Dental Hygienist Resume Example
Pursuing a career as a dental hygienist provides opportunities for career progression and responsibilities involving assisting with X-rays and cleaning patients' teeth. To succeed in your applications for dental hygienist roles, you'll need a resume that reflects your relevant skills and experience. In this article, we'll outline how to write a winning resume to boost your chances of success in your dental hygienist applications.
This comprehensive guide will give you all the tools you need to craft a dental hygienist resume that positions you strongly against other candidates. You'll find useful insights on constructing a resume that makes the most of your unique skills, experience and strengths. You'll also learn how to tailor your resume according to the job description, and depending on your experience levels. Continue reading to find the best dental hygienist resume tips from careers experts at Jobseeker.
Main sections of a dental hygienist resume
Although the content of a dental hygienist resume may differ according to your experience and seniority, the main sections will remain the same.
If you have no work experience as a dental hygienist or have just started in the industry, you could consider using a functional or skills-based format, which emphasizes your skills and education. Soft and transferable skills are often more highly valued by employers for junior roles, so highlight these. Also add any internships, volunteer work or training courses you've undertaken.
If you're already working as a dental hygienist, concentrate on proving your credentials with your work achievements. Use a reverse-chronological resume format to place work experience prominently in your resume. Use your work experience section to highlight your career achievements and show how you meet the job description. Offer evidence of the impact you had on successful outcomes for the company.
As a highly experienced candidate, you'll want your dental hygienist resume to showcase your depth of relevant work experience, as well as other achievements. Use a reverse-chronological format and add additional sections to prove you're a strong candidate. Senior resumes are often longer than resumes for junior roles. This is because you may choose to include extra sections, such as awards, professional memberships, publications, conferences or certifications on your resume.
While the content and format of your resume may vary depending on your experience levels, it's important to always include the following sections:
Resume Header
Your dental hygienist resume header is the place to add your contact details. Start by adding your full name and underneath, include your email address, phone number and location. Adding your LinkedIn profile, if you have one, can help the employer get a better insight into your skills and industry expertise. You don't need to include any additional personal information or a photo. Create a clear, well-structured header that acts as the headline of your resume. Use color accents and blocks to help this section stand out and catch the eye of the reader.
Opt for a professional-looking email address based on your name. If your email address could be construed as unprofessional or inappropriate because it contains nicknames or unsuitable language, create a new, more professional email address for your job applications. Always check your contact details to make sure they're up-to-date before you send your resume.
Albert Young
albert.young@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 55
124 Conch Street, Bikini Bottom, CA
linkedin․com/in/albert–young123
Resume Summary
Your resume personal profile is a short, concise paragraph to highlight two or three key skills and achievements in dental hygienist roles. You may also see this section named as 'resume summary' or 'resume objective'. Resume summaries tend to focus on your career experience, while resume objectives cover your ambitions and plans for the future. Additionally, make sure your resume summary reflects the job description and focuses on qualities that are relevant to working as a dental hygienist.
Alternatively, you could use this section to reference your objectives and ambitions, and how this role would fit into your career journey.
A good resume summary is short and snappy, and focused on the skills and experience listed in the job description, with evidence to back it up. It will also help the reader to form their first impressions of you by providing an insight into your personality and unique qualities. Take a look at some strong examples of how to approach a dental hygienist resume summary in the graphic below.
Good example:
Dedicated and skilled Dental Hygienist with a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene and extensive experience as a Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH). Proficient in performing comprehensive dental hygiene assessments, developing patient-specific dental care plans, and educating patients on oral health maintenance and disease prevention. Adept at utilizing advanced dental technologies and committed to delivering high-quality patient care in a collaborative team environment
Bad example:
Dental professional with some experience in dental care and patient interaction. Worked in roles where I assessed dental health and gave advice on dental care. Have worked with different patients and used various dental tools. Focused on providing care and working with others in a team setting
Conversely, an ineffective resume summary would include generic, unspecific information on your skills and experience, while failing to provide any useful information on what makes you a unique and interesting candidate. The graphic above shows some of the pitfalls to avoid when creating your resume summary.
