Dental Assistant Resume Examples and Templates
4 Best Dental Hygienist Resume Examples and Templates for 2025
By Andrew Stoner
, Executive Resume Writer and Career Coach
Andrew Stoner
Read More
Executive Resume Writer and Career Coach
Last Updated:
March 5, 2025
Dental Hygienist Resume Templates and Examples (Download in App)
- Dental Hygienist
- Entry-Level Dental Hygienist
- Pediatric Dental Hygienist
Experienced Dental Hygienist Resume Example
To pursue a career as a dental hygienist, you need a compelling resume that explores your accomplished background in patient care. These types of health care roles tend to have similar job responsibilities, so emphasize unique aspects of your experience to stand out from other applicants. In this guide, we’ll provide valuable tips and expert insights to help you land your next big job opportunity.
Key takeaways:
- Emphasize your patient care expertise: Feature tangible examples of you delivering exceptional patient care in fast-paced dental practices
- Detail quantifiable achievements: Showcase clinical data and metrics to convey the impact of your contributions, such as patient satisfaction scores
- Use keywords for ATS: Incorporate dental care terminology and skill sets from the job posting to ensure compliance with applicant tracking systems (ATS)
How To Write a Dental Hygienist Resume Example
To write a great dental hygienist resume, you need a clean layout that allows you to present your qualifications, achievements, and education in an impactful and well-organized manner. Before writing your content, select a professional template that includes the following sections:
- Contact information
- Profile
- Key skills
- Professional experience
- Education and certifications
1. Share your contact information
Give your full name, phone number, email address, location, and LinkedIn URL. Ensure your contact information is current so potential employers can reach out to you for an interview.
Example
YOUR NAME
email@example.com | (123) 456-7890 | City, ST | LinkedIn | Portfolio
2. Write a compelling profile summarizing your dental hygienist qualifications
To make a positive first impression on the hiring manager, you need a powerful opening summary that provides an engaging overview of your career as a dental hygienist. Start by listing your title, years of experience, and three clinical skills that align with the job description. Use the remainder of your paragraph to emphasize unique aspects of your background within the dental field. For example, you might demonstrate your expertise in educating patients on at-home care practices to promote long-term dental hygiene.
Experienced Dental Hygienist Profile Example
A certified dental hygienist with over six years of experience, specializing in patient education, digital radiography, and infection control. A proven track record of supporting dentists in performing a wide range of dental procedures and treatments. Adept at providing education on oral hygiene to promote long-term dental health.
Pediatric Dental Hygienist Profile Example
A certified dental hygienist with over five years of experience specializing in pediatric oral health care, patient education, and communication. A proven track record of creating comfortable environments for young patients to improve cooperation and ease anxiety during dental procedures.
3. Add an accomplishment-driven dental hygienist professional experience section
Hiring managers will be paying close attention to your work history, so it’s important to emphasize your most noteworthy professional achievements. Demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively with diverse patients to increase comfort and ease anxiety during dental surgeries. Showcase how your contributions have helped improve clinical operations and patient satisfaction.
Pediatric Dental Hygienist Professional Experience Example
Pediatric Dental Hygienist, Allied Dentistry, Los Angeles, CA | June 2022 – present
- Perform over 1,300 pediatric dental procedures annually for children aged 2 to 14, including fluoride treatments, sealant applications, and routine cleanings
- Deliver comprehensive oral hygiene education to children and parents to promote dental health, contributing to a 20% reduction in cavity incidents among registered patients
- Communicate empathetically with children to manage anxiety and increase comfort during dental procedures, contributing to a 93% patient satisfaction score
Experienced Dental Hygienist Professional Experience Example
Dental Hygienist, Smile Right Dentistry, New York, NY | June 2021 – present
- Perform dental cleanings for over 30 patients per week, communicate effectively with patients, and maintain a 91% satisfaction rating
- Provide support to dentists during a wide range of procedures, ensure compliance with infection control protocols, and maintain patient comfort during oral surgeries
- Support the development and implementation of oral hygiene education programs to increase patient compliance with at-home care practices
Resume writer’s tip: Quantify your experience
Incorporating hard numbers and clinical data is a great way to paint a clearer picture of your professional experience. For example, you might highlight the number of patients you treated on a monthly or annual basis. You could also emphasize how you maintained an exceptional patient satisfaction score during your tenure.
Do
- “Perform dental cleanings for over 30 patients per week, communicate effectively with patients, and maintain a 91% satisfaction rating”
Don’t
- “Help with dental cleanings and procedures in a fast-paced dental office and ensure patient satisfaction”
Resume writer’s tip: Tailor your resume for each application
Before building your professional experience section, take some time to review the job posting. Identify specific clinical skills and keywords that the dental practice is looking for and incorporate these terms into your bullet points. This strategy ensures that your resume is optimized for ATS and properly geared toward individual job opportunities.
What if you don’t have experience?
Even at the entry level, it’s still possible to create an impactful resume to help jump-start your career within the dental field. In this situation, prioritize the limited patient care experience and training you’ve received during your program. Also, feature your skills, certifications, and education more prominently.
4. Include relevant dental hygienist education and certifications
Although your work experience will always be the most important part of your resume, it’s also important to highlight degrees and health care credentials. An associate degree in dental hygiene is normally required for these types of roles. Licenses and certification requirements will vary from state to state, but you’ll need some type of credential to deliver hands-on patient care, such as a Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) designation.
