Healthcare
Dental Hygienist Resume Example (2026)
A strong Dental Hygienist resume has to clear two gates: the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) that scans for the right keywords, and the recruiter who decides in seconds whether to keep reading. The Dental Hygienist example below does both — it scores 86/100 on our ATS checker and reads like it was written by a hiring manager, not a template. It leads with the exact terms employers search for (Preventive Care, Periodontal Therapy, Patient Education, Dental Radiography, Scaling and Root Planing, Infection Control, Oral Prophylaxis) and backs every claim with a measurable result. Use it as a blueprint: copy the structure, then swap in your own numbers. Pay attention to how certifications and credentials are surfaced near the top — for a Dental Hygienist, that placement matters. Below the example you'll find the 20 keywords ATS systems expect for this role, achievement-style bullet points you can adapt, and a short writing guide.
This example's score on our real ATS checker — not a guess
Dental Hygienist Resume Sample
Emily Carter
Phoenix, AZ • (555) 123-4567 • emily.carter@email.com • linkedin.com/in/emilycarterrdh
Professional Summary
Licensed Dental Hygienist with 7+ years providing preventive care, periodontal therapy, and patient education. Skilled in dental radiography, scaling and root planing, and infection control, maintaining a 98% patient retention rate and consistently exceeding production goals.
Work Experience
- Delivered preventive care and oral prophylaxis for 12-16 patients daily with a 98% retention rate
- Performed scaling and root planing and periodontal therapy, improving documented gum health outcomes 30%
- Captured diagnostic dental radiography and maintained accurate periodontal charting in Dentrix
- Provided tailored patient education that increased acceptance of recommended treatment plans 25%
- Upheld strict infection control and sterilization protocols passing all state inspections
- Administered fluoride treatment and dental sealants for a high-volume pediatric population
- Conducted thorough patient assessment and oral cancer screenings at every visit
- Educated patients on oral health home care improving recall compliance 18%
- Maintained HIPAA compliance across all records and communications
Education
Skills
Preventive Care • Periodontal Therapy • Dental Radiography • Scaling And Root Planing • Patient Education • Infection Control • Periodontal Charting • Fluoride Treatment • Dental Sealants • Local Anesthesia • Dentrix • HIPAA Compliance • Patient Assessment • Treatment Planning • Sterilization • Oral Health
Certifications & Licenses
- Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH)
- BLS Certification
20 ATS Keywords for a Dental Hygienist Resume
Applicant Tracking Systems rank your resume on keyword match. These are the terms recruiters and ATS filters look for in dental hygienist applications — use the ones that genuinely fit your experience, inside your bullet points, not just in a list.
Achievement Bullet Points You Can Adapt
Every bullet starts with an action verb and ends with a measurable result — the structure ATS parsers and recruiters both reward. Swap in your own numbers.
- Delivered preventive care and oral prophylaxis for 12-16 patients daily with a 98% retention rate
- Performed scaling and root planing and periodontal therapy, improving documented gum health outcomes 30%
- Captured diagnostic dental radiography and maintained accurate periodontal charting in Dentrix
- Provided tailored patient education that increased acceptance of recommended treatment plans 25%
- Upheld strict infection control and sterilization protocols passing all state inspections
- Administered fluoride treatment and dental sealants for a high-volume pediatric population
- Conducted thorough patient assessment and oral cancer screenings at every visit
- Educated patients on oral health home care improving recall compliance 18%
How to Write a Dental Hygienist Resume (5 Steps)
- 1
Lead with a keyword-rich professional summary
Open with 2-3 sentences that state your title, years of experience, and 2-3 signature strengths. Work in terms like Preventive Care, Periodontal Therapy, Patient Education so the ATS registers them immediately.
- 2
Make every experience bullet an achievement, not a duty
Start with an action verb and end with a number. "Delivered preventive care and oral prophylaxis for 12-16 patients daily with a 98% retenti…" beats "Responsible for…" every time.
- 3
Mirror the job description
Before you apply, paste the posting into the ResumeWalk builder. It surfaces the exact dental hygienist keywords that posting uses so you can match them honestly.
- 4
List role-relevant skills
Prioritize Preventive Care, Periodontal Therapy, Dental Radiography, Scaling And Root Planing, Patient Education. Put the most job-critical ones first and demonstrate the top few inside your experience section.
- 5
Keep the format ATS-safe
Single column, standard headings (Summary, Experience, Education, Skills), no tables, columns, headshots or graphics. The example above follows all of these rules.
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Build my Dental Hygienist resume freeDental Hygienist Resume FAQ
What keywords should a Dental Hygienist resume include?
Prioritize the terms ATS systems and recruiters actually search for in this field: Preventive Care, Periodontal Therapy, Patient Education, Dental Radiography, Scaling and Root Planing, Infection Control, Oral Prophylaxis, Periodontal Charting. Weave them naturally into your summary and bullet points rather than listing them in isolation — ATS parsers reward keywords that appear in context, and recruiters distrust keyword stuffing.
How long should a Dental Hygienist resume be?
One page if you have under ~10 years of experience, two pages for senior or highly technical profiles. The Dental Hygienist example here keeps every bullet to one or two lines and leads with quantified results, which lets you say more in less space.
What skills do employers look for in a Dental Hygienist?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Preventive Care, Periodontal Therapy, Dental Radiography, Scaling And Root Planing, Patient Education, Infection Control. List the ones you genuinely have, ordered by relevance to the specific job you're applying for, and demonstrate the most important ones inside your experience bullets instead of only naming them.
Is this Dental Hygienist resume example ATS-friendly?
Yes. It scores 86/100 on our ATS checker: single-column layout, standard section headings, no tables or graphics, parseable dates, and role-specific keywords used in context. You can build the same structure for free with the ResumeWalk builder.