Writing Your Dental Assistant Résumé

Make the task of writing a dental assistant résumé less intimidating by first compiling a list of your skills, work experience, educational background and qualifications. Write down your strengths and interests without thinking how they may or may not relate to your career as a dental assistant. From this list, you will be able to pick and choose the content to include in your dental assistant résumé and then tailor it for the position you want.

The primary goal of a dental assistant résumé is to grab the attention of a potential employer. Set yourself apart from other dental assistants by using these essential tips:

• Know your audience. The job description of a dental assistant can vary greatly depending on the dentist. Use the job listing to pinpoint specific skills that each dental office is looking for.
   
• Include an objective. The people reviewing your dental assistant résumé will choose a candidate who is motivated and has a clear-cut sense of direction. Tell them that you want to expand your knowledge in an well-established office.
   
• A little lingo goes a long way. When describing your qualifications, use dental industry keywords that catch the eye and explain how your skills can be applied. Guide the reader to the important aspects with bold headings, bullet points and wide margins—but don't overdo it.

When seeking an entry-level dental assistant position, consider using a functional résumé that puts more emphasis on your skills and education than your chronological work history:

• Sterilizing and disinfecting dental equipment in order to prepare for surgery
• Organizing the applicable instruments for each procedure
• Mixing fillings and materials for impressions and restorations
• Using suction devices to keep patients’ mouths dry and clear
• Applying topical anesthetics to gums
• Removing excess cement after the filling process
• Instructing patients on general oral hygiene as well as post-operative care
• Taking dental x-rays and processing x-ray film
• Making casts of the teeth and mouth from impressions

Even if you're looking for your very first dental assistant job, you can still emphasize the important skills you have gained in other fields. Potential employers will be looking for applicants with excellent people skills, who work well on a team and have experience in a fast-paced, service-oriented atmosphere. List responsibilities you have had in other jobs that demonstrate these attributes. Any leadership roles, promotions and volunteer work are also valuable experiences to list.

Highlight any skills you have gained from working in a dental office throughout your education:

• Answering questions about dental care
• Making patient appointments and sending appointment-reminder letters
• Greeting patients and fielding phone calls
• Organizing and filing patient records
• Sending patient bills and receiving payments
• Ordering dental supplies