dental assistant

dental hygienist

receptionist/administrative assistant

medical technician

treatment coordinator

Vancouver Island Smiles

This clinic had an INCREDIBLE team of dentists, CDA’s, hygienists, admin, etc when I worked there and, sadly, the management was blind to that and have had over 20 people either quit or get fired without cause in their 2 years open. There is so much micromanaging and zero trust in their employees. Very minor errors resulted in next day meetings with 4 managers confronting staff about how we could do better.
It is all about production here, which, yes, makes a successful company, but you have to be well staffed for that kind of insanity. You can’t expect the skeleton crew to run the whole show to perfection levels. This clinic is INSANELY busy. When people would quit, the managers would tell the rest of the staff “not everyone likes a busy clinic, that’s why they left” No, we left because it’s beyond CRAZY busy and management hides behind closed doors planning their next “amazing” adventure. 2025-the year of stability we were told—only to turn around and build 4 more operatories .
The associate dentists are fantastic and I feel sorry for them to have to deal with the revolving door of staff while they are stuck in contracts. Every time another one of would quit they would be pleading the rest to stay.
The amazing Google reviews are true—it’s a beautiful clinic and the staff were, and some still there, are amazing, but the management wears everyone down.
The icing on the cake…as every amazing admin left, one by one, they solved that problem by hiring remote staff at a call centre in Africa. They have at least 8, probably more now, “staff” working out of a call centre across the world. They answer the phones, book treatments, answer patient questions, and do accounts receivable at a fraction of the wages. This clinic may be Canadian owned but they sure aren’t ‘pro’ keeping work in Canada.
Do yourself a favour and don’t even put in your application….you’ll regret it.

A typical day at Nanaimo Smiles is fast-paced and rewarding, balancing patient interactions, scheduling, and teamwork. I’ve learned excellent organizational skills, multitasking, and clear communication under pressure. Management is approachable, supportive, and genuinely invested in both staff growth and patient care. The workplace culture is collaborative and positive—everyone supports each other, which makes even busy days enjoyable. The hardest part of the job is managing unexpected scheduling changes or high patient volume, but the most enjoyable part is connecting with patients and helping create a welcoming experience for them. Overall, it’s a professional, encouraging environment where you can truly grow.

I have worked with this company for several years now as a Registered Dental Hygienist. I have found management to be very supportive.  They have an open-door policy and are great at listening to any ideas, suggestions, or concerns.  The office is modern and spacious. Each operatory has excellent ergonomics which is not always easy to find in a dental office.  I have enjoyed working with modern equipment and brand-new instruments.  Since working in the practice I have received regular raises, a uniform allowance, medical and dental benefits, and paid CE credits.
There are also regular staff appreciation events usually with fun themes, such as, wreath making or bowling which is great for morale.  Everyone on the team is kind and we have a lot of fun together. You will always hear laughter in the halls and staff room.
Dentistry requires working with detail under pressure. It can often be a fast pace. It is not for everyone, but if you enjoy those skills this is the place to be. I highly recommend Nanaimo Smiles!   

As part of our management team, I manage the the accounts receivable for the clinics and assist with interviews.  I was invited to join the management team after one year of employment with Smiles. There is room for growth!    Some of the things I  like and respect about my employment with Smiles; The patience, respect and kindness that is shown to all staff, the work/life balance is the best I have experienced in my 25 year career, patient care is the top priority with all of our doctors and therefore aligns perfectly with my values.  Both offices are very busy. Fortunately, the practice is well managed with over staffing, rather than understaffing.  The benefits are good and the wages are excellent. Overall, this is a fun and supportive place to work.  Our days are filled with excellent patient care,  great  support and more often than not, you will hear patients and practitioners' laughter coming from the various operatories.  (Dr. Stymiest  has the most jovial laugh of everyone).  This is a long term A+ employer!

I have been working with Nadia since prior to Nanaimo Smiles even opening. I started in dentistry in 2016 and am so thankful for her seeing something in me that inspired her to support me in my career growth. It is so rare to find an employer that helps you feel seen as a mutual, and individual, and as a person with their own life, emotions, goals, and needs. I consciously choose day and day again to work with Nadia and the wonderful team that encapsulates Nanaimo and Ladysmith Smiles. I appreciate the flexibility that is given when I need to take time off. I appreciate the genuine care for patient experience to be safe and comfortable. I also appreciate the benefits provided to me - not gonna lie, lol! I know that our entire team is a kind, empathetic team, who are inclusive, welcoming, and caring. That’s important to me and I appreciate that I show up and feel that way!

The CEO will write in the company slack every mistake that was ever made for hours on end until late into the night. There's no privacy in this clinic- management is always watching you and treats you like you will fail. Everything you say will be criticized. Everything you do will be critisized- no sticky notes to remember things are allowed. Management also insisted on keeping cameras open on our desk which was creepy. 

Management LITERALLY will stick their ear to the door to listen to you.

On our busiest day, with limited staff, half of our staff did not have time to take a lunch, management had a big party in the back with pizza and wine, then said it was our own fault that certain people couldn't take their break. 

People always getting fired or quitting. Management will then talk very poorly of the people who left.

Most people who work there are there because they have no other option.

Overall, this clinic provides a strong environment for professional growth within a busy, patient-centered dental practice. The day-to-day work is structured, fast-paced, and focused on delivering high-quality patient care, which creates a sense of purpose and pride in the work being done.

A typical day involves supporting clinical teams through patient flow, coordination, and ensuring operational consistency across schedules and treatment delivery. While the pace can be demanding, it also creates excellent exposure to a wide range of clinical and administrative scenarios, which strengthens both confidence and skill over time.

I had the pleasure of working alongside Dr. Nadia long before Nanaimo Smiles and now am lucky enough to be a patient at her incredible Nanaimo location. Nadia brings joy to the workplace and she is a wonderful team player. As a CDA, my workdays were by nature incredibly busy but working in an environment where I felt respected and supported made all the difference…I never felt like “an employee” but a valued part of a team. As a patient, I have had the benefit of thorough, state of the art care in a modern and cheery environment. From the moment I step through the front doors I can tell that it is a warm and inclusive space. I have been so pleased to see Nanaimo Smiles thrive in our community and I am more than happy to endorse this clinic as a place to work (and from the other side of the dental chair)! 

I had the opportunity to work under Nadia Stymiest , as well as the other associates at Nanaimo smiles part time for over a year! My experience was only positive . All of my colleagues were friendly and supportive and the management was extremely professional, caring, considerate and we’re always willing do to what’s best for there employees and the company. Throughout the day my patients always left with a smile and were treated with excellent care. Overall I only have positive things to say about this buisness and hope to continue working professionally with this team 

I have been loving my job at Nanaimo Smiles since I started! The staff are all great, and the job itself has been very fast-paced, there also is a variety of things to always get done so it is never boring. The office is so spacious, bright & beautiful! I have been learning so much since I have started and am so grateful to have the opportunity to work for this company. 
The only downside I have found is that the company is still growing, so at times there can be lots of hands in the pot which can get overwhelming, however I believe this will get sorted out over time! 
My favourite part of my job is probably the people that I get to work with, everyone here is awesome and they make everyday so positive! 

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Dental assistant 14 salaries reported	$33.21 per hour
Dental hygienist 11 salaries reported	$58.23 per hour
Receptionist/administrative assistant 6 salaries reported	$26.83 per hour
Medical technician 5 salaries reported	$26.50 per hour
Treatment coordinator 2 salaries reported	$36.75 per hour

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