Dental Assistant Resume Examples
Years of Experience
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
Kimberly Catania
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Main St., Seattle, WA 98113
Profile
Dental assistant with two years of experience and an excellent reputation for putting patients at ease before, during and after their procedures. Received a rating of “exceeds expectations” on most recent performance review based on excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate effectively with other staff members. Currently preparing for the Certified Dental Assistant exam offered by the Dental Assisting National Board.
Key Skills
- Extensive experience taking panoramic dental X-rays to aid in the diagnosis of caries, impacted wisdom teeth and other dental conditions
- Strong communication skills, especially when working with patients who have a high level of anxiety when visiting the dentist
- Excellent ability to perform the technical aspects of the job, including making dental impressions, mixing compounds in the laboratory and assisting with denture fittings
- Experience educating patients on how to avoid cavities and gum disease by using proper dental hygiene techniques
Education
Dental Assistant Certificate of Completion
Seattle Central College, Seattle, WA May 2018
Professional Experience
Dental Assistant, Rock Star Smiles, Seattle, WA
June 2018 – Present
- Assist dentists during root canals, extractions and other dental procedures
- Sterilize instruments in the on-site autoclave to prevent the spread of infection
- Explain procedures and obtain consent from patients
- Demonstrate proper brushing and flossing techniques to help patients care for their teeth and gums
- Take high-quality dental X-rays to aid in the development of treatment plans
Christopher Mitchell
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Main St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702
Profile
Dental assistant with seven years of experience working with adult and pediatric patients. Obtained the Certified Dental Assistant credential from the Dental Assisting National Board in 2016. Strong reputation for putting patients at ease and collaborating effectively with dentists, hygienists and office staff to ensure the patient always comes first.
Professional Experience
Dental Assistant, Handley Dental Practice, Wilkes-Barre, PA
July 2016 – Present
- Use suction hoses and other instruments to assist two dentists with a variety of procedures
- Follow standard infection-control procedures when working with patients and sterilizing used instruments
- Put patients at ease before procedures involving needles, drills and cutting instruments
- Educate patients on the best way to preserve their dental health
- Record patient vital signs and other information in an electronic dental record
Dental Assistant, Mariotti Dental, Kingston, PA
May 2013 – July 2016
- Assisted dental hygienists with routine cleanings
- Passed instruments, used suction hoses and performed other tasks to assist three staff dentists during their procedures
- Scheduled appointments and performed other clerical duties when the receptionist was out of the office
- Used autoclaves and other equipment to sterilize instruments
- Educated patients on what they could expect during each procedure
Education
Dental Assisting Certificate
Luzerne County Community College, Nanticoke, PA May 2013
Skills
- In-depth knowledge of infection-control procedures
- Extensive experience taking dental X-rays and creating dental impressions
- Excellent patient education skills
- Strong communication skills
Certifications
- Certified Dental Assistant (CDA), Dental Assisting National Board, 2016
Danielle Mancuso
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Main St., Cleveland, OH 44101
Profile
Dental assistant with 12 years of experience, the Registered Dental Assistant credential and an excellent reputation for putting patients first. Extensive experience taking dental X-rays, mixing sealants and other compounds, using suction hoses and other dental instruments and educating patients on oral health.
Professional Experience
Dental Assistant, Smile Depot, Cleveland, OH
September 2017 – Present
- Support a practice of five dentists and three dental hygienists
- Prepare patients for dental procedures by explaining what to expect and setting up instrument trays before the dentist’s arrival
- Prevent the spread of infection by following universal precautions and sterilizing instruments after every use
- Apply dressings to the gums and palate to encourage clot formation
Dental Assistant, Smile Stars, Cleveland, OH
August 2014 – September 2017
- Took panoramic X-rays to identify cavities and other dental problems
- Assisted staff dentists during root canals, extractions and other procedures
- Put patients at ease prior to sedation or the administration of local anesthetics
- Scheduled appointments and greet patients when the receptionist was not available
Dental Assistant, Valley Dental Services, Cleveland, OH
September 2008 – August 2014
- Prepared patients for procedures by putting drapes around their necks and explaining what they should expect
- Handed instruments to dentists during a variety of dental procedures
- Educated patients on oral hygiene and the importance of quitting tobacco
- Performed clerical duties as needed
Education
Dental Assisting Diploma
Cuyahoga Community College, Cleveland, OH May 2008
Skills
- Instrument sterilization and universal precautions
- Educating patients on oral health
- Assisting dentists on procedures involving high-anxiety patients
- Use of dental practice software to record patient information
Certifications
- Registered Dental Assistant (RDA), American Medical Technologists Association, 2009
Common Key Skills and Action Verbs for Dental Assistant Resumes
Recruiters may receive 100 or more applications in response to a single job advertisement, leaving them looking for ways to streamline the screening process. As a result, many companies use specialized software to scan resumes and highlight keywords that relate to the job. If your resume doesn’t contain the right keywords, there’s a chance it will be rejected by the software before a recruiter even sees it. Therefore, it’s important for your resume to contain key skills, proficiencies and action verbs that relate to the job.
