Dental Assistant Resume Templates and Examples (Download in App)
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
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Dental Assistant Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
How To Write a Dental Assistant Resume
To create a strong dental assistant resume, highlight the most engaging achievements from throughout your health care career. As you craft your resume, reflect on your career within the dental field and the impact you’ve had on patients, teams, and organizations. By detailing your own unique story within health care, you’ll make a lasting impression on the hiring manager. Throughout this guide, we’ll help translate your professional experience into a powerful dental assistant resume.
1. Summarize your dental assistant qualifications in a dynamic profile
Your professional profile is often the first thing hiring managers read on your resume. Create an impactful snapshot of your career within the dental field. Start by listing your title, years of experience, and three to four specializations that align with the job posting in your opening sentence. This will show prospective employers you have the ideal qualifications the organization is looking for. Patient education is especially important here, as one of the key aspects of being a dental assistant is providing education on oral health best practices for your patients.
Senior-Level Profile Example
A Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) with six years of experience specializing in oral hygiene, dental surgical procedures, communication, and infection prevention. A strong history of educating patients on dental care best practices to promote long-term oral health.
Entry-Level Profile Example
A CDA with three years of experience specializing in intra-oral techniques, patient care, dentistry, and communication. Adept at delivering medical support to dentists and keeping patients calm during oral surgeries and procedures.
2. Add a compelling section featuring your dental assistant experience
Highlight your strongest career achievements in your professional experience section. Rather than simply listing vague job descriptions, be specific about the types of dental procedures you have performed. This will show hiring managers you have a comprehensive knowledge of dentistry and oral health. It’s also important to showcase your ability to interface effectively with patients. For instance, many patients suffer from anxiety before dental procedures, so you may want to draw attention to your ability to calm patients during oral surgeries.
Senior-Level Professional Experience Example
Dental Assistant, Orson & Crowell Dental Practice, New York, NY
May 2019 – present
- Support a practice of five dentists and three dental hygienists during fillings, tooth extractions, and oral surgeries
- Prepare patients for dental procedures by providing education on dental conditions, oral surgeries, and potential discomfort to reduce anxiety
- Prevent the risk of infection and disease by sterilizing instruments and ensuring compliance with COVID-19 and health safety protocols
Entry-Level Professional Experience Example
Dental Assistant, Rockstar Smiles, Seattle, WA
October 2021 – present
- Conduct panoramic dental X-rays to diagnose cavities, impacted wisdom teeth, and other dental conditions and provide education to patients on findings
- Support dentists during root canals, extractions, and other dental procedures, including sterilizing instruments to prevent infection
- Create dental impressions, mix compounds in the laboratory, assist with denture fittings, and maintain inventory levels for dental equipment and supplies
3. Include education and certifications relevant to dental assistants
In addition to obtaining your initial dental assistant credentials, it may be beneficial to pursue other industry certifications. This will show prospective employers you have specialized knowledge in key areas of oral care. For example, dental assistants perform X-rays on a regular basis, so you may want to obtain a certification in radiation health and safety.
Education
Template
- [Degree Name]
- [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] [Dates Enrolled]
Example
- Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) Dental Assisting
- Seattle Central College, Seattle, WA September 2018 – June 2020
Certifications
Template
- [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Example
- Certified Preventive Functions Dental Assistant (CPFDA), DANB, 2020
- Certified Dental Assistant – Radiation Health and Safety (RHS), DANB, 2019
4. List dental assistant-related skills and proficiencies
Companies sometimes receive hundreds of applications in response to a single job advertisement, leaving them looking for ways to streamline the screening process. As a result, many companies use applicant tracking system (ATS) software to scan resumes for specific keywords related to the job. If your resume doesn’t contain the right keywords, the software may reject it before a hiring manager sees it. To maximize your odds of landing the interview, incorporate as many key terms as possible from the job description. Below are potential skills you may encounter during the job search:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Administrative support | CDA |
| Communication | Cosmetic dentistry |
| Dental assisting | Dental care |
| Dental hygiene | Dentistry |
| HIPAA | Infection prevention |
| Intra-oral procedures | Invisalign |
| Oral surgery | Patient care |
| Patient education | Restorative dentistry |
| Root canals | Sterilization |
| Tooth extraction | X-rays |
How To Pick the Best Dental Assistant Resume Template
Selecting a well-organized and straightforward template is the best approach for dental assistant resumes. Many candidates make the mistake of using modern templates with bulky graphics and flashy colors. This can often be distracting for the hiring manager. The most important aspect of the resume is your content, so select a template that delivers key information as efficiently as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions: Dental Assistant Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for dental assistant resumes?-
Often a limited number of verbs convey your professional experience accurately. Differentiating your usage of action verbs can enhance the resume reading experience and keep your content fresh. Below, you’ll find a list of verbs you can use for your bullet points:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Administered | Analyzed |
| Collaborated | Conducted |
| Coordinated | Delivered |
| Developed | Diagnosed |
| Drove | Enhanced |
| Evaluated | Executed |
| Identified | Improved |
| Interfaced | Led |
| Managed | Oversaw |
| Performed | Provided |
| Resolved | Supported |
How do you align your resume with a job description?-
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, dental assistant jobs are expected to grow 8% over the next decade. This amounts to 56,400 new openings each year. Despite the positive outlook for the dental industry, you’ll still need to align your resume with the job description to differentiate yourself from the competition.
Before submitting your resume, carefully analyze the job description for the company you’re applying to. Ensure your document captures key terms and qualifications to match that organization's needs. Prioritize key skills featured toward the top of the job posting, as these tend to have added weight.
What is the best dental assistant resume format?-
Reverse chronological is the recommended format for dental assistant resumes. This ensures your most recent and relevant experience is featured at the top of your document. A functional approach is generally considered to be a poor approach by most recruiters, as skill-based resumes lack depth and have minimal content.
Adding a matching cover letter can bolster your chances of landing the interview. If you choose to submit a cover letter for a job opening, customize it to that opportunity. Also, mention something about the dental practice’s reputation or culture and why it draws you to apply for the position. For more insights, visit our dental assistant cover letter guide.
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