The dental industry is one of the fastest-growing occupations, which means more opportunities will be available for dental hygienists. One of the main advantages of working as a dental hygienist is having a flexible schedule.
Anna White Dental Hygienist 524-003-325 annawhite@gmail.com Irvine, CA linkedin.com/in/annawhite
Professional Summary
Registered Dental Hygienist with eight years of experience in oral health care. Expertise in conducting oral screening, periodontal charting, and assisting dentists with teeth cleaning procedures. Proven ability to educate dental patients on disease prevention and proper oral hygiene maintenance.
Work experience
REVO Dental Clinic Dental Hygienist May 2017-June 2020
Gave patients postoperative care instructions to promote healing and protect the dental work they received, especially for teeth whitening procedures.
Produced digital and traditional x rays of patients for dentists to identify gum disease, tooth decay, and periodontal disease.
Assisted dentists while completing dental procedures, including minimally invasive and advanced operations.
Arrow Dental Center Dental Hygienist January 2015-April 2017
Updated patient records and interviewed them to obtain medical information before performing any procedures.
Prepared dental tools necessary for operations, examined patients' teeth and assisted with applying fluoride treatments.
Ensured dental tools were laid out correctly and equipment was ready before dental cleaning procedures.
Education
Associate Degree in Dental Hygiene Idaho State University 2014
This allows you to work at multiple offices or even pursue further education, giving you a better chance at advancement.
The perfect dental hygienist resume that describes your skills and experience is key when you want to get your next position. The demand for these services is increasing as preventative care is placed at a higher priority. Therefore, you need a resume that puts you ahead of your competitors when a job opportunity presents itself.
In this article, we'll give you tips to help you create your professional resume. Some of the topics we'll cover include:
How to add your professional experience to the resume.
The relevant skills for every dental hygienist.
The correct format and layout for your resume.
A dental hygienist resume sample to help structure your resume.
Job Market and Salary rates for Dental Hygienists
According to the U.S. Bureau of Statistics, the employment of dental hygienists is projected to grow 9 percent from 2021 to 2031.
The industries with the highest levels of employment in Dental Hygienists include the following:
Dental Offices
Employment Services
Offices of Physicians
Outpatient Care Centers
Federal Executive Branch(OEWS Designation)
The average salary for a dental hygienist is $79,000. The typical range is between $68,000 and $90,000, depending on the level of education, skills and experience.
How to Create a Resume for Dental Hygienists
Creating a resume that sets you apart can be challenging, but that doesn't have to be the case. With the right tips, you can write a great dental hygienist resume that helps you get the job you want.
Start by checking the job description to find out what the hiring manager is looking for. Use the keywords and action verbs highlighted to optimize your resume and ensure it gets past the ATS system.
Keep your resume short and prioritize your relevant skills and experience on your resume. Use our resume examples to get some more tips that will be helpful.
Let's look at the resume format, layout and structure in detail.
Resume Format, Layout, and Structure
There are three common formats you can choose from. They include:
Reverse-chronological format - This format focuses on your experience and is perfect if you've worked as a dental hygienist before. It's also the most preferred format by hiring managers.
Functional resume format - This format is perfect for recent graduates and career changers. It highlights your skills/unique abilities.
Hybrid/Combination resume - This is the ideal format for you if you have the perfect blend of skills and experience. It combines the best features of the functional and reverse-chronological format.
The layout should be simple to make it easy to read through your resume. Use fonts such as Times New Roman, Cambria, Calibri, Georgia and Helvetica. The font size should be 10-12pt.
The structure of your dental hygiene resume should have the following sections:
The header
The professional summary/ objective
Work experience section
Education section
Skills section
An additional section(computer skills and certifications, languages, awards/honors, and interests)
Start with the Header Section
The header section contains your contact and personal information, which must be accurate. Hiring managers use these details to reach out to you, and incorrect information will cause you to miss out on an opportunity. These details include:
Your full name
Job title
Phone number
Professional email address
Location
A link to your LinkedIn profile
Correct example
CORRECT
Karen Miller
Dental Hygienist
386-924-008
karenmiller@gmail.com
Osseo, MN
linkedin.com/in/karenmiller
Incorrect example
INCORRECT
Karen Miller
Dental Hygienist
386-924-008
karenmiller@gmail.com
2442 Newton Street
House number 22
Osseo, MN
Date of birth 01/05/1977
linkedin.com/in/karenmiller
📌The header section should focus on the relevant contact details the recruiter needs to reach you.
How to Showcase Your Experience in Your Resume
Your work history in dental hygiene will go to this section of your resume. It's advisable to start with it, especially if you have relevant experience.
Detail your experience working at a dental office and highlight your job duties. As you add your responsibilities, quantify your achievements with figures and facts. This allows the recruiter to see what you can do for the company.
As you list your previous jobs, start with the name of the company, job title and the period you worked at each place. If you have little experience, add your internship or volunteer experience and highlight any transferable skills.
Example for an entry-level dental hygienist
Sterling Dental Clinic
Assistant Dental Hygienist
May 2015-May 2017
Scheduled new appointments depending on the dentist's availability by maintaining a master calendar.
Sterilized instruments and equipment after dental hygiene procedures to protect patients from bacteria and viruses.
Used Calendly to schedule deep cleaning appointments for clients.
Example for an experienced dental hygienist
Smartsmile Dental Clinic
Lead Dental Hygienist
June 2016-August 2020
Applied sealants and protective coatings to teeth to help clients protect their gum health and prevent periodontal disease.
