Dental Assistant Resume Examples for 2024 (+ Skill list)

As a dental assistant, you have the knowledge and skills to help dental professionals perform at their best.

From taking X-rays to providing patient education, you are an indispensable part of any dental practice.

But how do you condense your expertise into a single sheet of paper that catches the eye of potential employers and sets you apart from other applicants?

Don't worry – we've got you covered. In this post, we'll provide you with the tools and strategies you need to craft a job-winning dental assistant resume that showcases your unique skills and accomplishments

This guide will show you:

• A dental assistant resume that will land you interviews. 
• How to make a good dental assistant job description for resumes.
• How to write a objective for dental assistant resume that shines like a polished smile.
• Why you can’t just list dental assistant resume skills (and what to do instead).

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Got other medical skills? See our other guides:

• Dentist Resume
• ER Nurse Resume
• Healthcare Resume
• Medical Assistant Resume
• Medical Doctor Resume
• Nurse Resume
• Nursing Student Resume
• Occupational Therapy Resume
• Pharmacist Resume
• Physician Assistant Resume

Haven't found what you're looking for? Check all our Resume Examples for different jobs and industries.

Dental Assistant Resume Example You Can Copy and Use

Now here’s how to write a dental assistant resume that shines:

1. Start With the Best Dental Assistant Resume Format

Dental assistants help dentists provide efficient, high-quality care. They provide crucial services like 4-handed dentistry, procedure preparation, record keeping, and X-Ray operation.

A good dental assistant resume doesn’t just list those skills. It shows snapshots of when you’ve used them before.

But—

It all starts with clean, even formatting.

Dental Assistant Resume Format

• Start with the reverse-chronological format.
• Use good resume fonts like Arial or Cambria in 10–12pt.
• Use 1-inch margins, and put white space between the sections.
• Write a one-page resume for dental assisting jobs.
• Use these resume sections: Header, Objective, Experience, Education, Skills, and “Additional.”

Expert Hint: If the job ad doesn’t instruct against it, save your dental assisting resume as a PDF. They stay well-aligned across a variety of devices.

2. Write a Catchy Dental Assistant Resume Objective or Summary

First impressions matter.

Make yours by starting with a career summary or a resume objective.

A summary is for experienced applicants. An objective is for newcomers.

Here’s how to make a dental assistant resume objective:

1. Use 1–2 adjectives (passionate, certified)
2. Add the job title (Dental Assistant)
3. Years of experience (4+, 5+)
4. How you’ll help (provide excellent preparation and documentation)
5. Best achievement or two (maintained 99% positive patient rating for 2 years)

These dental assistant resume examples will prepare you:

Dental Assistant Resume Summary—Example

Passionate certified dental assistant with 4+ years experience, seeking to provide excellent preparation and documentation at Keller Dental through skills in 4-handed dentistry and X-Ray operation. At Oakland Dental Spa, maintained 99% positive patient rating for 2 years.

Hard-working, efficient dental assistant with tried and tested skills in 4-handed dentistry, X-Ray operation, procedure preparation, record keeping, and customer service. Always a help around the office and highly dependable. Customer service is my every goal.

Yikes.

The first of those dental assistant resume samples is pristine. It even adds the practice name. That’s eye-catching!

Then there’s that “99%” as an added bonus.

The second says how cool you are, but doesn’t prove it.

Entry-Level Dental Assistant Resume Objective—Example

Writing an entry-level dental assistant resume?

Baby steps.

Build it with volunteer experience, school achievements, or accomplishments from non-dental-assistant jobs.

Efficient and friendly dental assistant, skilled in 4-handed dentistry and procedure preparation, seeking to make Dr. Kenneth Parker’s life easier through expert 4-handed dentistry. As volunteer dental assistant, received frequent commendations from Drs. Michael Kirtley and Timothy Greene for efficient procedure preparation. Scored above 95% on Radiation Health Safety exam and Infection Control exam.

Even without experience, that beginner dental assisting resume shows skills.

Expert Hint: Write your dental assistant resume summary or objective last. It’ll be much easier to think of all your best accomplishments after the resume is finished.

3. Write an Attractive Dental Assistant Skills & Job Description Sections

Your dental assistant resume needs a chewing surface too.

It’s your work history.

Pack it with skills proof.

How to write a dental assistant job description for resumes:

1. Look at the job posting to peek at the dentist’s needs.
2. List the skills and responsibilities you see.
3. Brainstorm when you’ve used those things to help in a big way.
4. List them in your dental assisting resume.
5. Include numbers that show the effect you had.

These dental assistant resume examples give an X-Ray view:

Dental Assistant Job Description for Resume

Job ad wants these dental assistant skills: (1) 4-handed dentistry (2) training (3) digital X-Rays.

Dental Assistant

2017–2019

Oakland Dental Spa

• Provided patient care, assisted with setup and dental procedures, took X-Rays, performed record-keeping, scheduled appointments.
• Maintained 99% positive rating from patients.
• Commended 7x for expert 4-handed dentistry.
• Trained 3 staff members to give digital X-Rays. 

