Dental Assistant resume example. Plus the keywords recruiters search for.
A dental assistant resume that shows smooth chairside assisting, safe radiographs and strict infection control — with the DANB and state credential keywords dental offices look for.
Reviewed by Nazir Elmurodov · Updated
/ The example
Dental Assistant resume example.
Marisol Vega
Registered Dental Assistant (RDA), CDA (DANB)
Fort Worth, TX · marisol.vega@email.com · (817) 555-0162
Summary
Certified dental assistant with 4 years in general and pediatric dentistry. I keep the schedule moving, take clear radiographs on the first try and treat infection control as part of every procedure, not an afterthought.
Experience
Dental Assistant, Trinity Oaks Family Dentistry · Feb 2023 – Present
- • Provide chairside assisting for 2 dentists across 14–18 patients a day, including fillings, crowns, root canals and extractions
- • Take bitewing, periapical and panoramic radiographs and intraoral photos, and import images into Dentrix for the dentist's review
- • Run instrument sterilization and operatory turnover; weekly spore testing on both autoclaves has passed every week since I took it over
- • Update medical histories, take blood pressure and chart procedures in Dentrix, then walk patients through post-op instructions
Dental Assistant, Lakeview Pediatric Dentistry · Jun 2021 – Jan 2023
- • Assisted with exams, cleanings and restorative care for 20+ children a day, using tell-show-do to keep nervous patients calm
- • Prepared trays and operatories for each procedure and cut turnover between patients to about 10 minutes
- • Took over supply ordering and cut monthly supply spending by 12% by tracking usage and consolidating orders
Education & certifications
Dental Assisting Certificate, Tarrant Hills College (CODA-accredited program), 2021 · Texas Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) · CDA (DANB) · BLS
Skills
Chairside assisting · Dental radiography · Panoramic imaging · Infection control · Sterilization · Four-handed dentistry · Dentrix · Charting · Patient education · Pediatric dentistry · OSHA compliance · HIPAA
Marisol Vega
Registered Dental Assistant (RDA), CDA (DANB)
marisol.vega@email.com · Fort Worth, TX
(817) 555-0162
Summary
Certified dental assistant with 4 years in general and pediatric dentistry. I keep the schedule moving, take clear radiographs on the first try and treat infection control as part of every procedure, not an afterthought.
Experience
Dental Assistant — Trinity Oaks Family Dentistry
Feb 2023 – Present
• Provide chairside assisting for 2 dentists across 14–18 patients a day, including fillings, crowns, root canals and extractions
• Take bitewing, periapical and panoramic radiographs and intraoral photos, and import images into Dentrix for the dentist's review
• Run instrument sterilization and operatory turnover; weekly spore testing on both autoclaves has passed every week since I took it over
• Update medical histories, take blood pressure and chart procedures in Dentrix, then walk patients through post-op instructions
Dental Assistant — Lakeview Pediatric Dentistry
Jun 2021 – Jan 2023
• Assisted with exams, cleanings and restorative care for 20+ children a day, using tell-show-do to keep nervous patients calm
• Prepared trays and operatories for each procedure and cut turnover between patients to about 10 minutes
• Took over supply ordering and cut monthly supply spending by 12% by tracking usage and consolidating orders
Education
Tarrant Hills College (CODA-accredited program)
Dental Assisting Certificate · 2021
Certifications
Texas Registered Dental Assistant (RDA)
CDA (DANB)
BLS
Skills
Chairside assisting, Dental radiography, Panoramic imaging, Infection control, Sterilization, Four-handed dentistry, Dentrix, Charting, Patient education, Pediatric dentistry, OSHA compliance, HIPAA
Why it works
Both credentials sit in the headline, each job gives the practice type and patient load, and the bullets cover the three things a dentist cares about: smooth assisting, good images and infection control.
Use this as your starting point
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Start from this exampleSample resume. Names, companies and figures are illustrative.
