Dental Assistant Resume: Highlight Your Skills with These Tips

Each year, roughly 54,900 dental assistant jobs are projected to open, on average, from 2023-2033 according to Bureau of Labor Statistics projections.¹ After receiving the required education, one of the first steps in pursuing this healthcare position is to submit a resume. But what does a well-crafted dental assistant resume look like? We’ll share an example, but first, let’s discuss the information it should contain.

Elements to Include in Your Dental Assistant Resume

A resume tells a potential employer how (and if) an applicant is qualified to fill an open position. These qualifications are typically separated into different sections:

• Career summary or objectives
• Relevant skills
• Work experience
• Training, education, and certifications
• Other important resume sections

Each of these sections should be present on your dental assistant resume. Here’s more information about what to include in each one.

Dental Assistant Resume Summary or Objectives

This section is typically two to four sentences long and highlights the most important information you want a hiring manager to know. If you have dental assistant experience, give a big-picture view of your accomplishments. If you don’t, talk about your relevant skills and dental assistant training. Tell the employer why you’re qualified for the opening and how you can contribute to their organization.

Key Skills for Dental Assistant Resumes

Dental assistants can have a variety of job duties ranging from prepping patients and rooms for procedures to assisting the dentist or performing administrative tasks. This section of your resume is where you want to tell a prospective employer that you know how to handle the responsibilities assigned.

Dental assistant resume skills to mention include those related to:

• Oral care and infection control
• Instrument sterilization and safety procedures
• Radiography or X-rays
• Updating patients’ electronic health records
• Customer service (answering phones, scheduling appointments, etc.)
• Dental claims billing and insurance processing

If you have advanced skills, list those as well. Share if you know how to polish teeth, apply sealant, or remove and create temporary crowns. Individuals with expanded functions dental assistant training have learned how to perform these more complex dental functions.

Work Experience for Dental Assistant Resumes

If you have experience as a dental assistant, this is the section of the resume where you provide this information. For each place you’ve worked, give your job title, the employer’s name and location (city and state), and your dates of employment. Also include a bulleted list of tasks performed and accomplishments in that role.

What if you’re new to the field and don’t have any previous dental assistant experience? List jobs you’ve had with transferable skills. For example, if you worked someplace where you answered phones, kept records, or worked directly with consumers, this experience can help build skills that are beneficial to the dental assistant role.

Dental Assistant Training, Education, and Certifications

There are a variety of paths to becoming a dental assistant. Some states require that dental assistants complete an accredited program;² in those that don’t, employers may require or prefer it. That makes this section of your dental assistant resume critical because it quickly tells the hiring agent whether you meet the qualifications set by the state or their organization.

In terms of your training or education, provide the credential earned (i.e., whether it was a dental assistant diploma or degree, for instance) and the institution you attended. Indeed also recommends only listing the year you graduated if you completed the program within the past three years.³ Otherwise, you may want to leave the date off.

Include any relevant certifications on your dental assistant resume as well, especially if you are applying for an expanded functions position as some states require these professionals to be certified.² Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) certification is one of many you may decide to apply for, if eligible.

Additional Resume Sections

In addition to the above, you may wish to add other sections to your resume. If you belong to an organization within the dental field, add a “Professional Memberships” section and list that information here. If you’ve received any awards, honors, or other professional accolades, list them in a separate section to draw attention to your achievements.

Formatting Your Dental Assistant Resume

Once you have all your information compiled, the next step is to format your dental assistant resume so it is visually appealing and easy to read. Leaving ample white space on the page can keep it from looking crowded. Making the resume easy to scan is helpful, too. A hiring manager has limited time to get through all the applications received. Giving them a document they can quickly scan to get the information they need can make this process easier for them to complete.

Your dental assistant resume format can also affect how easily it is read by applicant tracking software. Organizations sometimes use this software to help quickly identify job candidates with the required qualifications and experience. If it has trouble reading your resume (such as by using too many graphics), you may not make it past this step, causing you to not move forward in the hiring process.

Another factor to consider concerning format is in what order you will provide the information. Here are three common resume formats and when to use each: ⁴

• Chronological. This format highlights your work experience, listing your most recent work experience first and then working backward in time. A chronological format is best when you have experience in this field.
• Functional. This format places more focus on your skills, which is why this section is placed before work experience on a functional resume. Use this dental assistant resume format if you have gaps in employment, no previous experience in the desired position, or are changing careers and new to the dental field.
• Combination. This format is a mixture of chronological and functional, and it’s flexible in that you can list work experience or skills first. A combination resume is a good choice for job applicants who are transitioning careers slightly — such as previously working in different positions within a dental office — or if your employment history is diverse.

Dental Assistant Resume Example

Sometimes it is helpful to look at a resume, giving you a clearer picture of how you could format your own. Here’s a sample dental assistant resume to get you started:

We offer a couple of other examples in our Healthcare Resume Guide, including an example of a dental assistant resume for someone who has just completed their schooling and gained skills via an externship.

Tips for Writing a Compelling Dental Assistant Resume

Creating your dental assistant resume can feel intimidating. Here are a few tips from the Indeed Career Guide that can help:⁵

• Keep your resume simple and brief — don’t include information not relevant to the position.
• Use Arial or Times New Roman font in 10 to 12-point.
• Use keywords mentioned in the job post within your resume (if they fit).
• When possible, use metrics in the experience section to quantify your accomplishments.
• Use active language and power words (i.e., earned or achieved).
• Proofread your resume several times to make sure it doesn’t contain any errors.

If you are a current UMA learner or alumni, our Career Services team can help you with your dental assistant resume. We also offer assistance with interview prep, the job search, and more!

Enhance Your Education with a Dental Assistant Program

If you haven’t already completed dental assistant training, and you are considering taking this step to learn the information and skills needed to perform this healthcare role, we can help with that!

Ultimate Medical Academy offers a Dental Assistant with Expanded Functions diploma program that can be completed in 12 months.⁶ In addition to gaining some key dental assistant resume skills through both instruction and a 240-hour on-site externship, learners are also prepared to sit for the Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) certification exam, if eligible.

Contact us today to learn more about this program or any of our other healthcare programs. We’re here for you!

FAQs:

• What should a dental assistant put on a resume? Start with your name and contact information (address, phone number, and email address), then put your work experience, training or dental assistant education, skills, and certifications.
• What is an example of a professional summary for a dental assistant? Here’s an example: “Compassionate and skilled dental assistant with 8 years of experience. Possess a team attitude and strong willingness to provide high-quality patient care.”
• What is a good objective for a dental assistant resume? Here’s an example: “To obtain a dental assistant position with a reputable dentist's office. With my training and 240-hour externship, along with my experience in customer service, I am prepared to perform the dental assistant duties assigned and provide optimal patient care.”