Travel Dental Assistant
Harlem, MT
Encode INC
5x8 hrs, Days
Referral Bonus

Job Description – Dental Assistant

Facility: Fort Belknap Hospital
Location: Harlem, Montana
Contract Duration: 3+ Months (Critical Need)

Position Summary:

Fort Belknap Hospital is seeking a skilled and patient-focused Dental Assistant to support dentists in providing comprehensive dental care. The Dental Assistant will perform chairside assisting, prepare treatment rooms, sterilize instruments, expose dental radiographs, maintain accurate patient records, and ensure compliance with Indian Health Service (IHS), OSHA, CDC, and infection control standards. This position requires recent chairside dental assisting experience in a fast-paced clinical setting.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide chairside assistance during general, restorative, oral surgery, pediatric, and emergency dental procedures.
• Prepare treatment rooms, instruments, materials, and dental equipment before and after patient appointments.
• Assist the dentist with four-handed dentistry techniques to improve efficiency during procedures.
• Prepare and transfer dental instruments, materials, and medications while maintaining aseptic technique.
• Expose and process dental radiographs following radiation safety guidelines.
• Take and record patient medical and dental histories, vital signs, and update electronic dental records.
• Prepare dental impressions, temporary restorations, and dental materials as directed by the dentist.
• Perform instrument decontamination, cleaning, packaging, sterilization, and storage according to CDC, OSHA, and IHS infection prevention standards.
• Monitor inventory of dental supplies, instruments, and equipment, and notify appropriate staff when replenishment is needed.
• Educate patients on oral hygiene, post-operative care, and preventive dental practices.
• Assist with scheduling patients and coordinating treatment plans when required.
• Ensure treatment rooms remain clean, organized, and fully stocked throughout the day.
• Support emergency dental procedures and respond promptly to urgent patient care needs.
• Maintain accurate documentation in the Electronic Dental Record (EDR) system.
• Participate in quality improvement activities, infection control audits, and departmental meetings.
• Follow HIPAA, OSHA, CDC, and facility policies to maintain patient confidentiality and workplace safety.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Completion of an accredited Dental Assistant program (preferred).
• Minimum 1–2 years of recent chairside dental assisting experience.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
• Current Dental Assistant certification or registration, if required by state or facility.
• Ability to obtain and maintain facility credentials.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 2–5 years of dental assisting experience.
• Bachelor of Science (BS) degree preferred.
• BLS(AHA)
• Certification in Nitrous Oxide Monitoring and Local Anesthesia (required as specified by the facility).