Entry-Level Dental Assistant Resume Examples and Templates for 2023

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Frank Hackett

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)

Frank Hackett is a professional resume writer and career consultant with over eight years of experience. As the lead editor at a boutique career consulting firm, Frank developed an innovative approach to resume writing that empowers job seekers to tell their professional stories. His approach involves creating accomplishment-driven documents that balance keyword optimization with personal branding. Frank is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PAWRCC).

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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for dental assistants was $38,660 in 2021, with a projected growth rate of 11% over the next decade. This occupation can open a variety of opportunities and career paths within the dental field. You’ll need a strong resume to gain entry-level experience as a dental assistant to capitalize on them. Because you lack hands-on work experience, you’ll need to take extra steps to create a compelling document that will grab the hiring manager’s attention.

Using our entry-level dental assistant resume-building guide will allow you to:

  • •   Create an eye-catching professional profile featuring key specializations and industry terminology to help differentiate yourself from the competition
  • •   Highlight your ability to communicate effectively with patients, provide education on dental procedures, and deliver a pleasant chairside manner
  • •   Create an accomplishment-driven document that showcases your ability to collaborate with medical teams and office staff to enhance the patient experience
  • •   Optimize your resume for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) using appropriate keywords

Entry-level Dental Assistant Resumes Created Using Our ResumeBuilder

Example #1
Entry-Level-Dental-Assistant_Example-1.pdf

Example #1

Example #2
Entry-Level-Dental-Assistant_Example-2.pdf

Example #2

Example #3
Entry-Level-Dental-Assistant_Example-3.pdf

Example #3

Entry-Level Dental Assistant Text-Only Resume Examples

Years of Experience
  • Example #1 #1
  • Example #2 #2
  • Example #3 #3

Amar Singh
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Carpenter Street, Philadelphia, PA, 12345

Profile

A Certified Dental Assistant with entry-level experience specializing in patient care, communication, administrative support, and HIPAA compliance. Adept at coordinating with dentists and office teams to enhance the delivery of dental care services to patients.

Professional Experience

Dental Assistant, Smile Makers, Philadelphia, PA
June 2021 – Present

  • Provide support to a team of three Dentists in delivering dental care services to patients, including performing teeth cleanings and gathering patient medical history
  • Conduct X-rays to identify dental issues and create medical documentation for dentists to evaluate patient condition and determine appropriate treatment plans
  • Ensure compliance with Covid-19 safety protocols, oversee sanitation of operating rooms, and maintain medical equipment to prevent infection and ensure optimal functionality

Administrative Assistant, South Philly Dental, Philadelphia, PA
May 2020 – June 2021

  • Fielded phone inquiries from new and existing patients, conducted scheduling for appointments, obtained outstanding payments, and performed intake interviews prior to appointments to obtain patient data and medical history
  • Conducted data entry for health insurance benefits, filed appeals, and submitted claims to insurance agencies to secure payment for services

Education

Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) Dental Assisting
Philadelphia Community College, Philadelphia, PA September 2019 – June 2021

Key Skills

  • Dental Care Services
  • Administrative Support
  • Patient Care
  • Communication
  • Inventory Management

Certifications

  • Certified Dental Assistant, DANB, State of Pennsylvania, 2021
  • Radiation Health and Safety Certificate (RHS), DANB, State of Pennsylvania, 2021

Aliya Jackson
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Bridge Street, Boston, MA 12345

Profile

A Certified Dental Assistant with entry-level experience specializing in intra-oral techniques, patient care, dentistry, and OSHA safety. A strong background in providing administrative and medical support to dental teams to ensure patient safety and satisfaction.

Professional Experience

Dental Assistant, Smile Pros, Boston, MA
June 2021 – Present

  • Deliver dental care services to patients under the supervision of dentists, including using suction hoses to assist with various dental procedures
  • Ensure compliance with Covid-19 safety guidelines and infection prevention procedures, including sterilizing instruments and operating rooms
  • Perform X-rays to aid dentists in identifying cavities, decay, and long-term dental issues and provide support for tooth extractions, fillings, and root canals

Administrative Assistant, Rosenbaum Dental Office, Boston, MA
May 2020 – June 2021

  • Managed patient scheduling, fielded phone inquiries, performed data entry for customer insurance information, benefits, and claims, and contacted patients to create payment plans and discuss outstanding balances
  • Coordinated with dentists, certified dental assistants, and dental hygienists to manage schedules, and change appointment times
  • Managed purchase orders for equipment

Education

Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) Dental Assisting
Boston College, Boston, MA September 2019 – June 2021

Key Skills

  • Intraoral Procedures
  • Medical Support
  • Dentistry
  • Patient Care
  • OSHA Safety

Certifications

  • Certified Dental Assistant (CDA), DANB, 2021
  • Radiation Health and Safety Certificate (RHS), DANB, 2021

Sarah Johnson
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Windermere Rd., Seattle, WA 12345

Profile

A Certified Dental Assistant with entry-level experience specializing in patient education, dental care, OSHA safety, and restorative dentistry. A proven track record of interfacing with diverse patient populations to deliver education on dental care procedures and hygiene.

