Dental Hygienist Resume Examples

A Dental Hygienist resume with the perfect qualifications will surely put a sparkling smile on the Dentist’s face. As the job title describes, dental hygienists make sure the patient’s teeth and gums are properly cleaned. But there are other responsibilities that you will be asked to do.

If you want to build a career in this profession that pays a median salary of US$68,250, you’ve come to the right place. Like your teeth, your resume needs to be checked out once in awhile. If you don’t know where to begin we have a Dental Hygienist resume sample you can use as a reference for your application.

But we’ve taken the extra step to show you how to present your skills and qualifications in a way that will catch the interest of the person reviewing your resume.

Build a Dental Hygienist Resume

Expert Approved Resume Samples

Our samples are written by career experts with over 10 years of experience in resume writing.

Get inspired and explore what’s recommended to write in each section of the resume.

Dental Hygienist Resume Sample

Dental Hygienist Resume Sample

Cassandra L. Mattis

Address:          4717 Burlington Drive, Evanston, IN .
Phone:             (812) 329 8745
Email:              [email protected]
Current Job:  Dental Hygienist; Clarkson Dental Clinic; Evanston, IN.


Objective

Licensed Dental Hygienist with more than 7 years experience in the industry wants to land the position of Dental Hygienist for Robinson-Davis Group of Dental Clinics. In addition to my skills and expertise in the profession, I also have experience in administration work and with managing staff. I am highly dedicated to my craft; meticulous and professional in the conduct of work.


Skills

  • Licensed Dental Hygienist; Passed National Board Dental Hygienist Examination, 2015.
  • Passed; Regional Dental Hygiene Exam, State of Indianapolis, 2015.
  • Associate Degree – Dental Hygiene, Owensboro Community and Technical College.
  • Excellent patient skills; helps patients especially young children be at ease before procedure.
  • Administrative skills; can help organize documents, appointment schedules, take phone calls, conduct inventory work and prepare required reports.
  • Management experience; assigned to train, manage and orient team of hygienists in most current employment.
  • Well coordinated; can handle various dental tools to remove tartar, plaque and stains from tooth, apply sealants, fluoride treatments and polishes and handle x-ray equipment.

Work Experience

Dental Hygienist; 2017 to present
Clarkson Dental Clinic; Evanston, IN.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Performs dental hygiene procedures for cleaning teeth and gums as preparatory work for surgery or general maintenance.
  • Applies desensitizing and sealant materials to teeth.
  • Conducts gross debridement, deep scaling, curettage and root planing procedures.
  • Cleans and repairs dental prosthesis.
  • Orients and trains team of 5 dental hygienists on proper infection control procedures.
  • Assists the clinic in organizing all patient files.
  • Occasionally handles administrative duties including updating patient records, booking appointments and assisting patients in facilitating insurance claims.

Lead Dental Hygienist; 2015 to 2017
Taylor and Watts Family Dental Clinic; Fort Wayne, IN.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Prepared all patients that were scheduled for surgery or treatments by cleaning teeth and gums and took x-rays as instructed by Dentist.
  • Tasked to apply sealants, fluoride, scaling, prophylaxis and other procedures under the guidance of the Dentist.
  • Educated patients on the proper dental hygiene procedures.
  • Assisted the Dentist in reviewing the patient’s medical history.
  • Trained and oriented Assistant Dental Hygienists in clinic regulations, procedures and treatments.

Assistant Dental Hygienist; 2013 to 2015
Taylor and Watts Family Dental Clinic; Fort Wayne, IN.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Assisted Lead Dental Hygienist in the dental clinic by conducting cleaning of teeth and gums, preparing x-ray machine and sealants, materials for polishes.
  • Charted conditions of teeth; evaluated hard and soft tissues and recorded periodontal abnormalities.
  • Maintained equipment, managed the inventory of clinic supplies and prepared the necessary requisition reports.
  • Organized and monitored patient records and related reports.
  • Answered questions from patients regarding surgery procedures and treatments.

Education

College
Associate Degree – Dental Hygiene
Owensboro Community and Technical College
Evanston, IN.
2009 to 2013

High School
Heritage Hills High School
Evanston, IN.
2005 to 2009

Licenses:

  • Licensed Dental Hygienist; Passed National Board Dental Hygienist Examination, 2015.
  • Passed; Regional Dental Hygiene Exam, State of Indianapolis, 2015.

