Loading pricing information...
Dental Assistant Resume Example
Updated: March 2026
Build your CVDental Assistant Resume - Entry Level
Jane Doe
jane.doe@email.com | +1 555 412 7839 | Minneapolis, Minnesota
Professional Summary
Motivated Dental Assistant graduate with a CODA-accredited certificate and 200+ hours of clinical externship experience in general and pediatric dentistry. Proficient in four-handed chairside assisting, instrument sterilization, and digital radiography. DANB RHS and ICE certified. Eager to contribute to a patient-centered dental practice using Dentrix and strong infection control protocols.
Education
Certificate in Dental Assisting
Sep 2024 – Jun 2025Minneapolis Community and Technical College
Accreditation: CODA (Commission on Dental Accreditation)
Clinical Externship: Lakewood Dental Group - 200 hours (chairside assisting, radiography, sterilization)
High School Diploma High School Diploma
Sep 2020 – Jun 2024Minnetonka High School
Work Experience
Dental Assistant Extern
Mar 2025 – Jun 2025Lakewood Dental Group
- • Assisted chairside on 8-10 patient procedures daily including composite restorations, extractions, and crown preparations under four-handed dentistry protocols
- • Exposed and processed 30+ digital radiographs per week using digital X-ray sensors in compliance with OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030)
- • Performed instrument sterilization and operatory setup for 6-8 operatories per day following CDC infection control guidelines
Skills & Languages
Chairside Assisting ●●●●
Dental Radiography ●●●●
Instrument Sterilization ●●●●
Dentrix ●●●●
Infection Control ●●●●
English– Native
French– Intermediate
Certifications
RHS (Radiation Health and Safety) – DANB, 2025
ICE (Infection Control Exam) – DANB, 2025
BLS (Basic Life Support) – American Heart Association, 2025
Dental Assistant Resume - Senior Professional
John Doe
Professional Summary
CDA-certified Dental Assistant with 8+ years of experience in general and orthodontic dentistry. Skilled in four-handed chairside assisting, digital imaging, Dentrix and Eaglesoft practice management, and expanded functions procedures. Proven ability to support high-volume practices seeing 20+ patients daily while maintaining strict infection control compliance with OSHA and CDC standards.
Work Experience
Lead Dental Assistant
May 2021 – PresentAspen Dental
- • Provide chairside assistance for 20-25 patient procedures daily including restorations, extractions, and implant placements across a 10-operatory general dentistry practice
- • Trained and onboarded 4 new dental assistants over 3 years, reducing onboarding time from 6 weeks to 4 weeks through updated procedure checklists
- • Managed digital radiography workflow using iTero intraoral scanner and panoramic X-ray equipment, capturing 40+ images per day with zero retake incidents over 6 months
Dental Assistant
Aug 2017 – Apr 2021Franklin Orthodontics
- • Assisted orthodontist with bracket placement, wire changes, and retainer fittings for 18-22 patients per day in a busy private orthodontic practice
- • Managed patient scheduling and insurance verification in Eaglesoft for a 300+ active-patient caseload, reducing scheduling errors by 25%
- • Took preliminary dental impressions and performed intraoral scanning using 3Shape equipment for 10-15 new patients monthly
Education
Diploma in Dental Assisting
Sep 2016 – Jun 2017Tennessee College of Applied Technology Nashville
Accreditation: CODA (Commission on Dental Accreditation)
Skills & Languages
Four-Handed Dentistry ●●●●
Dentrix & Eaglesoft ●●●●
Digital Radiography ●●●●
Orthodontic Assisting ●●●●
English– Native
Mandarin– Beginner
Certifications
CDA (Certified Dental Assistant) – DANB, 2018
COA (Certified Orthodontic Assistant) – DANB, 2020
BLS (Basic Life Support) – American Heart Association, 2024
How to Write a Dental Assistant Resume
Hiring managers scan dental assistant resumes for DANB certification status, radiography authorization, and chairside experience. Lead with credentials and quantified clinical output - patient volume, radiographs per day, operatories managed.