Professional Experience

Dental Assistant, Seattle Dental Associates, Seattle, WA
June 2021 – Present

  • Provide dental care support for cleanings, fillings, root canals, and tooth extractions, educate patients on dental procedures and hygiene best practices for long-term care
  • Communicate with patients to ensure comfort and ease anxiety during procedures involving needles and drills, resulting in a patient satisfaction rating of 89%
  • Build relationships with patients and provide empathetic care during painful procedures and cosmetic dentistry operations

Administrative Assistant, Dr. Marcus Campbell Dental Office, Seattle, WA
May 2020 – June 2021

  • Interfaced with patients, dentists, CDAs, and dental hygienists, managed appointments, coordinated patient flow, and ensured the efficiency of office operations
  • Managed phone inquiries from existing patients and new customers, resolved issues related to billing and insurance claims, and created patient profiles in the office database

Education

Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) Dental Assisting
Seattle Central College, Seattle, WA September 2019 – June 2021

Key Skills

  • Patient Education
  • Restorative Dentistry
  • OSHA Safety
  • Patient Care
  • Medical Support

Certifications

  • Certified Dental Assistant (CDA), DANB, 2021
  • Radiation Health and Safety Certificate (RHS), DANB, 2021

Tips for Writing a Better Entry-Level Dental Assistant Resume

Now that you’ve seen some examples of entry-level dental assistant resumes, we’ll provide expert tips to help you craft your own document and land your next interview. Finding employment at the entry level can often be difficult, as companies are always more likely to target job seekers who already have hands-on experience within the field. By building an accomplishment-driven resume that aligns with the needs of the organization you’re applying for, you can make a strong case to the hiring manager that you’re the right candidate for the position.

Below, you’ll find three expert tips to help you craft a compelling dental assistant resume:

1. Showcase your knowledge of dental procedures

The best way to show hiring managers that you have the qualifications to succeed in the position is by providing insights into your knowledge of dental procedures, regulations, and medical equipment. In the example below, the job seeker does an effective job of demonstrating their industry knowledge at the entry level by specifying specific medical procedures they supported and the instruments they utilized:

  • Deliver dental care services to patients under the supervision of dentists, including using suction hoses to assist with various dental procedures
  • Ensure compliance with Covid-19 safety guidelines and infection prevention procedures, including sterilizing instruments and operating rooms
  • Perform X-rays to aid dentists in identifying cavities, decay, and long-term dental issues and provide support for tooth extractions, fillings, and root canals

2. Highlight your patient communication skills

As a dental assistant, one of your primary responsibilities will be communicating with patients during medical procedures. Keeping patients calm and comfortable is important during dental operations, so you’ll want to be sure to highlight your ability to provide a pleasant chairside manner. In the example below, the job seeker draws attention to specific aspects of their experience interfacing effectively with patients and providing education on procedures. They also showcase the impact that their patient care approach had on improving patient satisfaction scores:

  • Provide dental care support for cleanings, fillings, root canals, and tooth extractions, educate patients on dental procedures and hygiene best practices for long-term care
  • Communicate with patients to ensure comfort and ease anxiety during procedures involving needles and drills, resulting in a patient satisfaction rating of 89%
  • Build relationships with patients and provide empathetic care during painful procedures and cosmetic dentistry operations

3. Create an eye-catching professional profile

Job seekers have a minimal window to make a strong first impression on the hiring manager. Due to the sheer volume of applicants, they often won’t have the time to read through every document thoroughly. To grab the hiring manager’s attention, you should craft a strong professional summary at the top of your resume that encapsulates key skill sets that the organization is looking for. In the example below, the candidate draws attention to their expertise in patient education, restorative dentistry, and OSHA safety, all of which are essential skill sets that dental offices will be looking for during the hiring process:

Profile


A Certified Dental Assistant with entry-level experience specializing in patient education, dental care, OSHA safety, and restorative dentistry. A proven track record of interfacing with diverse patient populations to deliver education on dental care procedures and hygiene.

Key Skills Hiring Managers Look for on Entry-level Dental Assistant Resumes

Companies rely on Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to analyze resumes for specific keywords using software algorithms. If your document is missing a certain number of key terms that the organization is looking for, it’s unlikely that you’ll advance to the next stage of the hiring process. To mitigate this risk, you’ll want to incorporate keywords and dental industry terminology into your professional profile, work experience, and skills section. Below, you’ll find a list of potential key terms that you may encounter during the job hunt:

Key Skills and Proficiencies
Administrative Support Certified Dental Assistant (CDA)
Communication Cosmetic Dentistry
Dental Assisting Dental Care
Dental Hygiene Dentistry
HIPAA Infection Prevention
Invisalign Intraoral Procedures
Oral Surgery OSHA Safety
Patient Education Root Canals
Restorative Dentistry Sterilization
Tooth Extraction X-rays

Common Action Verbs for Entry-level Dental Assistant Resumes

You may find that you’re running short on action verbs as you build out your bullet points on your resume. This can be especially challenging within the healthcare field, as sometimes there’s only a limited number of verbs you can use to describe your professional experience accurately. To help you enhance the readability of your document and keep your language fresh, we’ve compiled a list of action verbs you can use to craft your work experience section:

Action Verbs
Administered Analyzed
Conducted Coordinated
Collaborated Delivered
Developed Diagnosed
Drove Enhanced
Evaluated Executed
Identified Interfaced
Improved Led
Managed Oversaw
Performed Provided
Resolved Supported

How to Align Your Entry-level Dental Assistant Resume With the Job Description

To build a winning resume, you must align your document with the job description. The best way to market yourself effectively during the job search is by incorporating skill sets, industry terminology, and accomplishments that match the needs of the organization you’re applying to. Even at the entry level, where you may not have substantial hands-on work experience, you can still draw attention to key specializations that demonstrate why you’re a qualified candidate for the position.

For example, while pursuing a dental assistant position, obtaining a Radiation Health and Safety Certificate (RHS) in addition to your CDA might help differentiate you from other applicants during the job search. Having an additional safety certification for X-rays will grab the hiring manager’s eye and may encourage them to bring you in for an interview over an applicant with limited licensure. As you craft your resume, be sure to research the organization before you apply and incorporate as many relevant skill sets as possible to help mitigate your lack of work experience. This will maximize your chances of landing your next big job opportunity.