Work History
In your work experience section, list any previous relevant roles you've worked in, as well as your key achievements as a dental hygienist. Mention only the most appropriate and relevant jobs you've had in reverse-chronological order, starting with your most recent and working backwards. Add your job title, the name of the employer, the location of the role and your dates of employment.
For each job listed in this section, add some bullet points so the employer can understand the skills you developed, and your achievements. Focus on showcasing the impact you made on the organization, and show evidence of how you made a difference.
The best resume work experience sections focus only on the most relevant previous jobs, and link each bullet point back to a skill or experience listed in the job description. It's also critical to provide evidence that shows the value you added to each role in a quantifiable way, such as project outcomes, key performance indicators or feedback from customers, colleagues or managers. See below for some good examples of what to include in your resume work experience section.
Good example:
Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH), January 2022 - Present
BrightSmile Dental Hygiene Services, Raleigh
- Successfully implemented a preventative care program, reducing patient gum disease by 30% within a year
- Conducted over 500 patient cleanings annually with a 98% patient satisfaction rate
- Trained and mentored 10 junior hygienists, improving overall team efficiency by 25%
Bad example:
Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH), January 2022 - Present
BrightSmile Dental Hygiene Services, Raleigh
- Assisted in patient care and hygiene procedures to enhance overall dental health and satisfaction
- Contributed to team efforts in providing quality dental services and improving clinic operations
- Supported the implementation of dental programs to promote patient wellness and preventive care
See above for some of the pitfalls to avoid with your resume work experience section. Less effective resume work experience sections might take a more vague, descriptive approach to previous jobs. They focus on responsibilities and everyday duties rather than referencing career achievements and the value you've added for previous employers.
Education
Your resume's education section provides space for you to list your highest and most relevant qualifications for dental hygienist roles.
Typically, working as a dental hygienist requires a university or college degree, which you'll need to list on your resume. If you're working in this sector, it's usually a good idea to highlight your Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene degree or other relevant qualifications. Focus on qualifications that showcase your dental prophylaxis procedures or digital radiography proficiency.
Include any qualifications relevant to the role. For each, add the name and level of the award, the institution name, its location and your dates of study. You could also add one or two bullet points to draw attention to your grades if they were particularly good, as well as any specialist subjects you studied. This will help the hiring manager understand your knowledge and special skills better.
If you were a member of any clubs or societies, or volunteered for any causes while studying, you could also mention these in your education section.
Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene, 2017 - 2020
Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
Skills
The skills section is one of the main ways to show employers you've got the skills required for dental hygienist roles. Whether your skills include digital radiography proficiency, manual dexterity or any other useful skills for the role, you'll want to list them here. Again, refer to the job description and make sure you include skills that the employer has listed as essential or desirable for employment as a dental hygienist.
Listing hard skills on your dental hygienist resume
In your hard skills list, include any specific abilities related to the role you're applying for. These could be technical skills or industry knowledge that showcases your expertise in your chosen profession. Furthermore, an extensive list of hard skills helps to make a compelling case for your dental hygienist job applications, as they show employers your understanding of the dental hygienist role. It's best to aim for four or five key hard skills that match the job description. These can really showcase your suitability for the job.
The best resume hard skills sections focus on specific technical skills necessary for the job, showcasing skills that you have particular expertise in. There are some examples of valuable hard skills for a dental hygienist resume below.
- Dental prophylaxis procedures
- Digital radiography proficiency
- Local anesthesia administration
Soft skills on your dental hygienist resume
Soft skills are the personal skills and qualities that make you a good fit for the job. They include transferable skills and strengths that help you settle into the role, adapt to new challenges and build effective working relationships. Indeed, without soft skills, you may struggle to adapt to dental hygienist roles or meet the standards expected of you. So make sure you include several key soft skills on your resume. It's best to aim for four or five soft skills that match the job description and reflect your strongest personal qualities.
A strong soft skills section should play to your strengths, listing skills that reflect your personal qualities while also reflecting the skills listed in the job description. For some examples of good soft skills for a dental hygienist resume, see below.