Pediatric Dental Hygienist Resume Sample

Name: Barrett Woodward

Address: Piscataway, NJ 08854

Phone: (276) 807-3100

Email: [email protected]

Current job: Pediatric Dental Hygienist at Nemours Children’s Hospital

Objective

I am a pediatric dental hygienist with a strong background in the field of pediatric dentistry, in particular a focus on the management of children’s oral health. I am a collaborative, compassionate, and skilled clinician with an ability to maintain the highest standard of care.

My goal is to provide a safe environment for children who have had oral health problems and have to have dental care. I want to promote a healthy lifestyle for these patients by providing them with education about oral health.

Work Experience

Pediatric Dental Hygienist, 2018 – present
Jefferson Health Northeast

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Educate patients and parents on oral health care, including routine dental care and prevention
  • Demonstrate proper brushing, flossing, and use of mouthwash techniques
  • Recognize signs of oral disease and refer patients to appropriate healthcare professionals
  • Clean teeth and perform other dental treatment procedures
  • Assess oral health through taking x-rays, performing cleanings and other treatments, reviewing medical history, and conducting periodontal examinations

Pediatric Dental Hygienist, 2014 – 2018

Fannin Regional Hospital

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Allocate time to show patients how to brush their teeth with the American Dental Association and World Health Organization guidelines.
  • Analyze patients teeth, gums, and oral health by performing daily screenings.
  • Provide feedback to doctors on the dental condition of patients. Provide feedback on the dental condition of patients and identify any potential dental problems.
  • Educate patients on how to brush teeth properly.

Pediatric Dental Hygienist, 2012 – 2014

Nemours Children’s Hospital

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Perform dental hygiene treatment or preventive care on children and adults, including patient examinations, cleaning, and fluoride treatments
  • Prepare sterilized equipment and assist dentist during treatment
  • Instruct patients on ways to maintain their oral hygiene
  • Assess and documents the oral health of the patient
  • May take mouth x-rays, administer local anesthesia, provide other preventative care and referral

Skills

  • Strong oral and written communication skills
  • Patience and empathy
  • Organizational and time-management skills
  • Ability to handle high stress levels
  • Ability to maintain a professional demeanor in a fast paced environment
  • Proficient in all computer software programs

Registered Dental Hygienist Resume Sample

Name: Kellen Mckee

Address: Royersford, PA 19468

Phone: (865) 269-4865

Email: [email protected]

Current job: Registered Dental Hygienist at Palm Bay Community Hospital

Objective

I am a detail-oriented, dependable and motivated individual, who is seeking a challenging Registered Dental Hygienist job opportunity. My years of experience have helped me excel in the dental field, which has led to me receiving many awards. I am confident I could provide excellent service and make a positive impact on an organization’s success.

Work Experience

Registered Dental Hygienist, 2018 – present
Jefferson Hospital

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Conduct patient exams to determine dental needs in a timely manner
  • Maintain patient records and perform dental charting
  • Collect and record patient information in computer databases
  • Review patient care plans for compliance with regulations
  • Give treatments, such as fillings, crowns, and extractions
  • Perform oral cancer screenings for patients
  • Interview patients to assess dental needs and disease progression

Registered Dental Hygienist, 2014 – 2018

Habersham Medical Center

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Perform a dental examination in order to identify oral health problems
  • Provide preventative oral health care to patients
  • Educate patients on various aspects of dental care
  • Provide specific treatment to patients in need of same
  • Recommend dental treatment plans to patients
  • Assist in the care and treatment of patients with special needs
  • Assist in the prevention and treatment of dental diseases
  • Assess dental needs for patients and make recommendations for preventive measures or treatments

Registered Dental Hygienist, 2012 – 2014

Palm Bay Community Hospital

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Clean teeth and remove tartar, plaques and stains
  • Use dental tools such as dental picks or ultrasonic scaler to remove deposits from tooth surfaces
  • Perform a dental examination to detect any oral diseases
  • Help diagnose periodontal, or gum disease
  • Educate patients on how to maintain their oral health

