A strong dental hygienist cover letter can strengthen your application during the job search. To make a lasting impression on the hiring manager, feature eye-catching achievements and convey your genuine passion for dental care. Emphasize your ability to educate patients on oral health and reduce anxiety during procedures. Our guide provides examples and expert advice to translate your professional experience into an accomplishment-driven cover letter.
Dental Hygienist Cover Letter Templates and Examples
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
How To Write a Dental Hygienist Cover Letter
The first step in writing a great dental hygienist cover letter is to identify the top skills employers are looking for. Start by carefully reviewing the job description to determine how your background within the dental field aligns with the organization’s needs. By tailoring your content towards individual job opportunities, you’ll greatly increase your chances of landing the interview. Below, we’ll walk you through each section of your dental hygienist cover letter:
1. Contact information and salutation
List all essential contact information in the header of your dental hygienist cover letter, including your name, phone number, email, and LinkedIn URL. Be sure to address the hiring manager by name — Mr. or Ms. [Last Name]. If you can’t find the hiring manager’s name, use a variation of “Dear Hiring Manager.” This conveys your genuine interest in the position and shows you’ve researched the company beforehand.
2. Introduction
Lead your dental hygienist cover letter with a strong opening paragraph to introduce yourself and convey your interest in the position. Highlight your years of experience in dental care and anchor your paragraph with a powerful achievement to draw the reader in. For example, you might lead with your patient satisfaction or retention ratings, as these metrics are particularly important for dental hygienists.
Example
In 2023, I increased my clinic’s patient retention rate by 38% for patients on my roster. Customers cited my reassuring interpersonal style and superb treatment outcomes as their primary reasons for returning. I hope to provide the same high standard of care as a senior practitioner at Front Line Dental.
3. Body paragraphs
Continue to highlight your professional achievements in the body paragraphs of your dental hygienist cover letter. Start by mentioning something specific about the practice’s reputation, clinical focus, or mission statement and how this aligns with your background. Feature a mix of achievements that demonstrate your knowledge of dental procedures and ability to communicate effectively with diverse patient populations.
Example
Allure Dental Practice’s emphasis on patient education and preventative care is what draws me to apply for this opportunity. As a dental hygienist, I’ve continuously educated patients on the importance of at-home care to maintain oral health. Some of my previous accomplishments include:
- Performed hygienic, therapeutic, and preventive procedures on clinic patients, including cleaning teeth and gums using dental tools and equipment
- Provided education to patients on oral health and preventative techniques and achieved patient satisfaction ratings of 91% to 95% year over year
- Assisted dentist during examinations, communicated findings from initial examination, including potential symptoms of periodontal disease
4. Dental hygienist skills and qualifications
Avoid providing a comprehensive list of skills on your dental hygienist cover letter, information already featured on your resume. That said, incorporating key terms from the job posting into your paragraphs has some advantages. This allows you to show dental practices how you’ve applied your patient care skills in clinical environments. Below, you’ll find a list of skills you may encounter when applying for dental hygienist jobs:
| Key Skills and Qualifications | |
|---|---|
| Administrative support | Certified dental assistant (CDA) |
| Communication | Cosmetic dentistry |
| Dental care | Dental hygiene |
| Dentistry | HIPAA |
| Infection prevention | Intra-oral procedures |
| Invisalign | Oral surgery |
| OSHA safety | Patient education |
| Restorative dentistry | Root canals |
| Sterilization | Tooth extraction |
| X-rays | |
5. Closing section
In the closing paragraph of your dental hygienist cover letter, include a call to action inviting the hiring manager to interview you. Emphasize how your passion for the dental field and patient care can help generate positive clinical results for their practice. Be sure to thank the hiring manager for their time and consideration in the last sentence.
Example
I look forward to speaking with you further about how my experience in dental care can maximize patient satisfaction at Smile Right Dentistry. Feel free to contact me via phone or email at your convenience. I appreciate your time and consideration.
