Trade Schools
If you’re a compassionate person and you want to start a dental career in the state of Montana, the dental assisting profession is worth exploring.
Here you will discover more about the best dental assistant schools in your state and the programs they offer.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, Montana dental assistants made $43,280 per year.
Before being ready to apply for your first job in a dental office, you have to study a few topics, including:
- Ethics for the Dental Assistant
- Basic Dental Sciences
- Dental Anatomy
- Oral Pathology
- Infection Control
- Caring for Exceptional Patients
- Dental Instruments
- And more
The programs included in our list are designed to get you ready for entry-level employment in dental assisting through a combination of theoretical and hands-on training.
1Montana State University
About the School
Montana State University provides more than 250 undergraduate programs and over 115 graduate programs.
It also offers 22 job-focused programs through Gallatin College.
Courses Offered
Montana State University provides students in the Gallatin Valley and surrounding communities the opportunity to earn a dental assistant certificate through the OneMSU Network.
Using Gallatin College MSU in Bozeman as their home, students can take required math, writing, and communication courses locally from Gallatin College in Bozeman.
They receive hands-on clinical training at dental facilities in Bozeman.
Students earn a certificate in dental assisting from Great Falls College in as little as one year.
Contact Information
- Address: Culbertson Hall, 100, Bozeman, MT 59717, United States
- Phone: 406-994-0211
- Website: https://www.montana.edu
2University of Montana
About the School
The University of Montana offers online non-credit training for students who want to become dental assistants.
The fully online course is designed to prepare students with the technical skills to join a dental office as clinical dental assistants.
After successfully completing this course, students receive a voucher to sit for the Anatomy, Morphology, Physiology, Infection Control, and Radiation Health and Safety portions of the Dental Assisting National Board exams.
The program fee is $2,995.
The program includes 300 hours of online instruction.
Students received 12 months of online, self-paced access to the classes.
Courses Offered
The curriculum includes classes on:
- The Dental Profession
- Communication Skills
- Ethics for the Dental Assistant
- Basic Dental Sciences
- Dental Anatomy
- Oral Pathology
- Infection Control
- Caring for Exceptional Patients
- Dental Instruments
- Introduction to Chairside Assisting
- Preventive Care
- Dental Specialties
- Cosmetic Dentistry
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 103 S. 9th Street, Hamilton, Montana 59840
- Phone: (406) 375-0100
- Website: https://www.umt.edu
3Salish Kootenai College
About the School
Salish Kootenai College has a Dental Assisting Technology Department that prepares students to become dental assisting professionals.
The program focuses on developing skills such as patient communication, critical thinking, clinical charting, and job readiness.
Students also practice interviewing and preparing a dental assisting resume.
The school offers an on-site dental clinic where students gain experience working with dentists and patients.
Courses Offered
The following degrees are available:
- Certificate of Completion
- Dental Assisting endorsement
The Dental Assisting, Certificate of Completion curriculum includes courses on:
- Infection Control and Hazardous Materials
- Infection Control Lab
- Intro to Chairside Assisting
- Intro to Dental Assisting
- Dental Anatomy
- Chairside Related Theory
- Dental Radiography
- And more
In total, the program awards 46 credit hours, including a 10-credit clinical externship.
Contact Information
- Address: Salish Kootenai College, PO Box 70, 58138 US Highway 93, Pablo, MT 59855
- Phone: 406.275.4800.
- Website: https://www.skc.edu
4Great Falls College
Great Falls College provides a Dental Assistant pathway that leads to a Certificate of Applied Science Degree.
The program can be completed in 11 months and accepts up to 18 students each year.
Tuition and fees sum up to $6,042.
Uniforms and additional fees bring the total estimated cost to $7,700.
Courses Offered
The program requirements include:
- Theory of Infection Control and Disease Prevention
- Head, Neck, and Oral Anatomy
- Dental Office Management
- Radiology I/Lab
- Chairside Theory and Practice
- Dental Sciences/ Preventive Dentistry
- And more
The program awards 44-45 credits in total.
Contact Information
- Address: 2100 16th Avenue South Great Falls, MT 59405
- Phone: 406.771.4300
- Website: http://www.gfcmsu.edu
5Midlands Technical College
About the School
Midlands Technical College offers more than 150 programs in eight schools of study.
Students have access to a flexible schedule with online, virtual, in-person, and hybrid classes.
Programs and courses are available in the following fields:
- Advanced Manufacturing and Skilled Trades
- Education and Public Service
- Health Care
- Social and Behavioral Sciences
- Business
- English and Humanities
- Science, Information Technology, Engineering, and Math
- Interdisciplinary Studies
The college also provides an Expanded Duties Dental Assisting program that leads to a Diploma in Applied Science.
Contact Information
- Address: 151 Powell Road, Columbia, SC 29203
- Phone: 803.738.8324
- Website: https://www.midlandstech.edu
6Helena College
About the School
Helena College offers a Clinical Dental Assistant program that provides students with the skills and knowledge to become dental assistants.
