Dentist Resume Templates and Examples (Download in App)

  • Dentist
  • Associate Dentist
  • Entry-level Dentist

Experienced Dentist Resume Example

A good dentist resume focuses on your relevant skills like patient education, dental treatment planning, or health team coordination. Give examples of your past success as a dentist or in similar roles, and show your knowledge base by citing any training or certificate programs you’ve done. This guide provides expert tips to help you create a results-driven resume showing your best dentist qualifications.

Key takeaways: 

  • Brainstorm details about your work history on a separate document or sheet of paper. Then, identify the most relevant ones to feature in your experience section — this helps you focus your resume so it positions you for the role of dentist.
  • Use bullet points to display your achievements. Start each bullet point with a strong verb like “Created” or “Enhanced.”
  • Spell out the results of your past work as a dentist. Describe how your efforts helped the wider organization achieve its goals.

How To Write a Dentist Resume

Using a template can help you write an effective dentist resume. Your dentist resume should usually include these sections:

  • Contact information
  • Profile
  • Key skills
  • Professional experience
  • Education and certifications

Before starting work on your resume, jot down your preferences for your target job duties, organization size, or work culture. These notes will help you filter and emphasize your best career details as you develop each section.

1. Share your contact information

Give your full name, phone number, email address, location, and links to any online professional profiles. Ensure your contact information is current so employers can reach you for an interview.

Example

Your Name
(123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | City, State Abbreviation Zip Code | LinkedIn

2. Write a brief summary of your dentist qualifications

Impress hiring managers at the top of your resume by giving the three to five primary reasons you can excel as their next dentist. These key selling points may include your:

  • Years of related work experience
  • Main strengths or specialties
  • Work style or approach
  • College degree(s) or certifications in your field

Example

Dentist with over a decade of experience in diagnosing and treating oral diseases, setting personalized treatment plans, and performing various dental procedures. Proven record of patient satisfaction and improved oral health outcomes at leading health care companies like Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer. Hold a DDS from the University of California, a Master’s in oral biology from Harvard University, and certifications in oral and maxillofacial surgery and pediatric dentistry.

3. Outline your dentist experience in a compelling list

View the experience section as a chance to give examples of your work and success in roles similar to the one you’re pursuing. For each job in your recent work history, brainstorm your duties and achievements on a separate document or sheet of paper. Then, choose the most relevant details to feature as bullet points in this section.

Example

Associate Dentist, Johnson & Johnson, San Francisco, CA | June 2016 to present

  • Provide comprehensive dental care to a diverse patient base, diagnosing and treating a range of dental issues with a 98% success rate
  • Collaborate with a team of dental professionals, including dental hygienists and dental assistants, to ensure optimal patient care and smooth clinic operations
  • Attend professional development seminars and workshops on the latest advancements in dental technology and treatments, implementing new techniques into practice when applicable

Resume writer’s tip: Quantify your experience

When possible, use relevant performance data and metrics to show the results you’ve achieved as a dentist. Hard numbers put your work in context and give recruiters a better sense of your scope and impact.

Do
  • “Diagnosed and treated about 20 patients daily, maintaining a 98% satisfaction rate”
Don’t
  • “Diagnosed and treated patients, maintaining a high satisfaction rate”

Resume writer’s tip: Tailor your resume to each application

For each job posting you respond to, note any details given about the facility’s main services or specialties. How do these areas compare to your own recent experience? By citing these similarities in your profile, you can make a stronger first impression on the hiring manager.

What if you don’t have experience as a dentist?

Writing a resume can be hard if you don’t have real-world experience. You still have valuable skills and knowledge from your education and training. Include any relevant coursework you’ve done or certifications you’ve earned. Also, describe volunteer work or internships you’ve completed in your field, and emphasize your work ethic and willingness to learn. By focusing on these qualities, you can show how you’d be an asset to any team.

4. List any education and certifications relevant to dentist

With the education and certifications sections, you can show you have a strong knowledge base in your field. Cite any credentials you’ve earned that speak to your abilities as a dentist. The following templates help you organize this information on your resume (note, years are optional).

