Dental Assistant Resume Example

A dental assistant resume proves chairside competence first: four-handed dentistry, the radiography permit your state requires, and instrument sterilization to infection-control standards. Name the practice-management software you run, such as Dentrix or Eaglesoft, and quantify procedures supported and patient volume per day. Note any expanded-function duties and coronal-polishing or sealant certifications your state recognizes.

Free dental assistant resume — .docx + PDF

No sign-up
No payment
No watermark

Download .docx
dental-assistant.docx, 10 KB, opens in Word / Google Docs / LibreOffice.
Download PDF
dental-assistant.pdf, 5 KB, ATS-safe with live selectable text, US Letter.

Open this example in the builder → edit it in your browser — nothing leaves your device.

Dental Assistant resume example

The preview below is the same content as the downloadable files — real, selectable text in the minimal template.

Dental Assistant

(555) 010-0000 · you@example.com · City, ST · linkedin.com/in/your-name

Professional Summary

Chairside dental assistant with four years in general and pediatric practices, certified in radiography, fluent in four-handed dentistry across restorative and surgical procedures, and reliable at keeping a two-operatory flow on schedule.

Experience

Dental Assistant — Smile Family Dental Group

2022 – Present

City, ST

Provide four-handed chairside support across restorative, crown-and-bridge, and surgical extractions, keeping two operatories turning over 25-plus patients a day.
Capture and mount digital bitewing and panoramic radiographs under state radiography certification with minimal retakes.
Sterilize instruments and run autoclave spore testing weekly, sustaining a perfect infection-control log through two OSHA reviews.
Take alginate impressions, pour and trim models, and fabricate temporary crowns within expanded-function scope.
Manage chairside charting and treatment notes in Dentrix and present post-operative instructions to patients clearly.
Reduced average operatory turnover time by three minutes by reorganizing tray setups for the practice's top procedures.

Dental Assistant, Pediatric — Bright Kids Pediatric Dentistry

2021 – 2022

City, ST

Assisted pediatric restorative and sealant appointments, using tell-show-do techniques to calm anxious young patients.
Applied fluoride varnish and placed sealants under the dentist's direction within state expanded-function rules.
Maintained nitrous-oxide monitoring documentation and equipment checks per practice protocol.
Coordinated recall scheduling that lifted six-month hygiene-visit rebooking by 14 percent.
Took and processed pediatric radiographs using lead aprons and reduced exposure settings for small patients.
Prepared and labeled study models and lab cases, tracking each through the outside lab to keep delivery on schedule.

Education

Dental Assisting Certificate — Community Technical College

2020 – 2021

Certifications & Licenses

State Radiography Certification · CPR/BLS · Coronal Polishing Certificate

Skills

Four-handed dentistry · Dental radiography · Instrument sterilization · Impressions and temporaries · Dentrix charting · Sealants and fluoride · Tray setup and operatory prep · Patient comfort techniques · Infection control · Nitrous-oxide monitoring · Post-operative instruction · Recall scheduling support

What to put on a dental assistant resume

Core skills

Skill	Why it belongs on the resume
Four-handed dentistry	Anticipate the dentist's needs to keep restorative and surgical procedures moving.
Dental radiography	Capture and mount bitewing and panoramic films under state certification.
Instrument sterilization	Process instruments and run autoclave spore testing to OSHA standards.
Impressions and temporaries	Take alginate impressions and fabricate temporary crowns in expanded scope.
Dentrix charting	Record treatment notes, perio charting, and ledgers in the practice software.
Sealants and fluoride	Place sealants and apply varnish where state expanded-function rules allow.
Tray setup and operatory prep	Stage instruments and turn over rooms to keep the schedule on time.
Patient comfort techniques	Calm anxious and pediatric patients with tell-show-do and reassurance.
Infection control	Follow surface disinfection and PPE protocols that pass OSHA review.
Nitrous-oxide monitoring	Document and monitor sedation equipment per practice protocol.
Post-operative instruction	Explain home care after extractions and restorations so patients comply.
Recall scheduling support	Coordinate hygiene recall to lift rebooking and chair utilization.

What recruiters and ATS filters expect on a dental assistant resume.

Licenses & certifications

List these near the top, exactly as a posting names them: State Radiography Certification, CPR/BLS, Coronal Polishing Certificate. Never invent a credential or an expiration you cannot back up.

ATS keywords

ATS keyword	ATS keyword
dental assistant	four-handed dentistry
radiography	sterilization
Dentrix	Eaglesoft
expanded functions	impressions
infection control	chairside
sealants	OSHA
fluoride varnish	operatory prep

Terms an applicant-tracking system scans for — work them in naturally where they are true of your experience.

Three bullets that work — and why

Provide four-handed chairside support across restorative, crown-and-bridge, and surgical extractions, keeping two operatories turning over 25-plus patients a day.
Why it works: Names the core chairside skill and the procedure range, then quantifies patient flow, which is what a practice manager schedules around.
Sterilize instruments and run autoclave spore testing weekly, sustaining a perfect infection-control log through two OSHA reviews.
Why it works: Infection control is a regulatory non-negotiable, so a clean log through inspections is a direct trust signal for any dental hire.
Reduced average operatory turnover time by three minutes by reorganizing tray setups for the practice's top procedures.
Why it works: Turns a routine duty into an efficiency win with a time savings that compounds across a full schedule of patients.

Tailoring it in three steps

List your state radiography credential
Name the radiography certification or permit your state requires, since taking x-rays is a core duty most postings demand.
Match the practice type
Lead with pediatric, orthodontic, or oral-surgery skills if the posting is a specialty, so you read as already trained for it.
Name expanded functions
List the expanded-function duties your state allows you to perform, such as sealants or coronal polishing, to widen your value.

FAQ

Does a dental assistant resume need a radiography certification?

Almost always. Most states require a radiography permit or certification to take dental x-rays, and the duty is core to the role, so list your credential prominently and name the issuing state.

What are expanded functions and should I list them?

Expanded functions are duties like placing sealants, coronal polishing, or fabricating temporaries that some states allow assistants to perform. List only the ones your state authorizes you to do, since they raise your value to a practice.

What dental software should a dental assistant put on a resume?

Name the practice-management system you have used, such as Dentrix, Eaglesoft, or Open Dental. Practices weigh software familiarity because it shortens training on charting and scheduling.

How do I show chairside experience on a dental assistant resume?

Quantify it. Note the procedures you support, the number of operatories you cover, and the daily patient volume. Four-handed dentistry across restorative and surgical cases tells a dentist you can keep the schedule moving.

Related Healthcare & Care resume examples

Browse all resume examples by sector or build your own in the free builder.