Produced bitewing, panoramic, and periapical x-ray images to help the dentist determine the procedure the patient needs.
Provided chairside assistance to the dentist when attending to pediatric patients.
Include Your Educational Background
Every dental hygienist position differs, but most jobs require an associate degree. If you're applying for an advanced position, you'll need a bachelor's or Master's degree.
Always use the job description to determine the education requirements. The details in this section include the name of the degree/diploma, the name of the school and the year of graduation.
Highlight any relevant coursework, especially if you don't have much experience.
Correct example
Bachelor's Degree in Dental Hygiene
University of Maine
2016
Dental Hygienist Skills for Your Resume
Every job seeker should have a detailed skills section. Usually, the recruiter will have a list of skills in the job description, which is why you should review it. Adding the right skills to your resume increases your chances of landing an interview.
Your resume should have a list of hard and soft skills. Hard skills are technical skills that help you get around the dental office. You can learn them on the job or in school. Soft skills allow you to interact and relate well with colleagues and clients. Dental hygienists may need several soft skills since they interact with many people.
If you don't have relevant experience, this section allows you to list your transferable skills from other jobs. Check out our resume templates which have great designs to choose from.
Hard Skills
Plaque removal
Topical fluoride (TF)
Teeth whitening
Root planing
Periodontics
Dental radiography
Dental records management
Pedo and prophylaxis expertise
Soft skills
Attention to detail
Communication skills
Excellent customer service
Creative Problem Solving
Multitasking skills
Interpersonal skills
Time management
Organization skills
Write a Resume Summary
The second section of your resume is a professional summary. This part of your resume summarizes your qualifications by highlighting the top accomplishments that will put you ahead of your competitors. Make it catchy and interesting to get the hiring manager to read the rest of your resume.
Correct example
CORRECT
Registered dental hygienist with five years of experience in dental offices. Expert ability to work in a fast-paced environment to give quality patient care. Proven proficiency in preparing medical equipment and materials for dental treatments and procedures. Skilled at taking radiographs, educating patients on their oral health, and updating their medical history on the clinic's database. Exceptional communication skills with patients, dentists, and co-workers.
💡The example above gives an excellent summary of the candidate's skills and experience, which will allow them to perform their duties efficiently.
Incorrect example
INCORRECT
Professional Dental Hygienist with exceptional success in medical and dental research. Excels at providing information that helps with a patient's oral health.
💡The example above fails to highlight the experience and specific skills that make the candidate the best person for the job.
Dental Hygienist Resume Objective
If you don't have much experience, you may not have any accomplishments to add to the resume summary as you introduce your resume. Instead, you'll use a resume objective that highlights your career goals and expresses your interest in the dental hygienist position. Recent graduates and career changers use this to introduce the resume.
Correct example
CORRECT
Personable Dental Hygienist Intern with experience in sterilization procedures, applying fluoride treatments, and providing information to educate patients. Proven ability to support dental staff and offer a high level of service to clients, increasing customer service ratings by up to 20%. Looking for an opportunity at Tender Care Dental Clinic.
💡The example above highlights the candidate's skills and an achievement that will help them stand out.
Additional Sections for Your Resume
An additional section on your resume allows you to include other qualifications you've not highlighted in the previous sections. This is also a great way to ensure the recruiter doesn't miss some of your best qualifications and achievements. Let's look at some of the sections you can consider.
Computer Skills and Certifications
Basic computer skills are essential for dental hygienists to perform their tasks. If you have these skills, add them to this section instead of the general skills section to make them more visible.
Dental hygienists must be licensed, so if you have the certifications and required licenses, you should add them to this section. These set you apart from the other candidates, especially if they don't have any additional educational qualifications. Some of the certifications that will help your resume stand out include the following:
Dental Assistant(RDA)
Certified Dental Technician
License - American Dental Association
Languages
Language skills are essential, especially when working with clients from different cultures. If you're a bilingual candidate, this is a qualification you want the hiring manager to see in your resume because it helps you stand out. List your languages using the official language reference as follows:
Delf for French
TOEFL or IELTS for English
Goethe Zertifikat for German
Tips to Boost Your Resume
Start your resume with a catchy resume summary/objective.
Highlight your top accomplishments and quantify them with figures and facts.
Optimize your dental hygiene resume with the right keywords and action verbs.
Prioritize relevant work experience in dental hygiene.
Tailor each resume you send to a recruiter to ensure you match the recruiter's requirements.
Summary: Writing a Perfect Resume for Dental Hygienist Jobs
The correct format and layout are vital as they determine whether the hiring manager reads your resume.
Add the correct contact details to ensure that the recruiter reaches you.
Your resume should be one page at maximum.
Using bullet points to list your skills makes it easier to spot them on your resume.
Highlight your academic background in the education section.
An additional section highlights your extra skills and qualifications.
Write a Proper Cover Letter
A dental hygiene cover letter gives more details about your qualifications but in a way that creates a personal connection with the recruiter. You get to inject your personality and showcase your writing skills in a way you're unable to do on your resume. If your potential employer doesn't need a cover letter, you don't have to send one. However, if that's not the case, your application will be incomplete without one. Check out our cover letter examples.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which top companies are hiring dental hygienists?
According to Glassdoor, the top companies hiring for dental hygienist jobs include:
Aspen Dental
Heartland Dental
Pacific Dental Services
Smile Brands
Mint Dentistry
Great Expressions Dental Centers
Western Dental Services
DentalOne Partners
What’s the minimum education requirement for dental hygienists?
An associate degree in Dental hygiene is the minimum educational requirement for dental hygienists.
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