What Makes a Great Dental Hygienist Resume?

A well-crafted resume is essential for Dental Hygienists seeking employment in a competitive job market. Whether you’re a recent graduate or an experienced professional, your resume should clearly convey your qualifications, clinical expertise, and ability to deliver compassionate patient care. A great Dental Hygienist resume not only demonstrates your technical skills but also highlights your communication abilities, certifications, and commitment to oral health education.

1. Professional Formatting and Structure

First impressions count. A resume that is clean, organized, and easy to read makes a strong statement about your professionalism.

• Use a clear layout with consistent fonts, spacing, and headers
• Stick to one or two pages, depending on experience
• Use bullet points for readability and concise content
• Save and send your resume in PDF format to preserve formatting

2. Compelling Summary Statement

Your resume should begin with a brief, impactful summary that outlines your experience and strengths as a Dental Hygienist.

• Include your job title, years of experience, and areas of expertise
• Highlight a key achievement or unique skill set

Example: “Enthusiastic and detail-oriented Dental Hygienist with over 5 years of experience in preventive care, periodontal therapy, and patient education. Known for compassionate chairside manner and commitment to improving long-term oral health.”

3. Detailed Work Experience

This section should reflect your hands-on clinical experience, emphasizing your accomplishments and responsibilities in each role.

• List job title, employer name, location, and dates of employment
• Use bullet points to describe your duties and key contributions
• Quantify achievements where possible (e.g., “treated an average of 10 patients per day” or “reduced late appointments by 20%”)
• Highlight specialized skills like local anesthesia administration or laser use

4. Education and Certifications

Clearly list your academic background and relevant certifications required for licensure and clinical practice.

• Degree: Associate or Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene
• Licensure: State-issued dental hygiene license
• Certifications: CPR/BLS, Local Anesthesia, Nitrous Oxide Sedation, Laser Dentistry (if applicable)

5. Key Skills Section

Include a dedicated section for core competencies, which helps employers quickly identify your qualifications.

• Periodontal scaling and root planing
• Digital radiography and charting
• Patient education and communication
• Infection control and sterilization
• Team collaboration and time management

6. Additional Sections to Consider

Depending on your experience, you may choose to include extra sections that set you apart:

• Volunteer Experience: Community clinics, public health initiatives, or dental missions
• Professional Memberships: ADHA, local dental hygiene associations
• Continuing Education: List courses relevant to current best practices

7. Tailor the Resume for Each Application

Customize your resume to reflect the specific job description and employer values. Use keywords from the job listing to help your resume pass applicant tracking systems (ATS).

• Emphasize experience or skills relevant to the specific role
• Write a tailored summary that aligns with the employer’s mission
• Highlight unique contributions that match the job’s focus (e.g., pediatric care, periodontal treatment)

A great Dental Hygienist resume showcases your ability to blend clinical skill with patient-centered care. By crafting a clear, well-organized, and tailored resume, you’ll make a lasting impression and improve your chances of landing your ideal position in a thriving dental practice.