How To Write A Dental Hygienist Resume (3 examples)

First impressions are important, right? While we know the old saying to “never judge a book by its cover,” this might not be the approach future dental employers take when looking for new dental hygiene candidates. Dentists and office managers are surely going to scan and likely judge your resume within a matter of seconds. Dental hygienists need to be on their 'A' game!

Employers are often looking for both the good and the bad and they often have to do this quickly when there is a plethora of applications to review. Grammatical errors, large gaps in employment, and a lack of attention to detail are often the biggest first—and negative—impressions you can give. To thrive as an RDH and land your next dream job, follow this dental hygiene resume guide to be sure you crush your next application!

What Should A Dental Hygienist Put On A Resume?

Speaking of first impressions, what dental hygienist skills can a hygienist put on their resume to stand out from the other RDH applicants? You want to be sure your resume includes your experience, skill set, educational background, any awards or special certifications, and any volunteer related to dental care! Volunteer experiences sets you apart from other in that you are a dedicated professional to helping others even when you aren’t expected to. I highly recommend volunteering to set yourself apart!

How to Align Your Resume with the Job Description

One of the first things I do when applying for a hygiene job is to scan the job posting for keywords. Tailoring your resume specifically for the dental practice you are applying to can significantly enhance your chances. Such as specific certifications, practice management software experience, or technology. Adding keywords used in the job description into your resume can help you connect more with the employer and the position they are offering. For example, if the job lists they are looking for a “motivated team player” I would add this terminology to my resume or cover letter. This can help you stand out to employers and help support the idea that you are a good match for the specific job opportunity.

What Top Dental Hygiene Resumes Contain 

1. Professional Summary

Including a professional summary is a great way to introduce yourself without getting into too many crazy details! It’s an opportunity to make your first impression and share why you would be the best hygiene candidate for the job. This should always include the specific qualities you possess as a dental hygienist that makes you attractive to a dental office. A summary could start off looking like this:

“Dedicated and highly motivated public health hygienist with 10 years’ experience in community health seeking opportunity for growth. Skilled in patient education, creating rapport with patients and easing dental anxieties.”

Knowing yourself is key for creating an effective summary. Ask yourself, what do I bring to a practice that makes me special as a registered dental hygienist? Don’t be afraid to hype yourself up!

2. What Is The Most Important Skill For Dental Hygienist?

General Skills:

• Time management
• Attention to detail
• Active listening
• Problem-solving
• Multitasking
• Organizational skills
• Compassion
• Adaptability

Professional Skills:

• Dental hygienist skills such as performing prophylaxis treatments
• Conducting patient oral health history reviews
• Oral hygiene strategies
• Interpreting diagnostic X-rays
• Applying dental sealants
• Applying Fluoride treatments
• Performing periodontal charting
• Identifying periodontal disease or possible cancers
• Administering local anesthesia
• Fabricating dental restorations
• Conducting oral hygiene instructions

Communication Skills:

• Active listening and questioning
• Verbal communication
• Non-verbal communication
• Empathy
• Clear and concise speaking
• Written communication
• Professionalism in communication
• Conflict resolution skills

3. Work History

What Work History Should I Include?

Work history should consist of previous dental hygiene positions first, as these are the most relatable and show how experienced you are. Include the duties you had at your previous office, especially any dental procedures you performed. Be sure to include everything from experience in placing dental sealants, to sterilization duties. The key is to sell yourself! All hygienists have to complete prophys, but not all are team players! Most employers want an RDH that is willing to be a team player and help out in sterilization, or flip a room when assistants are behind. Show them that you are comfortable in doing these things like calling patients, scheduling, or treatment planning, and you are much more likely to stand out!

What should I say on my resume if this is my first job?

If this is your first dental job out of hygiene school, don’t worry. You can still provide plenty in work history that makes you shine! Many attributes of a dental hygienist are also key attributes in other careers. Think organizational skills, ability to effectively communicate, works well under pressure, attention to detail, flexible, interpersonal skills etc… Most jobs require these and are sought after by employers. Hygienists need to have these soft skills as well. Be sure to also include your willingness to learn and grow. Many dentists are more than happy to welcome new grads that are looking to establish themselves in their new careers. Be confident and sure of yourselves, you got this!

4. Education 

What additional courses or certifications should you include in your resume?