The program is available through ed2go.
Students learn a variety of skills, including:
- Describe the roles of each member of the dental team and twelve dental specialties
- Define the legal and ethical practice of dental assisting, including HIPAA
- Describing the chain of infection, transmission routes, and infection control for the dental practice
- Outline the necessary components of patient record prior to dental charting
- Set up equipment for anesthesia and sedation
- Describe dental materials, their uses in dental treatment, and skills needed to use them efficiently
- And more
The program can be completed in 12 months.
This course is available fully online.
Courses Offered
The curriculum includes:
- The dental profession
- Dental anatomy
- Infection control
- Hazardous materials
- Caring for exceptional patients
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 1115 North Roberts St, Helena, MT 59601 US
- Phone: 855.520.6806
- Website: https://careertraining.ed2go.com/hc
7Mount Diablo Adult Education
About the School
Mount Diablo Adult Education provides a Dental Assistant program that trains students to offer a variety of patient care services, complete laboratory duties, and assist with front office tasks.
The program can be completed in 10 months.
The cost for this program is $5,687
The program is structured as follows:
- Weeks 1-7- Tuesday and Thursday 7-9 p.m. via ZOOM
- Weeks 3-7- Friday- 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. on campus
- Weeks 8-31- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday- from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on campus
- Externship- 9 weeks
Students receive help and support in developing the skills and competencies required to perform Registered Dental Assistant chairside duties.
They also learn how to apply skills and techniques necessary to expose radiographs, perform coronal polishing, and apply pit and fissure sealants.
Learners also achieve Infection Control certification using the highest standards and protocols.
Contact Information
- Address: 1266 San Carlos Avenue, Concord, CA 94518
- Phone: (925) 685-7340
- Website: https://mdae.mdusd.org
8Dakota County Technical College
Dental assistant programs are also available online at colleges and schools located in other states.
Dakota County Technical College offers a variety of degrees and programs available in day, evening, weekend, and online formats.
Short-term programs can be completed in as little as six weeks.
Courses Offered
The Dental Assistant program at Dakota County Technical College offers the following pathways:
- Dental Assistant- A.A.S. Degree- a 60-credit program available online and on campus
- Dental Assistant- Diploma- a 40-credit program available online and on campus.
The Dental Assistant program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association.
Students take classes such as:
- Dental Science
- Pre-Clinical Dental Assisting
- Dental Health
- Dental Materials
- Radiology
- Chairside Assisting
- Dental Practice Management
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 1300 145th Street East, Rosemount, MN 55068
- Phone: 651-423-8000
- Website: https://www.dctc.edu
9Penn Foster
Penn Foster offers a Dental Assistant program that is available online.
The program is designed for students who pursue a career where they can help others.
The curriculum prepares students to sit for the Radiation Health and Safety exam and the Infection Control Exam.
Students learn about the foundational skills in dental procedures, dental medications, and more.
The program is available online and is flexible enough for students to complete coursework at a pace that works for them.
The curriculum includes ten courses and can be completed in three months by students in the fast-track program.
The average completion time is seven months.
Courses Offered
The curriculum includes:
- Dental Terminology, Anatomy, and Charting
- Preventive Dentistry and Ethics
- Dental Medications and Materials
- Dental Specialties
- Dental Front Office
Contact Information
- Address: 200 Hickory Street, Scranton, PA 18505
- Phone: 800-275-4410
- Website: https://www.pennfoster.edu
10OC Dental Academy
An online dental assistant program is also available at OC Dental Academy, a school located in California.
OC Dental Academy helps students start a dental career in just ten weeks.
The school’s instructors have more than 40 years of experience in the dental field.
They offer detailed and informative courses that teach students everything they need to know about dental assisting.
The school provides valuable hands-on training.
Courses Offered
The dental assisting online course includes 42 interactive modules with:
- Videos and animations
- Interactive exercises
- Quizzes
- exams with instant feedback
Students are trained in the following areas:
- Overview of the Dentitions
- Oral Pathology
- Nutrition
- Chemical and Waste Management
- Medical History
- Assisting in a Medical Emergency
- Vital Signs
- Delivering Dental Care
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 30162 Tomas, Suite 202, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688
- Phone: (949) 866-4580
- Website: https://www.ocdentalacademy.com
Regional Salary in Montana
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MT | 320 | $43,910 | $21.11 | $56,060 | $34,820 |
| Great Falls, MT | 110 | $41,700 | $20.05 | $55,570 | $29,930 |
| Missoula, MT | 190 | $43,260 | $20.8 | $51,740 | $33,340 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have read our selection of the best dental assistant training programs in the state of Montana, the next step is to continue the research and apply for the program that best meets your needs and learning style.
This is an important step, so take your time and make an informed decision.
