Dental Assistant Resume Example & Writing Guide
- Why use this dental assistant resume example?
- How to write a great dental assistant resume
- Relevant key skills for a dental assistant resume
- Dental Assistant resume example
Dental assistants play a crucial role in the healthcare sector by providing assistance to licensed dentists and their patients. To succeed in this role, you will need sufficient knowledge of dentistry and dental procedures along with good interpersonal and administrative skills. It’s worth noting that dental assistants are not the same as dentists. A dental assistant is supposed to assist in dental procedures, while a dentist is expected to perform the procedure. For this reason, a dental assistant does not necessarily need a degree in dentistry.
Why use this dental assistant resume example?
As a dental assistant, your daily tasks involve assisting with different dental treatments such as scaling, polishing, root canals, crown and bridge work, and surgical extractions. For this reason, a degree or certification course in dental assisting, healthcare, and/or training in clinic management are crucial.
The resume template contains necessary information about your qualifications and experience that align with dental assistant jobs. It is divided into multiple sections to showcase your skills and aptitude for the job role, as well as some of the commonly-used keywords across multiple dental assistant job roles.
As a dental assistant, you will be expected to stay up to date with the latest tools and trends in the market. This means new treatment plans, equipment, and tools intended to improve the quality of dental care provided to patients. This is why it’s important to mention any certification you’ve achieved, coursework you’ve undertaken, or seminar you’ve attended on dental hygiene and best practices.
How to write a great dental assistant resume
Unlike other job roles, the resume for a dental assistant job does not need to be wordy or detailed. If you don’t have sufficient experience, you can sum it up in one page. The resume begins with a small objective statement that should highlight your experience.
Under areas of expertise, it’s important to mention your skills in patient and clinic management, communication skills, and any special training you’ve received such as X-Ray imaging. If you have experience in managing dental records or upselling dental equipment (such as retainers or nightguards), you need to mention it here.
Your professional experience should list relevant job experience. Every job role should include a list of job duties as well as key accomplishments that are quantified when relevant. The final section of your resume should contain your education, certifications, and licenses, if any.
Relevant key skills for a dental assistant resume
Dental assistants should be well-versed in a number of dental terminologies and patient management protocols. Here are some of the key skills associated with this job role:
Interpersonal skills
Empathy
Attention to detail
Leadership and teamwork
Administrative/office skills
Inventory management
Familiarity with dental treatments
Multitasking skills
Physical endurance (ability to stand for long hours)
Precision and meticulousness
Basic computer literacy
Familiarity with taking dental X-Rays
Note taking
Dental Assistant resume example
Summary example
Highly motivated and skilled dental care team professional with proven success excelling in dynamic, ever-changing environments requiring exceptional clinical, sales, and administrative talents.
Employment history example
Dental assistant at Northern Virginia Dental Center. Ashburn, VA.
2017 - Present
Leverage in-depth knowledge of dentistry services to facilitate comprehensive procedures with unwavering professionalism.
Earned recognition for ortho incentive sales including Invisalign, whitening, retainers, laser procedures, remineralization, and mouth/nightguard devices.
Credited for driving sales initiatives and communicating compassionately with patients supporting quality patient care.
Dental assistant at Ashbrook Center for Dentistry. Ashburn, VA.
2015-2017
Ensured correctly arranged instrument trays, operate x-ray machines, and partner with dental staff to ensure client loyalty and retention.
Commended for keen attention to detail, accurate patient documentation, and mentoring colleagues to enhance office productivity.
Established solid reputation for efficient scheduling and effectively resolving equipment and client concerns.
Dental assistant at Dr. Paul Crentist. Bethesda, MD.
2007 - 2008
Established reputation for versatility and resourcefulness in fast-paced clinical setting; demonstrated comprehension of specialty dentistry procedures and fostered superior relationships patients and families contributing to client satisfaction.
Orchestrated interdisciplinary patient care through close collaboration with endodontist and office staff; instrumental in managing front desk, verifying insurance, and administering prescription/charting.
Education example
Pre-Medicine Program Coursework at Weber State University. Ogden, Utah.
X-Ray Certification at Virginia Commonwealth University. Richmond, VA.
CPR/AED Certification.
Skills example
Clinical operations
Patient education
Consultative selling
Office administration
Computer charting
Inventory management
