accommodation reasons only.
Application materials, including letters of reference, will be handled in accordance with the protection of privacy provisions of "The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act" (Manitoba). Please note that curriculum vitae will be provided to participating members of the search process.