Education
Template:
[Degree Name and Major] | [Graduation Date]
[School Name] | [City, ST]
Example:
Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) Dental Hygiene | May 2018
New York University, New York, NY
Certifications
Template:
[Certification Name] | [Awarding Organization] | [Completion Date]
Example:
- Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH), American Dental Hygienists Association | 2019
5. List pertinent dental hygienist key skills
Most dental practices employ some form of ATS to identify top candidates for job openings. If your resume lacks a certain number of keywords from the job description, your application may be rejected during the initial screening process. To mitigate this risk, it’s important to incorporate a mix of clinical and interpersonal skills that match the posting. Below, you’ll find a list of potential keywords to consider adding to your dental hygienist resume:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Clinical operations | Communication |
| Dental care | Fluoride treatment |
| Infection prevention | Intraoral digital imaging |
| Local anesthesia administration | Oral cancer screening |
| Oral hygiene instruction | Patient care |
| Patient education | Patient management |
| Pediatric oral care | Periodontal therapy |
| Plaque and calculus removal | Scaling and root planing |
| Sterilization protocols | Whitening |
Resume writer’s tip: Use specific action verbs
As you begin crafting your professional experience section, open each bullet point with a strong action verb. Proactive language helps the hiring manager to better visualize your contributions. Below, we’ve compiled a list of action verbs to add an engaging and dynamic element into your writing:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Achieved | Administered |
| Communicated | Conducted |
| Coordinated | Created |
| Documented | Educated |
| Examined | Implemented |
| Improved | Managed |
| Monitored | Performed |
| Prepared | Scheduled |
| Treated | Trained |
How To Pick the Best Dental Hygienist Resume Template
When choosing a resume template for your dental hygienist application, look for one that is clean, professional, and easy to read. Avoid overly decorative designs, as they can distract from your qualifications. Ensure your resume is well-organized, with clearly defined sections for contact information, experience, education, and skills.
Dental Hygienist Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
Allison Rosenberg
email@example.com | (123) 456-7890 | New York, NY | LinkedIn | Portfolio
Profile
A certified dental hygienist with over six years of experience, specializing in patient education, digital radiography, and infection control. A proven track record of supporting dentists in performing a wide range of dental procedures and treatments. Adept at providing education on oral hygiene to promote long-term dental health.
Professional Experience
Dental Hygienist, Smile Right Dentistry, New York, NY | June 2021 – present
- Perform dental cleanings for over 30 patients per week, communicate effectively with patients, and maintain a 91% satisfaction rating
- Support dentists during a wide range of procedures, ensure compliance with infection control protocols, and maintain patient comfort during oral surgeries
- Assist in the development and implementation of oral hygiene education programs to increase patient compliance with at-home care practices
Dental Hygienist, Highland Dentistry, New York, NY | May 2018 – June 2021
- Conducted dental cleanings and fluoride treatments for 15 patients per day under the supervision of a licensed dentist and provided education on oral hygiene
- Built positive relationships with patients and identified opportunities to increase patient comfort during procedures, contributing to a 92% satisfaction score
- Managed patient records using Dentrix software, ensuring accurate documentation
Key Skills
- Patient care
- Fluoride treatments and sealant application
- Digital radiography
- Dental software proficiency (Dentrix, Eaglesoft)
- Infection control and sterilization
- Oral health education
Education
Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) Dental Hygiene | May 2018
New York University, New York, NY
Certifications
Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) | American Dental Hygienists Association (ADHA) | May 2018
Why this dental hygienist resume example is strong:
This resume example excels with a clean layout and a strong opening summary. The candidate also leverages hard numbers and metrics to help bolster the impact of their bullet points, emphasizing a noticeably high patient satisfaction rating.
Frequently Asked Questions: Dental Hygienist Resume Examples and Advice
How do you align your resume with a dental hygienist job description?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 9% increase in growth for dental hygienist occupations between 2023 and 2033. While there’s no shortage of opportunities on the open market, still align your resume with each role you apply for. This shows the hiring manager you have a genuine interest in the position and you’re the ideal fit for the dental practice’s culture.
What is the best dental hygienist resume format?
Reverse chronological is the ideal format for dental hygienist resumes. This approach places your most recent work history towards the top of your document, allowing the hiring manager to quickly see your clinical achievements. A combination format should only be considered for entry-level job seekers who need to compensate for a lack of work experience by prioritizing skills, certifications, and education.
Expert advice:
Include a cover letter with your resume
Once you’ve completed your resume, consider pairing it with a strong cover letter to further increase your odds of landing the interview. Although most dental hygienist job applications won’t require a cover letter, crafting one provides an additional opportunity to convey your passion for dental care and your genuine interest in the position.
Check Out Related Examples
Executive Resume Writer and Career Coach
Andrew Stoner is an executive career coach and resume writer with 17 years of experience as a hiring manager and operations leader at two Fortune 500 Financial Services companies, and as the career services director at two major university business schools.
Written by professional resume writers and loved by hiring managers
Resume Templates offers free, HR approved resume templates to help you create a professional resume in minutes. Choose from several template options and even pre-populate a resume from your profile.