With some great options for dental assistant schools in Montana, it is easy to get on the pathway to getting your certification as a dental assistant in Montana. We walk you through the steps below and show that this great healthcare field in Montana is seeing tremendous growth too!
Find Approved Montana Dental Assistant Courses
How to Go About Becoming a dental assistant in Montana
In the great state of Montana, their dental practice act does not give the basic dental assistant a defined role. Only a dental auxiliary has been given the right to perform the supportive dental procedures that are subsequently required to be supervised by a licensed dentist in Montana.
Becoming a Montana dental auxiliary has three choices for entrance in to the career. We detail them below.
1 – Graduate from a CODA-approved dental assisting program
2 – Receive direct training and instruction from a licensed dentist
3 – Take and successfully finish a continuing education course that is currently approved by the Montana Board of Dentistry.
Here is a list of some the duties that a Dental Auxiliary can do in Montana:
Collect patient data
Coronal polishing
Removal sutures/dressings
Application of topical fluoride agents
Radiographic exposures
Giving oral health instructions
Placing/removing rubber dams
Pit and fissure sealants
Taking impressions
Placing/removing matrices
Placing/removing temporary restoration with hand instruments only
Application of topical anesthetic agents
Initiating, adjusting and monitoring nitrous oxide flow for a patient who has been prescribed and administered nitrous oxide by a licensed dentist
Removing excess cement from coronal surfaces
CODA Approved Dental Assisting Classes in Montana
Great Falls College – Montana State University – Dental Assisting Program
2100 16th Avenue South – P.O. Box 6010 Great Falls 59405-6010
406-771-4351
Salish Kootenai College
Box 70 Pablo 59855
406-275-4907
Great Falls College – Montana State University – Dental Hygiene Program
2100 16th Avenue South – P.O. Box 6010 Great Falls 59405-6010
406-771-4389
Dental Assistant Salary and Jobs Outlook for Montana
The data table below highlights the most recent data from bls.gov on dental assisting salary offered in Montana and you should see a 15% spike in new jobs across Montana for new dental assistants too!.
| Location | Pay Type | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Hourly | $12.24 | $17.76 | $25.00 |
| Yearly | $25,460 | $36,940 | $52,000 | |
| Montana | Hourly | $12.22 | $16.63 | $22.28 |
| Yearly | $25,420 | $34,590 | $46,350 | |
| Billings, MT MSA | Hourly | $13.71 | $19.05 | $24.15 |
| Yearly | $28,520 | $39,630 | $50,220 | |
| Western Montana BOS | Hourly | $11.47 | $16.94 | $21.39 |
| Yearly | $23,850 | $35,240 | $44,490 | |
| Central Montana BOS | Hourly | $12.51 | $16.54 | $22.52 |
| Yearly | $26,020 | $34,410 | $46,840 | |
| Great Falls, MT MSA | Hourly | $13.20 | $16.33 | $19.23 |
| Yearly | $27,460 | $33,970 | $40,000 | |
| Southwestern Montana BOS | Hourly | $12.38 | $16.25 | $21.58 |
| Yearly | $25,740 | $33,790 | $44,880 | |
| Eastern Montana BOS | Hourly | $10.54 | $15.74 | $21.40 |
| Yearly | $21,930 | $32,730 | $44,520 | |
| Missoula, MT MSA | Hourly | $10.96 | $15.52 | $19.42 |
| Yearly | $22,790 | $32,270 | $40,400 |