Crafting a CV that effectively showcases your hands-on patient care experiences and the technical proficiencies required for dental nursing can be a formidable challenge. Our comprehensive guide offers tailored strategies and examples that will help you articulate your unique skills and qualifications, ensuring your CV stands out to potential employers.
- Design and format your professional dental nurse CV;
- Curate your key contact information, skills, and achievements throughout your CV sections;
- Ensure your profile stays competitive by studying other industry-leading dental nurse CVs;
- Create a great CV even if you happen to have less professional experience, or switching fields.
When writing your dental nurse CV, you may need plenty of insights from hiring managers. We have prepared industry-leading advice in the form of our relevant CV guides.
Formatting your dental nurse CV to meet the role expectations
Staring at the blank page for hours on end, you still have no idea how you should start your professional dental nurse CV. Should you include more colours, two columns, and which sections? What you should remember about your CV format is this - ensure it's minimalistic and doesn't go over the top with fancy fonts and many colours. Instead, focus on writing consistent content that actually answers the job requirements. But, how about the design itself :- Use the reverse chronological order to showcase your experience, starting with your most recent role;
- Include your contact details (email address, phone number, and location) - and potentially your professional photo - in the header;
- Must-have CV sections include summary or objective, experience, education, and skills: curate the ones that fit your profile;
- Your professional dental nurse CV should be between one-to-two pages long: select the longer format if you have more experience.
A little bit more about your actual CV design, ensure you're using:
- plenty of serif or sans serif font (e.g. Montserrat, Exo 2, Volkhov) as they are Applicant Tracker System (ATS) compliant. Avoid the likes of Arial and Times New Roman because most candidates' CVs are in this typography.
When submitting your CV, are you still not sure what format it should be? Despite the myth that has been circling around, most modern ATS systems are perfectly capable of reading PDFs. This format is an excellent choice as it keeps all of your information intact.
PRO TIP
For certain fields, consider including infographics or visual elements to represent skills or achievements, but ensure they are simple, professional, and enhance rather than clutter the information.
The top sections on a dental nurse CV
- Personal Statement showcasing motivation to highlight your enthusiasm and dedication to dental nursing.
- Employment History with relevant dental roles to underline practical experiences in the field.
- Certifications and Dental Training to demonstrate relevant qualifications and specialised knowledge.
- Clinical Skills and Procedures to show hands-on expertise and technical competencies.
- Patient Care Experience to reflect your ability to provide excellent support and service to patients.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Highlight any qualifications specific to dental nursing, such as a National Diploma in Dental Nursing or a degree in oral health, as these credentials are pivotal for establishing your foundation in the field.
- Detail your experience with various dental procedures and patient care, including chairside assistance, instrument sterilisation, and infection control measures, to demonstrate your practical skills and adaptability in a clinical environment.
- Mention your proficiency in using dental software and managing patient records, as well as your ability to efficiently coordinate appointments and support the dental practice's administrative operations.
- Include any additional certifications or continued professional development courses you have undertaken, such as radiography or oral health education, to showcase your commitment to staying current in the rapidly evolving dental sector.
- Emphasise your communication skills and your ability to provide empathetic patient care, reflecting on how you support patients through their dental experiences and manage anxious or nervous individuals during treatments.
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Our checklist for the must-have information in your dental nurse CV header
Right at the very top of your dental nurse CV is where you'd find the header section or the space for your contact details, headline, and professional photo. Wondering how to present your the name of the city you live in and the country abbreviation as your address;
- are tailored to the role you're applying for by integrating key job skills and requirements;
- showcase what your unique value is, most often in the form of your most noteworthy accomplishment;
- select your relevant qualifications, skills, or current role to pass the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessment. Still not sure how to write your CV headline? Our examples below showcase best practices on creating effective headlines:
Examples of good CV headlines for dental nurse:
- Lead Dental Nurse | Radiography Cert | Sedation Expert | Patient Care Focused | 10+ Years Experience
- Senior Dental Nurse | Impression Taking Skilled | Oral Health Education | NVQ L3 Qualified | 8 Years
- Qualified Dental Nurse | Infection Control Lead | NEBDN Certificate | Chairside Support | 5+ Yrs Exp.
- Experienced Dental Nurse | Practice Management | CPD Dedicated | Child Patients Specialist | 12 Years' Experience
- Dental Nurse Practitioner | Orthodontic Assistance | X-Ray Proficient | NVQ L3 Dental Nursing | 6 Years
- Junior Dental Nurse | New Graduate | Enthusiastic Learner | ECC Certificate | Patient Comfort Advocate
Choosing your opening statement: a dental nurse CV summary or objective
At the top one third of your CV, you have the chance to make a more personable impression on recruiters by selecting between:
- Summary - or those three to five sentences that you use to show your greatest achievements. Use the CV summary if you happen to have plenty of relevant experience and wish to highlight your greatest successes;
- Objective - provides you with up to five sentences to state your professional aims and mission in the company you're applying for
CV summaries for a dental nurse job:
- A meticulous dental nurse with over seven years of hands-on experience in dental surgery assistance, adept in four-handed dentistry and proficient with the latest dental technology, particularly in endodontics and prosthetics. Recognised for excellence in patient care and exceptional ability to manage dental emergencies.
- With five years devoted to paediatric dental care, an empathetic dental nurse capable of creating a calming environment for young patients, skilled at educating children on dental hygiene. Proficient in dental charting software and lauded for implementing innovative patient care techniques that enhanced clinic efficiency.
- Formerly a medical support assistant, I bring three years of healthcare expertise to a career in dental nursing. My detail-oriented approach, combined with extensive knowledge of sterilisation protocols and patient management software, positions me as an asset to a fast-paced dental practice.