- Effective communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Manual dexterity
Relevant Certifications and Licenses
Your certifications section is the place to mention any relevant professional dental hygienist certifications, licenses or qualifications. You could list accreditations for certain professional roles or licenses for certain activities that help to make you a strong candidate. Therefore, list any official licenses and certifications, along with their dates, so employers can assess whether you've got the necessary qualifications to work as a dental hygienist.
Below you can find several examples of certifications for a dental hygienist resume:
- CPR Certification, 2022
- Local Anesthesia, 2022
- Nitrous Oxide, 2022
Expert Tip:
Optional Sections
As well as the main sections of a dental hygienist resume, optional sections can help you prove your credentials to employers. Choose optional sections from the list below, if they help to showcase your relevant skills and experience.
Personal Hobbies and Interests
Adding your hobbies and interests is a legitimate way of showing off your skills and personal qualities. These are particularly useful for your resume if you're short of work experience and need to showcase a particular skill or experience. Don't include hobbies and interests in your resume unless they showcase a specific interest or aspect of your personality. You'll want them to add something to your application that you can't add elsewhere.
Voluntary Work
Voluntary work can help you develop useful skills, so it's a valuable addition to your dental hygienist resume. Include the title of your volunteer role, who you volunteered for, as well as the dates you carried out the work. Provide brief details of your responsibilities and the impact you made.
References
It's relatively unusual to include references in a standard dental hygienist resume, but they are required occasionally. Check the job advert to see if you'll need to add references to your resume. Add two or three professional references, and be sure to approach each referee before you include them.
References are available upon request.
Best strong verbs for your a dental hygienist resume
Start each bullet point in your work experience section with a strong verb to show actions you took. Choose from the list of words below to make the best possible impression.
- Clean
- Examine
- Assess
- Educate
- Polish
- Scale
- Document
- Sterilize
- Apply
- Instruct
If you need help creating a resume that impresses HR managers, take a look at Jobseeker's professional resume templates. You can also access beautiful cover letter templates that help your application stand out.
Example of a dental hygienist resume
The dental hygienist resume example below includes all the sections above, so you can see how a completed resume looks:
124 Conch Street, Bikini Bottom, CA
•
albert.young@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 55
•
linkedin․com/in/albert–young123
Dedicated and detail-oriented Dental Hygienist with a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene and extensive experience as a Registered Dental Hygienist. Proficient in preventive dental care, patient education, and advanced periodontal therapies. Strong interpersonal skills and committed to maintaining the highest standards of patient care and oral health
Registered Dental Hygienist
2020
-2022
BrightSmiles Dental Hygiene Services (Cleveland)
- Implemented a patient education program, increasing oral hygiene compliance by 40% within six months
- Conducted over 1,000 dental cleanings annually, maintaining a 98% patient satisfaction rate
- Trained and supervised five new hygienists, enhancing team efficiency and reducing patient wait times by 25%
Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene
2017
-2020
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (Cambridge, MA)
Dental prophylaxis procedures
Digital radiography proficiency
Local anesthesia administration
Effective communication skills
Attention to detail
Manual dexterity
CPR Certification
Local Anesthesia
English - Fluent
Spanish - B2
Do's and don'ts of a dental hygienist resume
Advice to help you craft a winning resume
- Showcase your key skills throughout your resume, as well as in your dedicated skills list, with each skill reflecting the job description.
- Use reverse-chronological order for your work and education, starting with your most recent employment and education.
- Use action verbs to showcase how you've put your dental hygienist skills to use in your career (e.g. 'clean', 'examine', 'assess').
- Quantify your accomplishments by providing evidence that shows the impact you've made in your career.
- Write a compelling resume summary or objective to introduce yourself and your key dental hygienist skills.
Keep away from these common resume mistakes
- Don't add hobbies and outside interests unless they help you prove a skill required for the role.
- Don't use out-of-date contact information. Always make sure your email address and phone number are correct before sending your resume.
- Don't include irrelevant work experience in your resume because it takes up valuable space and is unlikely to improve your chances of success.
- Don't use overly decorative formatting and layouts that can detract from the content and make your dental hygienist resume harder for scanning by applicant tracking systems (ATS).