Skills

  • Professionalism
  • Patience
  • Adherence to procedures
  • Ability to handle multiple tasks
  • Ability to handle high volume
  • Cleanliness
  • Self control
  • Ability to work with others
  • Experience with dental x-rays and dental hygiene procedures
  • Experience with the use of aseptic technique in dental hygiene procedures

School Dental Hygienist Resume Sample

Name: Zackary Santos

Address: Naugatuck, CT 06770

Phone: (798) 773-7114

Email: [email protected]

Current job: School Dental Hygienist at Plantation General Hospital

Objective

I am a qualified Dental Hygienist looking for a great new opportunity. I have over ten years of experience working in both private and public dental practices. I am a team player and am always willing to help others learn new skills. I have the knowledge, skills and experience necessary to become an asset to any dental office.

I am looking for a position in a dental office that allows me to see patients on a regular basis. I enjoy the personal interactions with patients and the opportunity to improve their oral health.

Work Experience

School Dental Hygienist, 2018 – present
Jennersville Hospital

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Gather information from patients such as dental and medical history and social risk factors
  • Perform screenings for oral health and provide education on oral hygiene
  • Perform oral prophylaxis, including scaling and polishing
  • Provide fluoride treatments, fluoride varnish, sealants, and topical fluoride treatments
  • Educate patients on ways to improve oral hygiene

School Dental Hygienist, 2014 – 2018

Higgins General Hospital

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Perform preventive dental care, including cleaning and polishing teeth, applying fluoride varnish, and providing oral hygiene instruction.
  • Assess oral health status, such as plaque and tartar levels, gum disease, and oral cancer.
  • Record dental health history and chart patient’s progress.
  • Provide emergency dental care to patients.
  • Administer local anesthesia for procedures that require it.
  • Complete necessary registration forms.
  • Maintain patient confidentiality.

School Dental Hygienist, 2012 – 2014

Plantation General Hospital

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Perform annual dental histories for patients to determine their overall oral health
  • Provide oral hygiene instruction and demonstrate proper brushing techniques to children and adults
  • Assess tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral lesions
  • Provide teeth cleaning services, including scaling and polishing, to remove plaque and calculus deposits from the teeth

Skills

  • Practical experience with all dental equipment and procedures
  • Experience with managing time in a clinic
  • Dental experience and knowledge
  • Patient care experience and knowledge
  • Communication skills
  • Computer proficiency

Senior School Dental Hygienist Resume Sample

Name: Brady Camacho

Address: Southaven, MS 38671

Phone: (250) 782-6856

Email: [email protected]

Current job: Senior School Dental Hygienist at Wolfson Children’s Hospital

Objective

My skills and experience in oral hygiene, dental education, and dental hygiene administration are well-suited for this job. I have a background in pedodontics, dental care management, dental hygienist education, and patient experience. I believe that my training in pediatric dentistry and experience in the dental field will help me effectively work with patients and establish a professional rapport. I am eager to work in a team-oriented, fast-paced practice where I can develop my skills and use my creativity to improve the experience for patients.

Work Experience

Senior School Dental Hygienist, 2018 – present
John Heinz Institute of Rehab Medicine

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Assist the dentist in general practice, including examination and diagnosis, treatment planning, and referral for other services as needed
  • Educate patients on the importance of good oral hygiene and personal dental care
  • Monitor the health of patients, nurses, dental assistants, and other staff members
  • Educate patients on the importance of good oral hygiene and personal dental care
  • Clean teeth, remove calculus, plaque, stains, and other deposits from teeth;

Senior School Dental Hygienist, 2014 – 2018

Jasper Memorial Hospital

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Provide dental hygiene services in school to students
  • Perform dental hygiene services as assigned by Head of School
  • Maintain dental hygiene equipment
  • Participate in faculty meetings
  • Assist in coordinating annual dental hygiene inventory
  • Prepare and administer oral prophylaxis treatments
  • Provide instruction in dental hygiene to faculty, staff, and students
  • Ensure that all patients maintain a healthy level of oral health
  • Maintain proper records of patient visits and services rendered

