Dental Hygienist Resume: Examples & Tips
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Dental hygienists handle patient screenings, clean teeth, and advise patients on oral health and preventative care.
Use these resume examples and expert tips to create an outstanding resume for a dental hygienist position.
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Dental hygienist example (text version)
Name: DEBRA DOUGHERTY
Address: City, State, Zip Code
Phone: 000-000-0000
E-Mail: email@email.com
PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
Cheerful dental hygienist with over three years of experience in oral health and care. Able to safely complete routine cleanings and develop playful rapport with my regular patients. Focused on providing comprehensive education to treat and prevent oral disease.
WORK HISTORY
Dental Hygienist | 05/2018 – Current
Company Name, City, State
- Remove tartar, stains and plaque from teeth using air-polishing devices and automatic toothbrushes.
- Apply sealants and fluorides to help protect patients’ teeth in under 45 seconds.
- Update patients’ dental record before and during a procedure to maintain detailed medical histories for future visits
Receptionist | 06/2014 – 12/2016
Company Name, City, State
- Assisted patients in completing all necessary forms and documents.
- Scheduled, rescheduled and handled cancelled appointments for patients.
- Prepared claim forms for dental insurance.
SKILLS
- Customer service
- Active listening
- Dental monitoring
- Dental hygiene
- Recording medical information
- Entry-level dentistry
- Preventive oral health education
- Dental prophylaxis
EDUCATION
12/2016
Associate of Applied Science:Dental Hygiene
College Name, City, State
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Architect Resume FAQ
1.What are skills you should consider for a dental hygienist resume?
- Patterson Eaglesoft
- Anesthesia administration
- Digital radiographs
- In-depth knowledge of health and safety regulations
- Physical stamina
- Written and verbal communication
- Patient and friendly personality
- Attention to detail
- Problem-solving skills
- Oral prophylaxis
- Nitrous oxide sedation
- Scaling and root planing
- Soft tissue management
2. How should I handle my resume if this is my first job?
Use a functional resume format for your resume — this layout focuses more on your training and skills than your professional experience. You can also mention volunteer work, internships, or other activities that show off skills that you can use on the job (e.g., an internship at a position that requires good interpersonal skills). If you have more experience, look into using the chronological resume format or combination resume format for your resume.
To learn how to format your resume like a pro, visit our resume format page.
3.What additional courses or certifications should you include in your resume?
In addition to your credential as a Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH), include details about your state license, as well as certifications in areas such as Certified Dental Assistant (CDA), Certified Orthodontic Assistant (COA), Certified Preventive Functions Dental Assistant (CPFDA) or Certified Restorative Functions Dental Assistant (CRFDA).
4. What makes for a good resume summary?
As the summary is the first thing a hiring manager will read, you need to make a good impression and fast. Think of the summary as your “elevator pitch” — a quick, concise explanation of why you’re a good fit for the job. Highlight expertise and achievements in areas that match what the job needs. For example, if the job lists “using Intraoral Camera to take photographs,” you could write: “Experienced Dental Hygienist with 3+ years experience managing patient treatment and records, including intraoral imaging.”
5. Should my resume include references?
Having a list of professional connections who can vouch for your work history and skills is important — but they shouldn’t be included in your resume. Keep a separate references list at the ready if a recruiter needs it, and use the space in your resume to highlight your top skills and career accomplishments.
Do’s and Don’ts for Your Resume
- DO customize your resume to fit the job.Give employers what they want (and need) by making sure your resume addresses the exact requirements of the job. Read through the job posting and pick out key responsibilities and skills needed, such as “Sterilize dental instruments properly.” Then update your summary, skills and work history sections with your matching skills and experiences (e.g., listing “instrument sterilization” as a skill or listing previous work responsibilities involving sterilization). For more resume customization tips, see How to Create a Targeted Resume.
- DO optimize your resume for ATS.Many organizations now use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to scan and weed out resumes. To pass ATS, emphasize resume keywords from the job description regarding skills and tasks in your resume, and make sure your document is presented in a straightforward, readable layout. For more ATS tips, see our article How to Make Your Resume ATS-friendly.
- DO use a straightforward layout for your resume.On a related note, your resume should be presented using a design that’s easy to follow. Flashy fonts and graphic elements intended to set you apart from other resumes can also result in confusing (ATS) or employers. Use a professional resume template that includes enough visual touches to stand out while still maintaining a readable presentation.
- DON’T just copy key phrases from the job description.If the job calls for “proven experience as Dental Hygienist,” surely it’s a good idea to just write the exact phrase in your resume, right? Not necessarily. Employers can catch you out if you just parrot the job description back at them. So instead, present your experiences and skills in a way that shows they’re your own. For example, you could write “Dental Hygienist with 5+ years of experience in dental practice.” That addresses the key phrase and also includes useful details.
- DON’T include irrelevant personal information.You have a limited amount of space to make an impact on your resume, so don’t waste it on information about personal interests or hobbies. If you’ve been involved with activities that show off valuable skills for the job, you can mention them, but otherwise, stick to job-specific skills and accomplishments. And avoid divulging personal details about subjects like your marital status or religion.
- DON’T make your resume too long.Along those same lines, most agree that two pages is the maximum length for a resume. Make sure your resume falls within that limit by:
- Only listing your last 10 years of work history.
- Using short bullet points and phrases to describe your skills and achievements.
- Limiting your skills to your top 8-10 abilities.
Top 4 Characteristics of a Best-in-Class Dental Hygienist Resume
Summary
Your summary should tell recruiters right off the bat why you’re the best person for the job. Highlight your top achievements and skills in important areas such as dental disease management, dental prophylaxis, infection control, and efficient customer service.
Skills
In this section present a mix of hard skills such as oral prophylaxis, fluoride treatments, and treatment plan management, and soft skills such as attention to detail, a friendly personality and good communication skills.
Work history
Focus on major responsibilities and achievements from previous jobs that apply to the position you want, such as patient records and medical history maintenance. Use action verbs to describe your experiences (e.g., “Conducted initial mouth screenings” or “Educated patients on tooth care”).
Education
Feature your top qualification (e.g., Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene), along with any relevant certifications or additional training in areas such as basic sciences, marketing, or public health.
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Dental Hygienist Resume Example
Nilda Melissa is a Certified Professional Resume Writer who has written for The Washington Post and Latina Style Magazine. She has a master's in Journalism from Columbia University and is a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.
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