- Don't crowd your dental hygienist resume with too many unnecessary details. Focus on only the most critical skills and achievements.
Tips on creating an ATS-optimized resume
Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are one of the key ways recruiters and employers manage the hiring process. The systems can screen candidates by scanning and ranking resumes based on each candidate's likely suitability for the vacancy. When writing your dental hygienist resume, a few simple tips can help you pass the ATS stage with a higher-ranking resume, giving you a better chance of success with your applications.
Here are a few quick tips for creating an ATS-friendly resume:
- Choose a resume structure that matches the traditional, reverse-chronological layout or alternatively, the functional resume structure. This should make your resume more readable for ATS applications.
- Add keywords that match the job description throughout your resume, as ATS applications scan for these and well-placed, considered use can help your resume rank more highly.
- Include clear headings that make it easy to identify each section of your resume. This will help any ATS software navigate your resume during the scanning process.
- Adopt a resume design that uses clear, professional design principles and leaves white space for your content to breathe. Use the most readable fonts and incorporate subtle design elements to enhance the readability of your document.
- Make sure your resume is as concise as possible, so ATS applications can easily scan and identify the required details.
For advice and guidance on creating the perfect resume, read our expert career blog and check out our detailed resume examples.
FAQs for a dental hygienist resume
After writing your dental hygienist resume, you'll want to write an accompanying cover letter that helps your application stand out.
Firstly, choose whether you're going to write a full cover letter, or whether a brief email confirming your application and drawing attention to your resume will be sufficient.
If you choose to write a full cover letter, follow traditional letter-writing conventions surrounding greetings, sign-offs and use of professional language. The body of the cover letter tends to be three paragraphs. The first introduces yourself and the role you're applying for, giving reasons for your application. The second briefly covers your key skills and achievements that are most relevant to dental hygienist roles. Finally, the third paragraph re-emphasizes your interest in the role and leaves a call to action, encouraging the employer to reach out to you.
For help creating an eye-catching cover letter that impresses recruiters and hiring managers, use Jobseeker's professional cover letter templates.
If you have no experience, it's still possible to write a professional dental hygienist resume that makes a positive impression on hiring managers. Choose a resume structure that best showcases your key skills for the role, such as a functional format. This places your skills and education above your work experience. Additional resume sections such as volunteer work, hobbies and interests, certifications and internships can all help you showcase your relevant skills. These can be more prominent in your resume if you haven't got a lot of work experience.
You can use a resume headline to introduce your document and set the tone for your dental hygienist applications. A well-written resume headline is also a way to increase your chances of passing the ATS resume scanning stage, by referencing keywords that match the job description. Write a short, concise resume headline incorporating the job title, one or two key skills that match the job description and a reference to your reputation or track record.
See below for an example of a well-constructed resume headline:
- Entry-Level Dental Hygienist Professional
- Expert Preventive Oral Care Specialist
- Veteran Dental Hygiene Specialist
The best resume format for you depends on two things. Firstly, it depends on your experience level. Secondly, it depends on the type and level of position you're applying for. If you're applying for a junior position or changing careers, you might want to consider a functional resume. This highlights your skills and education over your work experience. On the other hand, if you're experienced in your industry or applying for senior positions, a traditional, reverse chronological resume format is usually best. This places most emphasis on your work experience.
Key points for your dental hygienist resume
The key to a strong resume is to showcase your relevant skills and achievements through your work experience and other activities. Choose a resume structure that makes the most of your relevant experience, whether through work or other activities, and be sure to tailor your resume to match the job description.
Remember, Jobseeker resume templates and other tools make it easy to create a resume and cover letter that leaves a positive impression on hiring managers. Sign up now to start building your perfect resume. Whatever job you're applying for, a professional cover letter can make all the difference to your chances. Use Jobseeker's HR-approved tools and cover letter examples to inspire your applications.
Sources:
(1) Tips for Writing a Federal Resume, U.S. Department of Labor: https://www.dol.gov/general/jobs/tips-for-writing-a-federal-resume
(2) Resume Tips, Duke University: https://careerhub.students.duke.edu/resources/resume-tips/
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