Senior School Dental Hygienist, 2012 – 2014

Wolfson Children’s Hospital

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Investigate, evaluate and diagnose oral health problems
  • Examine patients, take dental x-rays, and diagnose problems
  • Educate patients on oral hygiene practices
  • Administer local anesthesia and sedation
  • Remove stains from teeth
  • Inspect and maintain dental equipment

Skills

  • Experience in treating all types of patients
  • Experience with public speaking
  • Knowledge of dental hygiene laws, regulations, and code of conduct
  • Knowledge of the fiscal year and budgetary planning process
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office products (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
  • High level of proficiency with computer software for the dental office (Dental Office software applications)

School Dental Hygienist Assistant Resume Sample

Name: Rene Ho

Address: Milwaukee, WI 53204

Phone: (361) 411-5205

Email: [email protected]

Current job: School Dental Hygienist Assistant at Ascension Sacred Heart Bay

Objective

I am an experienced School Dental Hygienist assistant with an interest in a possible career as a dental hygienist. I have a background in biology and chemistry, and am able to work with patients in a variety of settings. I have experience in working with children and their parents, which has helped me develop a strong rapport with people. I am motivated to provide excellent care for my patients and am interested in working for an employer who will support my future career goals.

I have a passion for providing dental hygiene services to children. I am interested in working within a school environment.

Work Experience

School Dental Hygienist Assistant, 2018 – present
Kensington Hospital

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Clean and sterilizing instruments
  • Collect and organizing dental records
  • Take x-rays
  • Mix and prepare dental materials
  • Conduct a thorough oral exam
  • Fill teeth and assist with fillings, crowns, and extractions
  • Prepare of the patient for treatment
  • Monitor the patient’s condition during treatments

School Dental Hygienist Assistant, 2014 – 2018

Piedmont Athens Regional

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Clean, polish and remove tartar from teeth
  • Treat gum and mouth tissues affected by periodontal disease
  • Inspect teeth and assist dentist in locating diseased teeth
  • Explain to patients the care of their teeth and gums

School Dental Hygienist Assistant, 2012 – 2014

Ascension Sacred Heart Bay

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Responsible for treating patients by performing cleanings and examinations
  • Must adhere to the dental code of ethics and practice
  • Perform various tasks such as assisting in the delivery of dental care, answering telephone calls, and dental lab assistant duties as needed
  • Participate in continuing education to maintain knowledge of current developments in the field
  • Maintain a professional demeanor with patients, co-workers, and supervisors

Skills

  • ​​Ability to maintain a professional demeanor and handle all aspects of dental hygiene duties
  • Ability to work well with others in a team setting
  • Manage the office and prioritize workload in a timely manner
  • Professional Dental Assistant Certificate
  • Cleaning and disinfection skills
  • Patient handling skills
  • Time management skills
  • Computer Skills
  • Communication skills

Personal information

Status: Single
Date of Birth: January 24, 1991
Hobbies include golf and tennis.

Dental Hygienist Resume Skills List

Dental Hygienist Resume

Technical expertise and fundamental knowledge of the discipline is great to have on your Dental Hygienist skills list. But that’s not enough. Companies are looking for other attributes that make you a perfect fit in their dental clinic.

What skills do your need in your resume?

  • Education. 

    An Associate Degree in Dental Hygiene will suffice to give you a good fundamental base for the profession. Associate degrees are offered in community colleges. Check first if the Dental Hygiene program is accredited by a regulating body. In the United States, the regulating body is the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association.

  • Certification/ Licensing. 

    You cannot practice as a Dental Hygienist unless you are licensed. You have to pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination. This is a written examination that tests for your knowledge of Dental Hygiene principles and presents patient case studies for your review, evaluation and eventual recommendation for treatment procedure. After you pass the NBDE, you have to take the regional exam which involves the demonstration of a specific clinical skill. You can see these qualifications clearly presented in our example of a resume for Dental Hygienist.

  • Excellent Patient Skills. 

    Who is afraid of the Dentist? Even adults dread going to the dental clinic. Procedures start with the Dental Hygienist. Young children can be a problem especially when they hear the tools start up. This is where having excellent patient skills comes to play. You have to keep the patient at ease. It will be a good time to educate him/her on why brushing their teeth after meals is important.

  • Ability to Handle Tools and Equipment. 

