Dental Assistant

Position Details

Position Information

Announcement Number STAFF - VA - 26359 For questions regarding this position, please contact:

Greg Swica

406-994-2314

greg.swica@montana.edu

Classification Title Dental Asst Working Title Dental Assistant Brief Position Overview

This individual performs a variety of dental assisting duties to promote quality dental care for patients.

Position Number 4N1652 Department SWC Dental Division Division of Student Success Appointment Type Classified Contract Term Fiscal Year Semester If other, specify From date If other, specify End date FLSA Non-Exempt Union Affiliation FOCUS-MFPE FTE 1.0 Benefits Eligible Eligible Salary Starting at $20.00 per hour, commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications Contract Type Classified Hourly If other, please specify Recruitment Type Open

Position Details

General Statement

MSU Student Health Services Dental Services provides preventive, urgent and routine dental care to MSU students.

Duties and Responsibilities

Primary Duties

• Assists dentist with dental procedures. This involves exposing and developing appropriate x-rays, seating patients, answering patient questions, transcribing appropriate chart entries, disinfecting operatories, sterilizing instruments, and maintaining inventory of appropriate dental materials.
• Other dental assisting functions may include temporary crown placement, removal of excess cements, alginate full arch impressions, placement of matrix bands, curing light-activated resins, removal of sutures, placement of other medicaments, and other functions as directed by the dentist.
• Assists office manager and hygienists as needed.
• Participates in Student Health Services (SHS) meetings and serves on SHS committees as assigned.
  
  

Secondary Duties

• Cross training with office manager duties to cover the front desk and support scheduling and administrative work as needed.
• Involvement with student orientations advertising our services to incoming student population.
  
  

Required Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

• High School diploma or GED.
• Current Montana X-ray certification.
• One year of experience as a dental assistant or completion of a dental assistant training program.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

• Completion of an accredited dental assisting training program.
• Experience working with college students or young adults.
  
  

The Successful Candidate Will

• The ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers in a team-oriented environment
• The ability to maintain excellent customer relations.
• The ability to represent the SHS Dental Clinic and its programs in a professional and courteous manner.
• Demonstrated excellent skills in dental assisting techniques and dental treatment procedures.
• Demonstrated excellent skills in communicating with dental staff and patients.
  
  

Position Special Requirements/Additional Information

• Radiology Certification required
  
  

This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Physical Demands

• Ability to work in typical dental treatment postures for extended time periods.
• Exposure to blood-borne pathogens (Employees are provided with training and equipment that complies with OSHA requirements for a dental health care setting)
• Exposure to other pathogens of all kinds that is inherent to working in a dental health care setting.
  
  

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

This position has supervisory duties? No

Posting Detail Information

Number Of Vacancies 1 Desired Start Date Upon Completion Of a Successful Search. Position End Date (if Temporary) Open Date Close Date Applications Will Be

Screening of applications will begin on April 21st 2026; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.

Special Instructions

This position is not eligible for new sponsorship.

EEO Statement

Montana State University is an equal opportunity employer. MSU does not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, or any other protected class status in violation of any applicable law.

In compliance with the Montana Veteran’s Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran’s preference, please complete the veteran’s preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter
  
  

Optional Documents

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).