| Key Skills & Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Assisting dentists and hygienists | Infection control |
| Instrument sterilization | Inventory management |
| Management of dental emergencies | Patient education |
| Patient preparation | Records management |
| Taking dental impressions | |
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Administer | Advise |
| Analyze | Assist |
| Calculate | Collaborate |
| Communicate | Demonstrate |
| Educate | Estimate |
| Evaluate | Improve |
| Inspect | Maintain |
| Manage | Measure |
| Observe | Perform |
| Prepare | Process |
| Record | Reduce |
| Sterilize | |
Tips for Writing a Better Dental Assistant Resume
Showcase your dental assisting expertise
Success in the dental assisting field requires a unique combination of skills and professional experience. One way to highlight your expertise is to create a candidate profile at the top of your resume. You can also highlight your experience with bullet points in the professional experience section of the document. No matter which one you choose, it’s important to incorporate relevant keywords into your resume to ensure your application makes it past the first step in the screening process. Incorporating the right keywords can also help you convince recruiters that you meet every required qualification for the position.
Example #1
Good
Five years of experience assisting a cosmetic dentist with porcelain veneers, bonding, dental implants and other cosmetic procedures.
Bad
Experienced dental assistant
Example #2
Good
Four years of progressively responsible experience as a dental assistant, including patient education, hands-on assistance with cleanings and other dental procedures, X-ray exposures and capturing of dental impressions.
Bad
Four years of experience
Highlight your professional certifications
One way to stand out from other dental assistants is to obtain a professional certification, such as the Certified Dental Assistant designation offered by the Dental Assisting National Board. If you decide to add a certification to your resume, be sure to provide the full name of the certification, any abbreviations or acronyms and the name of the certifying organization. Including all three pieces of information ensures that your resume has multiple keywords related to the job. Adding abbreviations also makes it easier for recruiters to determine if you meet the required qualifications for the job, even if they don’t know the full name of every certification available.
Example #1
Good
Certified Dental Assistant (CDA), Dental Assisting National Board, 2020
Bad
Dental assisting certification
Example #2
Good
Registered Dental Assistant (RDA AMT), American Medical Technologists Association, 2020
Bad
RDA certification
How to Align Your Resume With the Job Description
A hiring manager’s top priority is to find a candidate who has the right combination of skills and experience to succeed in the job. As a result, it may be necessary to review hundreds of applications before determining which applicants to interview. To make yourself stand out from the competition, it’s important to review the job description carefully and write a resume that uses similar language.
When you review the job description, look at the first few lines to see which qualifications the hiring manager deems most important. If you see the same requirement mentioned multiple times, that’s another indication that it’s one of the most important qualifications to meet. Your resume should highlight these qualifications to ensure the hiring manager understands that you have what it takes to succeed in the role.
Example Dental Assistant Job Description
TrueSmiles Dental Care is a private dental practice located in the Northeast Heights neighborhood of Albuquerque, New Mexico. We’re searching for an experienced dental assistant to deliver excellent preventive care to our patients in an environment that emphasizes collaboration and communication. The practice has four dentists on staff, along with two full-time hygienists and one hygienist who works on a per diem basis.
Responsibilities:
- Take panoramic dental X-rays using in-office radiographic equipment
- Assist dentists and hygienists with cleanings, extractions and other dental procedures
- Sterilize used dental instruments in an autoclave
- Monitor patients under dental sedation
- Put patients at ease before and during their treatments
- Educate patients on oral hygiene
- Mix dental alginate and other substances used to make impressions of the teeth
- Record treatment information in dental practice management software
- Schedule appointments and perform other office duties in the absence of the receptionist
Qualifications:
- Dental assisting certificate
- Registered Dental Assistant or Certified Dental Assistant credential preferred
- Two to three years of experience as a dental assistant in a busy practice
- Proficient in using dental practice management software
- Strong communication skills
After reviewing the job description, it’s clear that it’s important to have the following qualifications:
- Experience as a dental assistant
- Knowledge of radiographic equipment and dental instruments
- Ability to monitor patients and put them at ease
- Patient education skills
- Skill in using practice management software to maintain patient records
- Ability to schedule appointments and perform other clerical duties
- Dental assisting certificate
- Excellent communication skills
The next step is to review what you highlighted and then make sure you incorporate those phrases into your resume. Below is an example of how you can do this effectively.
Dental Assistant Work Experience Example
Dental Assistant, Springville Dental Care, Cleveland, OH
September 2017 – Present
- Use radiographic equipment to produce dental X-rays
- Assist dentists with extractions, root canals and other procedures
- Prepare patients for cleanings
- Enter patient data into the Dentimax software
- Educate patients on good oral hygiene practices
- Schedule appointments and accept patient payments
- Communicate effectively with dentists, hygienists, clerical staff and patients