Guide To Writing A Dental Assistant Resume

Stunning Dental Hygiene Resume Examples to Use This Year

Updated August 24, 20222k

Dental hygiene experts are responsible for healthy teeth in the general population. Here’s how you can showcase your talents in this field more effectively.

Dental Hygiene Resume Examples

The term, dental hygienist, covers a variety of dental professionals, including everyone from a dental assistant to a more senior dental position. If you’ve gone through the education necessary to become a dental hygienist, this dental hygienist resume sample will help you create a more thorough and convincing resume.

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What To Highlight in a Dental Hygiene Resume

It is most important in a dental hygienist resume to come off as knowledgeable about your field. Although using excessive jargon to set yourself apart isn’t a great idea, using the terminology common in other dental hygienist resume examples can show that you understand dental hygiene and will be competent in your job.

Structure of a Dental Hygiene Resume

The first step is to use the right resume format. If you have a lot of experience as a dental hygienist, you will want to use the chronological format. However, if you are just starting out in your career, you can use the functional format. The combination format emphasizes both skills and experience. Once you’ve chosen a resume format, you’ll add these sections to your resume.

Header

The resume header has your contact information, phone number, email address and professional social media links, such as your LinkedIn.

Resume summary or objective

This is a two- to three-sentence introduction to your resume. If you already have experience in dental care, you’ll usually include a resume summary, which is a general overview of your experience and accomplishments. If you don’t have much experience, you may swap that out for a resume objective, which goes over your skills and knowledge and indicates an objective you’re hoping to accomplish.

Skills

Hiring managers are looking for soft skills, which are skills that you learn to benefit all jobs and your interpersonal relationships. Hard skills are technical skills that you learn specifically for dental care. Here are some bullet points to include in your resume:

Fluoride treatments
Digital X-rays and digital radiographs
Educating patients on oral health and oral hygiene
Periodontal charting and managing periodontal disease
Periodontal debridement (Including root planing)
Prophylaxis of dental disease
Preventive measures for dental health
General knowledge of dental practice
Creation of dental treatment plans
Chair-side client management
Taking a medical history and finding patient records, including dental records
Usage of Eaglesoft and Dentrix
Tooth whitening
Regular dental cleanings and dental treatment
Taking dental health history
Interpersonal skills
Application of local anesthesia and nitrous oxide
Screenings for oral cancer
Sterilization of tools

If you’ve ever worked in a dental clinic, you may already have the skills of a dental hygienist. Check the job description to see what patient care mechanisms you should be reflecting on.

Work experience

Your work experience section should include any experiences you have in dental care such as a registered dental hygienist, a dental student or a dental assistant. These experiences can show a hiring manager you know what you’re doing.

Education

The most common type of education for dental hygienists is an associate degree in Applied Science (AAS) in Dental Hygiene. However, you may also have a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene. No matter which degree you have, include it on your professional resume. Additionally, include your certification as a registered dental hygienist.

Do’s and Don’ts for a Dental Hygiene Resume

Keep these tips in mind when writing your dental hygiene resume:

Do:

Include 8-12 skills even if you’re applying to an entry-level dental hygiene position. Every level of experience should have a strong resume.
Discuss specific elements of health care that you’ve taken responsibility for. For example, if you handled patient education and scheduled follow-up exams, mention those tasks directly.
Include all experience you have. This may include experience as a volunteer, academic experience and internships.

Don’t:

Lean too far into soft skills or hard skills on your resume. You should have about an equal mix on your resume. Dental hygienists need to provide effective dental services and have good patient communication.
Include skills on your resume that you’re not confident in. It’ll be obvious if you’re just trying to pad your resume to add skills.
Write your resume all by yourself. If you’re interested in writing a more effective resume, use the ResumeNerd resume builder to make the process easier.

FAQ: Dental Hygiene Resumes

Do I need to include a cover letter for a dental hygiene application?

A cover letter is a great way to explain more about yourself to the recruiter reviewing your application. Even if you don’t need to include a cover letter alongside your dental hygienist resume, it’s a good idea to write one to further explain who you are and why you’re the right choice for this job. The ResumeNerd cover letter builder also makes it easier for you to write one.

How can I write a dental hygiene resume without a lot of experience?

If you’re aiming for an entry-level job and don’t have much experience, you want to focus on your proficiency in certain skills and any experience you have. You don’t need years of experience as an entry-level dental assistant but it is a good idea to have a strong list of skills and some experience in dentistry, even just as an intern.

How do I change my dental hygiene resume to apply to different jobs?

Every time you’re applying for a new job, you should adapt your resume to ensure you’re reflecting the specific elements that this job description has that others might not. The perfect resume for every job will be different, so it’s not a good idea to submit the same resume for 100 different jobs. Include the keywords the hiring manager is looking for in the job description, directly in your resume.

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About The Author

Cindi Cervone Carlson

Cindi Cervone Carlson is a Senior Vice President for Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. Cindi is responsible for developing, delivering, and implementing a dynamic, world-class organization dedicated to delivering outplacement consulting, training, support, and executive coaching. Cindi started her career at Challenger as a client who had lost her job. Over the past nine years, she has risen from an entry-level, part-time professional to Senior Vice President.