Dentist resume example & writing guide

For some, writing a resume is as painful as getting a root canal. But you can easily create an impressive dentist resume by highlighting your technical proficiencies, dental specialties, and ability to provide excellent patient care. Follow this writing guide and dentist resume example for some guidance and inspiration.

In this article, we will cover the following topics:

• What your dentist resume should include

• How to describe your qualifications and experience

• The best skills to include on your resume

• How to pick the right resume template

What should your dentist resume include?

Your dentist resume should highlight your skills in different dental techniques, such as fillings, root canals, and oral surgery. It should also reflect your commitment to patient care and education. To set your resume apart, you can describe the impact you’ve had in other dental practices, such as high patient retention or improved clinical efficiency.

A dentist resume should have these elements:

• A resume header with your contact information

• A resume summary

• A work experience section

• An education section

• A resume skills section

How can you create a professional summary?

At the top of your resume, introduce yourself to the hiring manager with a well-written summary. Describe your professional experience in two or three sentences, focusing on your areas of specialization and patient care skills. You can also include a notable achievement, such as expertise in a specific dental procedure.

If you want to draw an employer’s attention to your key skills, provide a bulleted list of your core competencies, as we’ve shown in the example resume. Make sure to include skills that are highly relevant to the role. For example, if you’re applying for a pediatric dentistry job, you can emphasize your skills in behavior management techniques and preventive dental education.

Check out the adaptable dentist resume summary below.

How should you describe your work experience as a dentist?

In your work experience section, describe the jobs you’ve held in different dental offices and clinics. Outline your core duties and the accomplishments you’ve had in your career. For example, you might describe your patient satisfaction ratings or innovative dental techniques you’ve implemented.

List your professional experience in reverse chronological order, with your most recent role on top. Format your experience as we’ve shown in the example, with a paragraph describing your day-to-day duties and a bulleted list of key accomplishments.

Whenever possible, include quantifiable data tied to your experience or accomplishments. For example, you can describe the number of procedures you’ve completed or the clinic revenue you’ve generated.

Here’s an example of a quantifiable bullet point for a dentist resume:

• Increased patient retention rates by 34% within two years through a strategy of personalized treatment plans and enhanced patient education

See our adaptable dentist resume work experience section below.

Include a fitting dentist resume education and certifications section

Dentistry is a skilled profession, so your resume needs to include information about your education, certifications, licensure, and affiliations. In this section, you can also include dental research published in your name.

Follow these tips to write your dentist resume education section:

• Provide the essential details. For your education, list your degrees and the schools you attended. You don’t need to provide graduation dates unless you’ve recently earned your Doctor of Dental Surgery or Doctor of Dental Medicine.

• Include your license. Provide information about your dental license, including the state where you’re licensed to work and the expiration date.

• Highlight certifications. If you have relevant certifications, such as IV sedation or dental implants, list those in your education section. Provide the full name of the certification and the awarding organization.

Which key skills are relevant for a dentist resume?

Dentists need a combination of hard and soft skills to perform exams and procedures, educate patients, and collaborate with other dental team members. In your skills section, highlight a list of your proficiencies and interpersonal traits.

The best skills for a dentist resume are the ones listed in the job description. By including those skills, your resume has a better chance of passing through an applicant tracking system (ATS). The ATS scans, filters, and ranks resumes based on keywords to identify top applicants. (For more information on the ATS, check out our article on resume ATS optimization.) 

Some common skills-based keywords for a dentist resume include:

• Dental procedures

• Oral surgery

• Preventive education

• Treatment planning

• Infection control

• Dental imaging and software

How to select the most impactful dentist resume template

Dental practices want to hire experienced, competent dentists, so make sure your resume reflects your professional image. Choose a clean, organized template with sections for your work experience, skills, education, and other credentials. Use a modern font and standard page margins.

Hiring managers often review resumes quickly, so keep yours to one page unless you have many years of dental experience. Additionally, use formatting elements like bullet points and white space to make it easy for an employer to skim your resume quickly.

Need some help with your resume formatting? Find the perfect template in our resume builder and get additional inspiration by browsing over 100 resume examples we have available.

Copyable dentist resume example

Key takeaways for writing a dentist resume

1. Your dentist resume should emphasize the technical skills and interpersonal traits that make you a great dentist.

2. Read the job description to include relevant keywords, which can help your resume pass an applicant tracking system.

3. Choose a professional resume template with clean formatting that’s easy to read.