Entry-level: detail your externship hours, procedures assisted, and instruments sterilized. List every passed DANB component exam - RHS (Radiation Health and Safety) and ICE (Infection Control) count even before full CDA. Most states require RHS authorization before you can take radiographs.
Experienced assistants: highlight practice management software (Dentrix, Eaglesoft, Open Dental), daily patient volume, and expanded functions. RDA and EFDA designations belong near the top. The CDA credential (DANB) is recognized in 37 states. Median salary is $47,300/year (BLS 2024); experienced assistants in specialty practices or high-cost metros reach $72,000+.
All dental assistants must comply with OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) and CDC Infection Control Guidelines. BLS/CPR from the American Heart Association is required for DANB certifications and renewed every 2 years.
Entry-level: detail your externship hours, procedures assisted, and instruments sterilized. List every passed DANB component exam - RHS (Radiation Health and Safety) and ICE (Infection Control) count even before full CDA. Most states require RHS authorization before you can take radiographs.
Experienced assistants: highlight practice management software (Dentrix, Eaglesoft, Open Dental), daily patient volume, and expanded functions. RDA and EFDA designations belong near the top. The CDA credential (DANB) is recognized in 37 states. Median salary is $47,300/year (BLS 2024); experienced assistants in specialty practices or high-cost metros reach $72,000+.
All dental assistants must comply with OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) and CDC Infection Control Guidelines. BLS/CPR from the American Heart Association is required for DANB certifications and renewed every 2 years.
The information on this page is general career guidance and does not replace official regulatory advice. Verify current requirements with the relevant professional body.
FAQ
Do I need DANB certification to get hired as a dental assistant in the United States?
It depends on your state. Some require passing specific DANB exams (such as Radiation Health and Safety) before you can take radiographs; others allow on-the-job-trained assistants without certification. Still, 37 states recognize DANB certifications, and holding the CDA credential - requiring the GC, RHS, and ICE component exams - significantly improves job prospects, salary, and credential portability. About 34,000 dental assistants hold DANB certification nationwide. www.danb.org ↗
What practice management software should a dental assistant know?
The most widely used platforms are Dentrix, Eaglesoft, and Open Dental. Cloud-based systems like Curve Dental and CareStack are growing, especially in DSOs such as Heartland Dental and Aspen Dental. List every platform you have used by name. Familiarity with digital imaging tools - intraoral scanners (3Shape, iTero), digital X-ray sensors, and panoramic machines - is increasingly expected and should appear as separate skills.
What is the difference between a CDA, RDA, and EFDA?
The CDA is a national DANB credential earned by passing the GC, RHS, and ICE exams - the most portable across states. The RDA is a state-specific registration (notably California) granting an expanded scope defined by that state's Dental Practice Act. The EFDA, also state-specific, permits additional intraoral procedures such as placing restorations or applying sealants under dentist supervision. Check your state dental board for which designations apply. www.danb.org ↗
How much does a dental assistant earn in the United States?
Per the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024), the median annual wage is $47,300 (~$22.74/hour), ranging from about $37,730 to over $72,000 for experienced assistants in high-cost metros or specialty practices. CDA holders and those with expanded functions authorization consistently earn above median. Location, experience, and practice type (general vs. orthodontics, oral surgery, or pediatric dentistry) are the main salary drivers. www.bls.gov ↗
What continuing education (CE) requirements apply to dental assistants?
Requirements vary by state and certification. DANB requires 12 CE credits every 2 years to maintain the CDA, including infection control and CPR/BLS content. Some states impose additional CE tied to licensure or registration renewal - California, for example, mandates specific coursework for RDA renewal. Track CE hours in a development log and renew your AHA BLS certification every 2 years, since an expired BLS is grounds for DANB certification suspension.