/ Summary examples
Three summary examples. Pick the one closest to you.
Two or three lines: your level, your field and one result.
- Entry level
Recent graduate of a CODA-accredited dental assisting program with an externship in a general practice. BLS certified, trained in four-handed dentistry, sterilization and digital radiography, and working toward my state registration.
- Mid level
Certified dental assistant with 4 years in general and pediatric dentistry. I assist 2 dentists across 14–18 patients a day and run sterilization for the office.
- Senior
Lead dental assistant with 10 years in multi-dentist practices. I train new assistants, run OSHA and infection control compliance and manage supply ordering for 3 offices.
More for other jobs and situations (no experience, career change, senior): resume summary examples.
/ Bullet points
Bullet point examples. From duty to result.
Turn duties into results: what you did, how, and what changed.
Chairside
Instead of: Assisted the dentist
Write: Provided chairside assisting for 2 dentists across 14–18 patients a day, from fillings to extractions
Radiography
Instead of: Took X-rays
Write: Took bitewing, periapical and panoramic radiographs and imported images into Dentrix
Infection control
Instead of: Cleaned instruments
Write: Ran sterilization and weekly autoclave spore testing, with every test passed since I took it over
Pediatrics
Instead of: Worked with kids
Write: Assisted 20+ children a day and used tell-show-do to keep nervous patients calm
Efficiency
Instead of: Set up rooms
Write: Prepared trays and operatories and cut turnover between patients to about 10 minutes
Supplies
Instead of: Ordered supplies
Write: Cut monthly supply spending by 12% by tracking usage and consolidating orders
/ Keywords
Keywords and skills for dental assistants.
These come up often in dental assistant job posts. Include only the ones you can back up in an interview, and use the exact wording from the post you're applying to.
- Chairside assisting
- Dental radiography
- Infection control
- Sterilization
- Four-handed dentistry
- Panoramic imaging
- Intraoral photos
- Charting
- Patient education
- Pediatric dentistry
- Operatory turnover
- Dentrix
- OSHA compliance
- HIPAA
- CDA (DANB)
- Registered Dental Assistant (RDA)
- BLS
/ ATS tips
ATS tips for dental assistants.
Name your state credential
Rules for dental assistants differ by state. In Texas, for example, a dental assistant needs a registration from the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners to position or expose x-rays. Write yours the way your state issues it.
Keep DANB and state credentials separate
The CDA is a national certification from the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). A state registration or license is a different credential. List each one you hold.
Give the practice type and patient load
"2 dentists, 14–18 patients a day, general and pediatric" tells an office manager how you'll fit in.
Show infection control
Sterilization, spore testing and operatory turnover are what keep an office safe and inspection-ready. Put one of them in a bullet.
Name the practice software
Dentrix, Eaglesoft and Open Dental are common. List the one you use, since offices like assistants who can chart and pull images on day one.
How does your dental assistant resume compare?
Free ATS score, missing keywords and fixes in about 10 seconds.
/ Questions
Dental Assistant resume FAQ.
Writing the cover letter too? See Marisol's cover letter, annotated
What does CDA mean on a dental assistant resume?
Certified Dental Assistant, a national certification from DANB. It's earned by passing three component exams: General Chairside Assisting (GC), Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) and Infection Control (ICE). Write it as CDA and name DANB.
Do I need a certification to take x-rays?
It depends on the state. Many states require a radiography credential, and some accept DANB's RHS exam as part of it. Check your state dental board's rules and list the credential exactly as issued.
Should I list expanded functions?
Only the ones your state allows and that you're qualified for, such as coronal polishing or sealants. Name the state permit or training if one is required.
What if I'm a new dental assistant?
Lead with your program, externship and BLS. List the procedures you assisted with, the software you used and whether you've started your state registration or DANB exams.
How long should a dental assistant resume be?
One page. Credentials at the top, then one or two jobs with practice type, patient load and bullets on assisting, radiography and infection control.