Dental Assistant Resume Example and How to Write It

When writing a dental assistant resume, your goal is to convince the hiring manager that you are the right person for the position by showing in your resume that you have the qualities, qualifications, and experience to succeed as a dental assistant in their organization.

According to Job Description and Resume Examples, for your dental assistant resume to be effectively in getting you the desired job, you need to highlight certain important skills, including attention to detail, interpersonal skills, compassion, mixing of fillings, and sterilization skills.

It is also important to show in your resume that you love helping people, especially those hurting.

This is important to employers because the dental assistant practice entails providing care to patients.

According to the Dental Assisting National Board, as a dental assistant, you will meet every patient that comes into your practice.

You are expected to provide care for them or guide and educate them on their treatment plan and procedure.

You are also expected to make them comfortable while on visit to the facility and assist them in living a healthy life.

This article will teach you how to write an effective resume for a dental assistant position and increase your chances of being hired for the job.

How to Write a Compelling Dental Assistant Resume

To create an effective resume for a dental assistant position, you need to show in the sections of the resume the qualities, including skills, knowledge, and abilities, and the experience, and training that you have that are important to succeeding as a dental assistant with the employer you are applying to.

You can divide your resume into four sections, including Objective Statement, Core Competence, Professional Experience, and Education and Professional Qualifications where you can highlight what you are bringing to the job to excel as a dental assistant.

Now, let’s see how to make the sections:

How to Write a Compelling Dental Assistant Resume Objective Statement

The objective statement of your dental assistant resume is very important. It can determine if the employer/recruiter will go ahead to read your resume or not.

You should try to explain why you are interested in the position and why you are the best candidate for the role.

This will encourage the hiring manager to get into the body of the resume to discover what you are bringing to the dental assisting job if hired.

You do this by writing two or three lines explaining what kind of job you are looking for and what skills, abilities and competencies you possess to do this job.

Create a great dental assistant resume objective statement that is interesting and relevant by making sure these points are reflected:

Thorough explanation of the dental assistant role for which you are applying
A statement that makes a case that you are best candidate for the role
A snippet of your traits, credentials, and job experience, and so forth, that makes you a great fit for the vacant dental assistant position.

Here is a sample objective statement for a dental assistant resume:

“Meticulous and talented Dental Assistant seeking a post at Sunlit Clinic where excellent communication skills and ability to make patients feel comfortable during their visits will be applied; also comes with proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office software, including Word and Excel.”

See more dental assistant resume objectives.

How to Write a Compelling Dental Assistant Resume Core Competence

The core competence is another important part of your dental assistant resume. It can influence the hiring manager to hire you or not.

Your core competences highlights the skills, attributes, abilities, knowledge, and experience, and training that you have that have prepared you for a successful dental assistant career.

Here is an example of the core competence section of a dental assistant resume:

Excellent communication skills with the ability to interact with people from all walks of life
Strong ability to utilize Microsoft Office software tools effectively, such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
Fluency in English and Spanish languages
High level of attention to detail.
Ability to work in a team.

How to Write an Effective Dental Assistant Resume Professional Experience

A professional experience section in your dental assistant resume should have positions in which you have worked before, in chronological order starting with the most recent one.

It is also important that you write as much about your responsibilities as possible, specific tasks and goals, as this will make it easier for hiring manager to decide if you are fit for the dental assistant job or not.

Here is an example of a dental assistant resume professional experience section:

WORK EXPERIENCE:

Stixx Company, Florida

Dental Assistant

2019 – Present

Compile all dental records and scheduling
Assist dentist when needed
Monitor status of insurance memberships
Schedule appointments with new clients
Process payment for services rendered
Transmit data to computer system via Dental Communication software.

How to Write a Dental Assistant Resume Education and Professional Qualifications

Education and professional qualifications are another important section to put in your dental assistant resume.

This section should include all of your education background and any professional certifications or licenses you have.

This section is important because it gives hiring managers an idea of how qualified you are for the dental assistant job.

If your dental assistant resume is without listing any of this information, a hiring manager might think you don’t have much education or training for the job and this could result in them not giving you an interview.

You should write your educational credentials in chronological order and the reverse should be the case for your professional qualifications.

Dental Assistant Resume Example

We have seen how to write the different sections of a dental assistant resume, so, now we will put that together in creating a complete resume for the role.

Name: John Doe

Address: 123 Main Street, Anytown, USA

Phone Number: 555-555-5555

E-mail Address: johnd@example.com

OBJECTIVE:

”Seeking employment as a dental assistant with BNK Company, with the goal of improving client experience via good communication skills, effective problem-solving aptitude, and a meticulous attention to detail”.

CORE COMPETENCE:

Proficient in oral hygiene techniques, such as plaque removal and application of fluoride varnish
Ability to communicate with patients and other dental office employees in a clear, concise manner
Willingness to assist dentists and hygienists during procedures and minor surgical operations
Ability to work independently and in a team setting
Extensive knowledge of professional rules and regulations pertaining to dental assistants
Interest in health issues such as proper nutrition, exercise and wellness, smoking cessation, and the prevention of sick building syndrome.

WORK EXPERIENCE:

Addo Inc,

Dental Assistant

2019 – Present

Responsible for the administration of dental anesthetic to patients prior to dental treatment
Must follow all safety guidelines related to anesthetic, such as the use of protective eyewear and gloves while administering drugs
Obtain patient information through oral examination, including medical history and allergy information. This information is to be communicated accurately to dentists, usually in written form
Clean patients’ teeth and gums using hand and power tools, such as ultrasonic scalers or air-driven rotary instruments for cleaning and shaping purposes. May also administer prescribed mouthwash or fluoride treatments during dental procedures
Responsible for completing paperwork, including patient charts and dental treatment records, and making appropriate entries into the dental office computer system.

EDUCATION AND CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL TRAINING:

B.Sc. in Dental Assisting, University of Montana, (2013 – 2016)

Courses taken include:

Anatomy, physiology and physiology of dental assistants
Hygiene and bacteriology
Dental materials and techniques
Oral radiography, including cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging
Dental emergencies and medical first aid, CPR/BLS for healthcare providers.

Certified Dental Assistant, Dental Assisting, Dental Assisting Certification Board (DACB),

(2016 – 2018)

Courses taken include:

Dental Assisting Care and Competencies for Dental Assisting Professionals
Applied Dental Assisting (CADAS)
History of dentistry
Physiology of dental assistants
Toxicology and first aid in dentistry.

Dental Assistant Employment in U.S.

According to the May, 2023 data report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of employed dental assistants in the United States was about 370,690.

Top Hiring Industries

The industries with the most number of dental assistants in employment within that period included:

Offices of Dentists: 339,100
Offices of Physicians: 8,040
Outpatient Care Centers: 6,620
Employment Services: 3,890
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation): 3,450

Top Hiring States

Also, the BLS data shows that the States with the highest employment for dental assistants included California and Texas, with 56,870 and 34,490 employments respectively.

Conclusion

The success of your resume in getting you the dental assistant position that you are applying for depends on the information you present in your resume to the recruiter/employer.

This is why every section of your resume should be carefully made to highlight your best qualities, experience, training, knowledge, abilities, and skills that will enable you to excel in the dental assistant position that you are applying for.

This post has provided useful information and examples to enable you to write highly impactful dental assistant resume.