Dental Assistant Resume Example & Writing Guide
Build a professional dental assistant resume. Expert examples with chairside assisting skills, dental software, and patient care experience.
Dental Assistant Resume Example
Here's a professional dental assistant resume example that you can use as a reference. This example highlights the key sections and content that hiring managers look for.
Alex Johnson
Dental Assistant
New York, NY | alex.johnson@email.com | (555) 123-4567 | linkedin.com/in/alexjohnson
Professional Summary
Certified Dental Assistant with 3+ years of experience in general and cosmetic dentistry. Skilled in chairside assisting, digital radiography, and patient education. Proficient in Dentrix and Eaglesoft practice management software. Known for exceptional patient rapport and efficient clinical support.
Work Experience
Senior Dental Assistant
2022 – Present
ABC Corporation, New York, NY
- •Assisted dentist with 20+ procedures daily including fillings, extractions, crowns, and root canals
- •Captured and processed digital radiographs with 99% diagnostic quality, reducing retake rate by 40%
- •Managed sterilization of 100+ instruments daily, maintaining 100% compliance with OSHA and CDC guidelines
Dental Assistant
2019 – 2022
XYZ Company, Chicago, IL
- •Educated 15+ patients daily on post-operative care, oral hygiene techniques, and treatment plans
- •Streamlined appointment scheduling in Dentrix, increasing daily patient capacity by 15%
Skills
Chairside Assisting • Digital Radiography (X-rays) • Dental Impressions • Sterilization Protocols • Dentrix Software • Eaglesoft • Patient Education • Infection Control • Dental Materials • Appointment Scheduling • Insurance Verification • OSHA Compliance • CPR/BLS Certified • Dental Charting • Oral Health Assessment
Education
Dental Assisting Certificate/Diploma
Associate's in Dental Hygiene
Dental Assistant Resume Summary Examples
Your resume summary is the first thing hiring managers read. Here's a strong example for adental assistant with 3+ years of experience:
“Certified Dental Assistant with 3+ years of experience in general and cosmetic dentistry. Skilled in chairside assisting, digital radiography, and patient education. Proficient in Dentrix and Eaglesoft practice management software. Known for exceptional patient rapport and efficient clinical support.”
“Hardworking dental assistant looking for a challenging position where I can utilize my skills and experience. I am a team player with excellent communication skills.”
Why the first example works: It includes specific years of experience, quantified achievements, technical skills, and certifications — all things ATS systems and hiring managers look for.
Work Experience Bullet Points
Here are powerful, metrics-driven bullet points for a dental assistant resume. Notice how each one starts with an action verb and includes specific numbers:
- Assisted dentist with 20+ procedures daily including fillings, extractions, crowns, and root canals
- Captured and processed digital radiographs with 99% diagnostic quality, reducing retake rate by 40%
- Managed sterilization of 100+ instruments daily, maintaining 100% compliance with OSHA and CDC guidelines
- Educated 15+ patients daily on post-operative care, oral hygiene techniques, and treatment plans
- Streamlined appointment scheduling in Dentrix, increasing daily patient capacity by 15%
Pro Tip: Use the formula: Action Verb + Task + Quantified Result. For example: “Managed” + “team of 12 engineers” + “delivering project 20% under budget.”
Key Skills for a Dental Assistant Resume
Include these skills on your dental assistant resume to pass ATS screening and impress hiring managers:
ATS Keywords for Dental Assistant Resume
These are the most important keywords that Applicant Tracking Systems scan for in dental assistant resumes. Include them naturally throughout your resume:
Important: Don't stuff keywords. Use them naturally in your summary, experience, and skills sections. ATS systems can detect keyword stuffing and may flag your resume.
Education & Certifications
Education
- Dental Assisting Certificate/Diploma
- Associate's in Dental Hygiene
Certifications
- Certified Dental Assistant (CDA)
- Dental Radiography Certification
- CPR/BLS Certified
Expert Tips for Your Dental Assistant Resume
Include CDA certification and radiography license in your header
List specific dental software (Dentrix, Eaglesoft, Open Dental)
Quantify procedures assisted, patients seen, and accuracy metrics
Highlight infection control and sterilization compliance
Show patient education and communication skills
Dental Assistant Salary & Job Outlook
Entry Level
$33K
Median Salary
$41K
Experienced
$52K
Job Outlook
7% growth (2022-2032), about 56,400 openings per year
Source: BLS 2024
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a dental assistant resume include?
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