Best regards,
Melissa Anderson
Dental Hygienist Cover Letter Tips
1. Incorporate hard numbers and patient care metrics
Although clinical data may be limited depending on your practice, it’s important to quantify your achievements in dental care whenever possible. Think about how your approach to patient care positively impacted previous employers. Did you help contribute to an increase in patient retention? Did you consistently maintain a high satisfaction rating? These are vital to the success of any dental practice and can help strengthen the impact of your cover letter.
2. Highlight your expertise in patient education
One of the most important aspects of the dental hygienist position is educating patients on at-home care and oral health. Promoting flossing, electric toothbrushes, and other forms of preventive care are all essential in maximizing positive long-term outcomes for patients. As you build your cover letter, call out this aspect of your experience.
3. Emphasize your communication skills
Dental procedures can often be anxiety-inducing for many patients. Hiring managers value hygienists who can communicate effectively to help alleviate discomfort during care delivery.
In the example below, the candidate demonstrates their ability to empathize and connect with patients to reduce nervousness during both routine and complex operations:
- Built positive relationships with patients, communicated empathetically to reduce anxiety during complex and routine procedures, and achieved a 95% patient satisfaction rating in 2023
- Delivered compassionate, high-quality dental care to a broad range of patients, provided education on dental hygiene, and communicated with patience and understanding
- Performed dental exams and interpreted diagnostic and panoramic X-rays and digital imaging to identify signs of cavities and decay
Dental Hygienist Text-Only Cover Letter Templates and Examples
- Example #1
- Example #2
- Example #3
Sarah Johnson
Dental Hygienist | [email protected] | (123) 456-7890 | Detroit, MI 12345 | LinkedIn
January 1, 2024
Candace Suarez
Hiring Manager
Front Line Dental
(987) 654-3210
[email protected]
Dear Ms. Suarez,
In 2023, I increased my clinic’s patient retention rate by 38% for patients on my roster. Customers cited my reassuring interpersonal style and superb treatment outcomes as their primary reasons for returning. I hope to provide the same high standard of care as a senior practitioner at Front Line Dental.
Your company’s reputation of placing patient well-being at the center of its practice is the perfect match for my professional values. As a seasoned hygienist with over eight years of experience, the opportunity to serve my local community as part of your institution is exciting. My recent achievements include:
- Supported the development and implementation of a new patient education program that reduced cases of premature tooth loss by 34% over three years
- Managed patient anxiety through pleasant demeanor, education, and empathy and introduced an innovative cleaning approach to reduce patient discomfort
- Achieved patient satisfaction scores of up to 96% and contributed to a 93% patient retention rate
I would like to schedule an interview to provide more insights into how my passion for dental care would be a strong asset to your team. Feel free to contact me via phone or email at your convenience. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Best regards,
Sarah Johnson
Dental Hygienist Cover Letter FAQs
Why should I submit a dental hygienist cover letter?-
While most dental hygienist job applications won’t require a cover letter, building one can help increase your odds of landing a position at top-rated practices. Submitting a cover letter shows drive, initiative, and a genuine enthusiasm for the opportunity. This small personal touch can also differentiate you from other candidates during the hiring process.
How long should my cover letter be?-
It’s best to keep your cover letter at a reasonable length, limited to no more than four paragraphs. Cluttering your document with excessive amounts of information can sometimes overwhelm the reader and impede their ability to engage with your content. As a general rule, focus your cover letter on your most relevant qualifications and achievements in dental care and leave the other details for your resume.
How do I make my cover letter stand out?-
Dental hygienist roles often have very similar responsibilities and job descriptions. To stand out from the competition, you need to build a cover letter that conveys your genuine passion for dental care using tangible examples from your career. Think about the difference you’ve made in the lives of your patients and why this drives you to continue growing in the dental field. These types of details and insights will be far more compelling to a hiring manager than simply restating your daily responsibilities.
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