• Responsible for all dental assistant duties in busy practice.
• Performed patient care, setup, X-Rays, record-keeping, and scheduling.
• Assisted with 4-handed dentistry.
• Operated digital X-Ray equipment.

Worlds apart.

The first of those dental assistant resume examples shows the skills the dentist craves. It adds numbers to solidify them.

The second isn’t bad! The problem? It blends in with all the other dental assisting resumes like a cap among real teeth.

Writing an entry-level dental assistant skills resume? Check this:

Entry-Level Dental Assistant Resume Job Description

Job ad wants these dental assistant skills: (1) X-Ray operation (2) procedure preparation (3) efficiency (4) record keeping

Volunteer Dental Assistant

2019

• Volunteered for Dr. Michael Kirtley, DDS, PA as dental assistant. Received high marks for X-Ray operation.
• Volunteered for Dr. Timothy Greene, DDS, PA as dental assistant. Received frequent compliments for efficient procedure preparation.

Retail Associate

Land’s End

2013–2019

• Employee of the month 4x for friendly customer interaction and efficiency.
• Assisted with store record-keeping on MS Office Suite.

Retail

2013–2019

• Ran cash register in busy high-end retail outlet.
• Restocked merchandise.
• Maintained high level of product knowledge.
• Opened and closed register during busy times.

See that?

The second of those beginner dental assistant resume examples doesn’t show key skills.

Dental Assistant Duties for Resume

• Providing patient care 
• Handling dental X-Rays
• Assisting in dental procedures
• Scheduling appointments 
• Billing and record keeping 

Those are general duties. Remember to customize them to the job ad and possibly add any proof that shows you can do them right. 

It's much better to write that patient satisfaction was super high thanks to your support than to mention that you just provided the care. 

Most Important Dental Assistant Resume Skills 

• Patient Care
• 4-Handed Dentistry
• X-Ray Skills
• Dental Procedure Preparation
• Patient Communication
• Dental Procedure Documentation
• Digital X-Ray Skills
• Dental Equipment Operation
• Regulation Compliance
• Dental Equipment Maintenance
• Flexible Scheduling
• Invisalign
• Eaglesoft Dental Software
• Cerec
• Billing Codes ICD9
• CPR
• Billing Codes ICD10
• Record Keeping
• Electronic Medical Records (EMR)
• Payment Processing

• Great Attitude
• Detail Oriented
• Compassion
• Efficiency
• Motivated
• Organization
• Teamwork
• Customer Service
• Interpersonal Skills
• Listening

Expert Hint: These dental assistant skills to put on a resume are great. But if they don’t stick to what’s listed in the job posting online, rinse and spit them out. Never underestimate the power of the right keywords on a resume.

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4. Enhance Your Dental Assistant Resume with Education Section

A resume for dental assistant jobs doesn’t need a dentist’s degree.

But—

You need to show your schooling in a way that interests them.

These dental assistant resume examples shine:

Dental Assistant Resume Education—Example

Education 

Dental Assistant Training, Bitterroot College, 2015

• Performed full externship with practicing dentist.
• Received Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) certificate.
• Scored a 95% on Radiation Health Safety (RHS) exam.
• Scored a 97% on the Infection Control (ICE) exam.

Flawless.

That resume education section proves skills—not just training.

Expert Hint: Show your dental assistant certification in a special section under education. More on “other” resume sections below.

5. Build Your Dental Assistant Resume With Bonus Sections

What about your certification?

That’s only part of it.

You also need to show the dentist you’re well-rounded.

Do it with “extra” sections in your resume for dental assistant jobs:

• Certifications
• Additional Activities
• Freelance Work
• Conferences
• Volunteer Experience
• Continuing Education
• Foreign Languages
• Honors
• Publications
• Professional Associations (ADAA)

These two dental assistant resume examples clean it up:

Dental Assistant Resume—Extra Sections

Certifications

• National Certified Dental Assistant Certification
• EFDA (Expanded Function Dental Assistant)

Association Membership

American Dental Assistants Association

Additional Activities

• Volunteer fundraiser organizer, Humane Society of Western Montana.
• Yoga instructor 1x weekly, increased class membership 30%.

Additional

• Volunteering
• Yoga

So different.

The first of those dental assistant resume samples shows things the dentist wants. Even the “additional activities” add value.

They show you’re “with it.”

Expert Hint: Write a dental assistant cover letter. Too many dentists won’t read your dental assisting resume without one. So learn how to write a cover letter and show your best moments that fit in with the job.

Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.

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Key Points

For a dental assistant resume that gets jobs:

• Use the dental assistant resume template up top. It screws into the dentist’s needs.
• Put dental assistant accomplishments in your resume objective, work history, education, and “extra” sections to show your chops.
• List the correct dental assistant resume skills. Don’t know what those are? Look in the online posting.
• Write a dental assistant cover letter. Show why you’re so interested in this particular practice.

Got questions on how to write a great resume for dental assistant jobs? Not sure how to show dental assisting on a resume? Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply!

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