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Dental Assistant CV example

Practice managers hiring dental assistants look for three things: that you keep the surgery running to time, that your infection control is spotless, and that nervous patients feel looked after. This example shows a dental assistant CV that proves each one, with bullets about the chairside work rather than a list of instruments.

Written for New Zealand, with notes for Australia · Checked

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The example

A Dental Assistant CV, start to finish.

Talia Sapolu is made up, and so are the employers. The layout and the wording are what New Zealand employers expect: no photo or date of birth, the most recent job first, and every bullet showing what was done and what came of it.

Talia Sapolu

Dental Assistant, general and restorative dentistry

Porirua · 021 555 0227 · talia.sapolu@email.com

Profile

Dental assistant with six years in busy general practices, working chairside with dentists and a hygienist. Organised, calm with anxious patients and children, and careful with sterilisation and infection control. Speaks Samoan and English, and often helps Samoan families feel comfortable in the chair.

Skills

Four-handed chairside assisting · Infection prevention and sterilisation · Dental radiography support · Patient care and anxious patients · Practice management software · Stock ordering · Front desk and appointment booking · Samoan and English

Experience

Dental Assistant, Harbourlight Dental

Porirua · 2022 to now

  • Assist two dentists across about 20 appointments a day, from check-ups to fillings, crowns and extractions
  • Run the sterilisation room and keep tracking records for every instrument pack, with no issues found in the last two infection control audits
  • Took over stock ordering and cut monthly consumables spend by about 10 percent by reducing waste and duplicate orders
  • Trained two new dental assistants on surgery set-up, instrument reprocessing and the practice software

Dental Assistant, Raumati Family Dental

Paraparaumu · 2020 to 2022

  • Started as a trainee and completed the NZDA Certificate in Dental Assisting while working 32 hours a week
  • Set up and turned over two surgeries between patients, helping the dentist stay on time on full days
  • Supported children and nervous patients through treatment, and covered reception during lunch breaks and busy school holidays

Education

NZDA Certificate in Dental Assisting, New Zealand Dental Association

2021

NCEA Level 2, Porirua College

2019

Other details

First aid
Current CORE Immediate resuscitation certificate
Vaccinations
Up to date, including hepatitis B
Driver's licence
Full

Referees

Available on request

Talia wrote a cover letter to go with it. Read the dental assistant cover letter

Skills and keywords

What dental assistant job ads look for.

Use the ad's own words where they're true of you. An ATS, and a recruiter skimming, both look for them.

  • Chairside assistingName the procedures you assist with, like fillings, crowns, root canals and extractions.
  • Infection controlSay what you're responsible for: sterilisation, instrument tracking, surgery turnover. Practices are audited on it.
  • Instrument reprocessingThe term many ads use for cleaning, packing and sterilising. Use it if the ad does.
  • NZDA Certificate in Dental AssistingGive the full name. If you're studying it now, say so and when you'll finish.
  • Patient careShow how you look after anxious patients and children. It's a big part of why dentists keep good assistants.
  • ReceptionMany smaller practices want assistants who can cover the front desk. List the software you know.
  • Oral health therapistIf you've assisted hygienists or therapists as well as dentists, say so. It widens the roles you fit.

Bullet points

9 strong lines to borrow from.

Each says what was done, how, and what came of it. Swap in your own facts: a line is only strong if it's true.

  1. 1Assisted two dentists across about 20 appointments a day, from check-ups to crowns and extractions
  2. 2Ran the sterilisation room with full instrument tracking, with no issues found in two infection control audits
  3. 3Cut monthly consumables spend by about 10 percent by reducing waste and duplicate orders
  4. 4Trained two new dental assistants on surgery set-up, reprocessing and the practice software
  5. 5Set up and turned over two surgeries between patients so the dentist stayed on time
  6. 6Supported children and nervous patients through treatment with calm, clear explanations
  7. 7Covered reception, bookings and payments during breaks and busy school holidays
  8. 8Completed the NZDA Certificate in Dental Assisting while working 32 hours a week
  9. 9Helped Samoan-speaking patients and families understand treatment plans and costs

Common mistakes

What costs dental assistant CVs interviews.

  • Writing "assisted the dentist" and listing instruments.

    Say which procedures, how many patients a day and what you ran on your own, like sterilisation or stock.

  • Leaving out infection control because it feels routine.

    It's one of the first things a practice manager looks for. Say what you're responsible for and how audits went.

  • Not mentioning reception or admin work.

    Smaller practices value assistants who can cover the desk. Add it, with the software you've used.

New Zealand and Australia

What changes across the Tasman.

New Zealand

Dental assistants aren't among the oral health practitioners the Dental Council of New Zealand registers, so there's no registration to list. Many train on the job through the NZDA Certificate in Dental Assisting or Careerforce's Level 3 dental assistance programme.

New Zealand CV format

Australia

Australian job ads use both dental assistant and dental nurse for this role, so match the title in the ad. Australian employers usually say resume rather than CV, and expect about two pages.

Australian CV format

Sources: Dental Council of New Zealand, New Zealand Dental Association: Certificate in Dental Assisting, Careerforce: New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Level 3) Dental Assistance.

FAQ

Questions, answered.

Something else on your mind? Email support@smartcvs.ai and a person will reply.

Can I become a dental assistant without a qualification?

Yes. Many practices hire trainees and support them to study while they work. If you're studying now, list the course with "in progress".

Should I put my vaccinations on my CV?

A short line in your details is enough, such as up to date including hepatitis B. Practices often ask before you start.

How long should a dental assistant CV be?

One to two pages. Put your current practice, the procedures you assist with and your certificate on the first page.

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