Dentist Resume Examples
Learn how to craft a professional dentist resume that will get you hired
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Professional Resume Samples for a Dentist
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Dentist Resume Tips and Ideas
Dentists assume a unique role in the medical community; that of oral healthcare. This includes examining the mouth, teeth, and gums and diagnosing conditions that require treatment. A dentist must have manual dexterity and the stamina to stand and treat patients for long periods of time. He or she must be proficient in the use of specialized equipment, from handheld mirrors, probes, scalers, and curettes to complex x-ray machines.
Dentists also require good communication and interpersonal skills, as well as the ability to input and access data via computer programs. Management and administrative duties are also essential, as the dentist may be responsible for hiring and overseeing staff, including receptionists and dental hygienists.
Special educational requirements are also essential. This typically entails a Bachelor’s Degree as well as four years of additional schooling to earn a Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD) or Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) Degree. The need for dentists is expected to grow by 19 percent in the coming years, exceeding the national average for growth in most other occupations.
Your resume must encompass all of these skills and certifications in one to two pages of information. This guide and dental resume samples are here to help you get started.
Top Tips
- Chronological resumes are generally recommended.
- A combination resume format may be used by those entering the field, such as a recent dental school graduate
When designing your dentist resume, consider:
- Text spacing and white space
- Readability
- Paper quality (if printing your resume)
No
- Contact information
- Objective statement
- Skills or qualifications summary
- Education
- Work experience
Required:
- Additional certifications
- Languages
- Awards, honors, and publications
Optional:
One page (two pages maximum)
Format
The chronological resume is the most common format used in the medical field. You will list your education and work experience in reverse chronological order, beginning with the most recent. You can also include sections outlining skills, certifications, and other relevant information.
What if you just graduated from dental school and have little or no work experience? You may choose to employ a combination resume format. First, you can list your skills and qualifications, elaborating on each. Then, you can proceed with your education and work experience in reverse chronological order.
Design
Your resume design should be clean and professional. Avoid using flashy colors or images. Make sure there are ample margins and white space surrounding your text. The text itself should be consistent throughout. Use an 11 or 12-point font such as Arial. Titles and headings can be slightly larger than the surrounding text. Highlight headings using bold or italic fonts.
If printing your resume, invest in high-quality resume paper. This heavier-weight paper will give the hiring manager a tactile clue that your resume is worth investigating.
Photo
In the United States, including a photo on a resume is neither necessary nor advisable. If applying for a dentist position outside of the United States, research common practices in the country in question.
Sections of a Resume
Your education and skills are very important parts of your dentist resume. The following sections are imperative:
- Contact information
- Objective statement
- Skills or qualifications summary
- Education
- Work experience
You may also want to include additional sections, such as:
- Additional certifications
- Languages
- Awards, honors, and publications
Resume Length
Generally, your resume should not exceed one page in length. It should be printable on standard 8.5 by 11-inch letter-size paper. If you have many certifications, publications, or honors, you may extend your resume to two pages in length.
Dentist Resume Section Headings
Dental occupations require a great deal of training. You’ll want to highlight your education, certifications, and experience. Use these sections to underscore your skills. In addition to hard skills such as industry-specific knowledge and use of equipment, you should demonstrate soft skills, such as patient empathy and good communication.
Education
List your education in reverse chronological order. Typically, dentists must complete both a Bachelor’s Degree as well as a Dental School Doctorate. The latter degree may be a Doctor of Dental Surgery or Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry Degree.
Include the name of your university and date of graduation. If you’ve completed any additional training, include this as well.
Certifications & courses
Dental practice also requires licensure. You will want to include the date of your licensure on your resume. As each state has different requirements, do your research to make sure that your credentials are up-to-date.
If you are seeking a specialized position, advanced certifications may be required. Including certifications on your resume will not only show that you possess additional skills, but that you are driven to keep learning and progressing in your field.
Possible specialties include:
- Dental public health
- Laser dentistry
- Implant dentistry
- Periodontology
- Forensic odontology
- Pediatric dentistry
Work experience
List your work experience in reverse chronological order. If you have completed internships, fellowships, or worked as a dental hygienist, you can demonstrate your interest in and devotion to the field as your career has progressed.
Even work experience unrelated to dentistry is valuable. Strive to highlight transferable skills, such as communication, teamwork, customer service, and business management.
Dentist Resume Vocabulary & Writing Tips
You’ve studied long and hard to attain your dental certifications. You know the keywords most valuable to your field. If you are going into a specialized position, consider keywords unique to that specialization. Don’t underestimate the power of the phrases used in the job listing.
Below, you’ll find a list of keywords and action verbs that can make your resume stand out. When it is completed, be sure to proofread your resume carefully. Don’t let simple mistakes in punctuation, spelling, or grammar tarnish your hard work and experience.
Words to Use
- Rotary technology
- Oral healthcare
- Gum care
- Planning and restoration
- Team
- Surgical instruments
- Dexterity
- Empathy
- Interpersonal communication
- Stamina
- Effective
- Diagnostic equipment
- Hygiene
- Pediatric dental care
- Precise
- Medical technology
Action Verbs
- Advise
- Diagnose
- Maintain
- Restore
- Extract
- Update
- Examine
- Treat
- Specialize
- Research
- Evaluate
- Analyze
- Schedule
- Educate
- Coordinate
- Prepared
Resume Samples
1. Candidate seeking an associate dentist position
An experienced Dentist seeking to find a professional home alongside similarly skilled professionals.
- Established and operated an independent practice for five years
- Produced respectable revenue while maintaining patient satisfaction
- Participated in oral healthcare initiatives in Surinam and Bolivia
- Provided pro-bono dental care to twelve local patients yearly as part of a community outreach
- 7years’ experience
- Doctorof Dental Surgery Degree
- Bachelorof Science in Business Management
- Experiencein Emergency Dentistry
2. Candidate seeking a position as a Dentist
Recent dental school graduate, backed by 2 years of experience as a Dental Hygienist.
- Graduated Summa Cum Laude
- Attained all certifications necessary to practice in the state of Texas
- Gained valuable experience in the day-to-day operations of a dental office during previous work as a dental hygienist
- Additional certifications in periodontology and pediatric dentistry to be completed within a year
- Doctorof Medicine in Dentistry Degree
- Bachelorof Science in Biology
- Associate Degreein Dental Hygiene
- 2 yearsof dental hygienist experience.