    You will learn these pieces of equipment in Dental School but it is very important to be coordinated with them when are finally working. Not all tools and equipment will work the same way. Some clinics may use the latest models with the bells and whistles. Make sure you have the skills to learn them as soon as possible.

  • Specialized Skills. 

    Don’t be surprised if you will be asked to handle responsibilities not covered by Dental School. The main position in the clinic is the Dentist. He/she has to remain focused on the patient. You may be required to do administrative work such as answering phones, booking appointments, taking patient information, responding to questions from patients or via email and updating patient records. It’s just all part of the job.

Dental Hygienist Resume Objective

The fastest way to be considered for the job is to tell the potential employer right away that you are licensed and certified to practice as a Dental Hygienist. Where to share this information? Use your Dental Hygienist resume objective.

Clinics, hospitals and other healthcare businesses are allergic to malpractice lawsuits. They will not hire you until you can show proof that you have been licensed by the state to become a Dental Hygienist.

This is exactly how we started our sample resume objective for Dental Hygienist. Knowing that you are a certified professional is half the battle won. The next step is to share other information that will make you the clinic’s number one draft pick.

In the case of Cassandra, we summarized the following skills as her strong points:

  • 7 years experience as Dental Hygienist;
  • Experience in doing administrative work;
  • Experience managing staff;
  • 3 defining attributes: Dedication, Meticulous and Professional

If you want to know what to put in your objective statement, review the job post for clues. Companies often include the skills they need for the job. This includes both technical as well as the ideal personality attributes.

It is important to add these in your Dental Hygienist resume because if the employer uses an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) these details could be pre-qualifying keywords.

Dental Hygienist Resume Format

Experience is a very important qualification for dental hygienists. If you have had uninterrupted work or if unemployment gaps do not exceed 4 months, use the reverse chronological for your Dental Hygienist resume format.

The advantage of the reverse chronological format is that you get to present your skills starting from your current or latest employment. This is important because hiring managers or the Dentist reviewing your resume will place the greatest amount of attention of your current level of experience.

The reverse chronological format answers the question, “What can you do for my clinic right now?”

But you have to set up your work experience strategically. You will notice in our sample template for Dental Hygienist resume that we structured the sections whereby work experience is located in the middle:

  • Contact Information
  • Objective Statement
  • Skills
  • Work Experience
  • Education
  • Licenses
  • Personal Information

This setup helps place more emphasis on work experience because the Hiring Manager would have gone through Objective Statement and Skills which would give him/her an idea of what Cassandra can do and has done in her career.

Entry Level Dental Hygienist Resume

Thinking of starting out a career in this well-paying profession? As long as you are certified, licensed and have taken the appropriate courses, you have little to worry about even if you have an entry level Dental Hygienist resume.

The first thing you should do is to shift from the reverse chronological format; which is favored by hiring managers, to the functional format.

Why? The functional format places greater attention on your skills and qualifications. This includes your license as a professional Dental Hygienist.

The functional format will rearrange our template for Dental Hygiene resume sample to this setup:

  • Contact Information
  • Objective Statement
  • Skills
  • Education
  • Licenses
  • Work Experience
  • Personal Information

This type of setup will “work over” the Hiring Manager or the Dentist reviewing your entry level Dental Hygienist resume before he/she gets to your work experience.

You can place Licenses before Education to further emphasize the fact that you have been allowed by the state to conduct Dental Hygienist work.

Dental Hygienist Resume Writing Tips

Fine tune your application before submitting it by taking a few minutes to read through our Dental Hygienist resume writing tips:

  1. Keep It Short And Concise –  It is not uncommon to have applicants with more than 10 years work experience. Some will move up to formal dental practice after a few years. Until such time, if you have not worked for a decade, keep your resume down to only 1 page.
  2. Show Growth; Don’t Hide It – The biggest mistake that some candidates make is to try and make their resumes very impressive by identifying multiple tasks that basically read the same in their previous employment. Hiring managers want to see growth in your career. Don’t be afraid to disclose that in your early years, you didn’t do much practical work. That is part of the learning process.

Just like dental hygiene work, writing a resume is a learned skill. Keep working at it. If you plan to apply for a new job, make a new one that is customized for the needs of the potential employer. 

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