Yes, you have to include your degree in hygiene in this category, but don’t forget about the list of skills you gained throughout school that are worth mentioning, especially those related to dental hygiene procedures. This list will be a little different depending on the state you graduated in, but often can include a few of the following: local anesthesia permit, dental assisting certification, radiography certification, CPR and basic life support training, AED training, OSHA certification, infection control training certified, nitrous oxide certified, public health dental hygiene license, bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and more! Even certain CEU courses that provided a certification can be listed. Hygienists are highly educated in so many things, so it’s time to show them off!

6 Tips for Writing a Better Dental Hygienist Resume 

1. Know Yourself. If you can see your own value, chances are your future employer can see it as well. When you know yourself, including your strengths and weaknesses you are self-aware. If you know where you will thrive as a hygienist it will show!
2. Keep It Simple. Every word on your resume should be extremely valuable in providing a great first impression to a future employer. When things get lengthy, it takes more time to read and most employers don’t have this sort of time. Keep resumes to one page of high-quality relevant information. For more tips on how to write a dental hygiene resume, consider including a well-crafted cover letter to enhance your application.
3. Be Sure to Proofread. There is nothing worse than a great resume with grammatical errors all over the place! Make sure you triple-check spelling and grammar. A great tip to help catch mistakes is having a friend or family member read it through. Its easy to miss a mistake we made ourselves, get a different perspective to be sure it’s ready!
4. Use a Thesaurus. Its easy to get repetitive with simple terminology. Using descriptive terminology will help you stand out!
5. Always List Experience In Order. Be sure when listing work experience you list the most recent first as this is often the first thing employers will look for when reviewing.
6. Read the Dental Hygienist Job Description. It sounds simple, but it's crucial to thoroughly read the job description to understand what the dental practice is actually looking for!

Should My Resume Include References?

While naturally, the previous jobs you have had will be listed on the resume, and they are often the contacts that you would want as references, its not necessary to list references on the resume. Some feel most comfortable adding something like “references available upon request” at the bottom of the resume. Others like to provide a list separate from the resume itself with contact information. Typically, references are not contacted until after an interview is completed, where you can also provide a references list. Every employer can be different, don’t be shy in asking if they would like a reference list up front! 

Do’s and Don’ts for Your RDH Resume

Do:

1. Use bullet points to highlight your key achievements, skills, and experiences.
2. Customize your resume to match the job description and highlight relevant qualifications.
3. Use strong action verbs to describe your accomplishments and skills, such as “managed,” “administered,” “performed,” and “implemented.”
4. Include any continuing education courses or certifications you have earned.
5. Proofread your resume for grammar and spelling errors before submitting it.
6. Emphasize your patient communication skills and ability to work well in a team.
7. Showcase your experience with the latest dental software and technology.
8. Quantify your accomplishments with specific numbers or percentages, such as “Increased patient satisfaction by 30%.”
9. Highlight your proficiency in using and maintaining dental equipment.

Don’t:

1. Include irrelevant work experiences or hobbies.
2. Use generic or vague language in your resume, such as “responsible for” or “worked on.”
3. Include personal information, such as your age, religion, or marital status.
4. Use flashy or distracting fonts or formatting.
5. List job responsibilities without describing any notable accomplishments or achievements.
6. Use first-person pronouns such as “I” or “me.”
7. Provide references unless specifically asked to do so.
8. Forget to tailor your resume to the specific job you are applying for.

Examples of Dental Hygienist Resumes

Each dental hygienist resume sample below will help you craft your perfect resume!

Downloadable Resume Templates

Entry Level RDH

Mid Level RDH

Cover letter example

Dental Hygienist Jobs

Find the latest dental hygienist jobs and put that new hygienist resume to work!

Dental Hygienist Resume Recap

Writing a dental hygiene resume can feel daunting at times, but remember you are ready for this! Especially in today’s dental health industry, where there’s currently a shortage of dental hygienists in most states, maintaining dental health is more important than ever. If you truly believe in yourself and the skillset you have built, you can go into the resume process with more ease. Don’t be afraid to get to know yourself a little more. Take time to ask yourself why you bring value to the world of dental hygiene or a small business. Brainstorm ideas and make a list to start. This will make the process so much easier when finalizing details. Don’t forget to have someone read over it for you. At that point, you’ll be ready to apply to your new job!