Education

Template:

[Degree Name], [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]
[Relevant coursework or honors]

Example:

Bachelor of Dental Medicine (DMD), Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA | 2016

Certifications

Template:

[Certification Name], [Awarding Organization] | [Completion Year]

Example:  

Certified Dental Public Health Specialist (CDPHS), American Board of Dental Public Health (ABDPH)

5. List key dentist skills and proficiencies

With a separate skills section, you can quickly display how you can support patients, colleagues, and the wider organization. Below, you’ll find some key terms and skills to consider for this section:

Key Skills and Proficiencies
Complex dental procedures Cross-team collaboration
Dental treatment planning Diagnosing oral diseases
Junior staff mentoring Patient education
Patient management Routine dental procedures

Resume writer’s tip: Use common action verbs

One of the best ways to enhance your resume is by starting each bullet point with a strong action verb. Dynamic verbs help you keep the hiring manager’s attention and show the varied nature of your experience. The following list can help you find a good mix of action verbs for your dentist resume:

Action Verbs
Created Decreased
Enhanced Evaluated
Fostered Generated
Grew Improved
Increased Introduced
Lowered Monitored
Prevented Provided
Ranked Reduced
Streamlined Updated
Won  

How To Pick the Best Dentist Resume Template

A resume is a simple tool for professional communication and should be formatted that way. Choose a clear and straightforward template, and avoid any with elaborate graphics or various colors and font styles. Simple resume design helps a hiring manager scan for relevant information. It also helps you tailor the document to each job application and update your work history going forward.

Dentist Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples

left
  • Dentist 
  • Associate dentist
  • Entry-level dentist
  • Experienced dentist 
right

John Bergsen
San Francisco, CA 12345 | (123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | LinkedIn

Dentist with over a decade of experience in diagnosing and treating oral diseases, setting personalized treatment plans, and performing various dental procedures. Proven record of patient satisfaction and improved oral health outcomes at leading health care companies like Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer. Hold a DDS from the University of California, a Master’s in oral biology from Harvard University, and certifications in oral and maxillofacial surgery and pediatric dentistry.

Education

Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) – University of California, San Francisco, CA, May 2010

Bachelor of Science in Biology – University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, May 2006

Master of Science in Oral Biology – Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, May 2008

Key Skills

  • Dental treatment planning
  • Diagnosing oral diseases
  • Patient management

Professional Experience

Associate Dentist, Johnson & Johnson, San Francisco, CA | June 2010 to present

  • Diagnosed and treated about 20 patients daily, maintaining a 98% satisfaction rate
  • Developed and implemented personalized treatment plans, resulting in improved oral health for over 80% of patients
  • Performed various dental procedures, including fillings, extractions, and placements of crowns or bridges, with a focus on precision and patient comfort

Dental Intern, Pfizer, Ann Arbor, MI | June 2006 to May 2010

  • Helped diagnose oral diseases by interpreting results from X-rays and dental tests, contributing to accurate treatment of over 1,000 patients
  • Participated in the creation of treatment plans, gaining valuable experience in preventative, restorative, and cosmetic dental procedures
  • Gained hands-on experience in performing dental procedures under supervision, enhancing manual dexterity and precision skills

Professional Development

  • National Board Dental Examination (NBDE), Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations
  • Certified in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (COMS), American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
  • Certified in Pediatric Dentistry (CPD), American Board of Pediatric Dentistry

Why this dentist resume example is strong:

The experience section of this resume contains impressive performance data, showing how the candidate made a positive impact on employers.

Frequently Asked Questions: Dentist Resume Examples and Advice

How do you align your resume with a dentist job posting?

First, look closely at the job post text and note any words that are repeated or emphasized. Compare these phrases to the language you’re using in your resume, particularly the profile and key skills sections. Then, seek ways to align your resume language with the job posting while not copying phrases or misstating your background.

For example, if the organization seeks someone collaborative, call out that aspect of your experience in your profile. Or say the facility has many non-English speaking patients. Cite your foreign language skills both in your profile and as a separate section farther down the document. With adjustments like these, you can make your resume more relevant to each opportunity.

What is the best dentist resume format?

Most dentists should use the combination (or hybrid) format. True to its name, this format combines two important features of other resume formats: the chronological format’s experience section and the functional format’s profile section. (The resume examples on this page all use combination format.) 

A combination resume offers the best of both worlds by fusing these two features. The experience section lets you outline your recent work history – essential information for most employers. At the same time, the profile section enables you to display your career highlights at the top, regardless if they’re from that work history or another part of your background. 

As a result, you can present yourself clearly and strategically. This format gives hiring managers the best view of your experience and relevant strengths so they can decide whether to call you for an interview.

Expert advice:

Include a cover letter with your resume

A good cover letter can enhance your job application. To write a standout letter, get specific. Tell the hiring manager why you’re interested in their organization and the dentist role they hope to fill.

Andrew Stoner

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.

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