- Transitioning from a career in health administration, I offer strong organisational skills and a commitment to patient-oriented service. Eager to apply my four years of experience in healthcare coordination to supporting dental health professionals and ensuring an exceptional patient experience.
- Eager to embark on a career as a dental nurse with no prior experience but armed with a BSc in Health Sciences and a certified proficiency in medical terminology. My objective is to rigorously apply my knowledge and compassionate nature to learn swiftly and contribute positively to patient care.
- Looking to leverage my extensive customer service background into a fulfilling new direction as a dental nurse, despite having no direct experience. My aptitude for fast learning, deep interest in dental health, and strong commitment to providing empathetic patient support are key to my future growth and success.
How to meet job requirements with your dental nurse CV experience
We've now reached the essence of your actual CV - your experience section. This is the space where you can list your career roles and on-the-job successes. Many candidates tend to underestimate just how much time and effort they should put into writing this CV section. Your experience shouldn't be a random list of your responsibilities, but instead:
- Match the job description with your skills, values, and accomplishments;
- Start each bullet with a strong action verb, followed up with one key skill and your outcome of applying this skill;
- Spotlight parts of your career history that are relevant to the job you're applying for.
Before we move on, make sure to check out some professional CV experience sections.
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Provided chairside assistance to dentists during a variety of treatment procedures, ensuring patient comfort and efficient workflow in over 500 clinical cases.
- Maintained strict compliance with cross-infection control procedures, contributing to a 30% improvement in clinical hygiene standards within the dental practice.
- Performed accurate dental charting and recorded patient treatment information in electronic and paper records, displaying exceptional attention to detail and data accuracy.
- Managed stock control for dental materials and instruments, reducing wastage by 20% through effective inventory management and reordering protocols.
- Conducted dental radiography tasks under the guidance of the dentist, resulting in a 25% increase in diagnostic imaging efficiency and patient throughput.
- Assisted in the formulation of treatment plans by offering administrative support and liaising with multidisciplinary teams to enhance overall patient care.
- Provided patient education and post-operative care instructions, achieving a 95% patient satisfaction rate through clear communication and empathetic engagement.
- Supervised and trained junior dental nurses and trainee dental nurses, resulting in a more skilled and confident dental care team within the practice.
- Contributed to the practice's quarterly quality assurance audits to ensure continuous improvement and adherence to industry regulations and standards.
- Managed a team of dental nurses, improving practice efficiency by 20% through optimising appointment scheduling and patient flow.
- Implemented a new digital record-keeping system that decreased administrative errors by 15% and increased patient satisfaction.
- Led infection control procedures, ensuring 100% compliance with CQC standards, which contributed to the clinic's reputation for safety and hygiene.
- Facilitated patient consultations, providing clear explanations of proposed dental treatments, leading to a 10% increase in treatment acceptance.
- Supervised and trained junior dental nurses and apprentices, enhancing team skill levels and reducing the need for external training services.
- Contributed to a dental research study on oral hygiene that was published in a recognised dental journal.
- Streamlined dental instrument sterilisation processes, cutting down preparation times by 25%, allowing for additional daily appointments.
- Managed stock control effectively, negotiating with suppliers to reduce costs by 5% without compromising on quality.
- Coordinated outreach programs to promote dental health education in local schools, reaching over 500 children.
- Introduced a patient follow-up system that increased repeat patient visits by 30% through enhanced customer relationship management.
- Assisted in complex dental surgeries, demonstrating high precision in instrument handling and patient care during high-stress situations.
- Developed an emergency response protocol for dental accidents, leading to a 50% reduction in response time.
- Assisted with the integration of CAD/CAM technology for dental prosthetics, increasing operational efficiency by 15%.
- Maintained dental office supplies and inventories, leading to a continuous availability of necessary materials and a 10% cost saving due to bulk purchasing.
- Supported the establishment of a teledentistry service that enhanced patient access, especially for those in remote areas.
- Performed chair-side assistance in over 1,000 dental procedures, ensuring efficient turnover and patient comfort.
- Provided oral hygiene advice to patients, contributing to a marked improvement in community dental health as evidenced by a decrease in cavity rates.
- Played a key role in the transition from paper-based to digital patient records at the practice.
- Pioneered the adoption of a new anaesthetic monitoring system resulting in heightened patient safety during surgical procedures.
- Collaborated with the dental team to plan and execute a charity event providing free dental check-ups, benefiting over 200 local residents.
- Organised professional development workshops for the dental nursing staff, leading to improved team performance and patient care.
- Engaged in the successful rollout of a patient satisfaction survey, which led to a clinic-wide improvement action plan and 15% better feedback scores.
- Set up a new cross-infection control system, which was later adopted as the blueprint for other clinics in the group.
- Contributed to the design and implementation of an ergonomic workspace setup, reducing physical strain on dental staff.
Lacking professional expertise: how to write your CV to highlight your best talents
Don't count on your lucky stars when you're applying for a role, where you happen to have less (or almost none) professional experience. Recruiters sometimes do hire inexperienced candidates if they're able to present their unique value from the get-go. So, instead of opting for the traditional, CV experience section:
- List any applicable expertise you happen to have - no matter if it's a part-time job, internship, or volunteer work. This would hint to recruiters that your profile is relevant;
- Focus your CV on your transferrable skills or talents you've obtained thanks to your whole life and work experience. In effect, you'll be spotlighting your value as a candidate;
- Separate more space for your applicable academic background and certificates to show you have the technical know-how;
- Ensure that within your objective, you've defined why you'll like the job and how you'll be the perfect match for it. Always ensure you've tailored your CV to individual applications.
Looking for more good examples for your first job? We'll show you how other candidates, with less professional experience, have created their job-winning CVs.
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PRO TIP
If applicable, briefly mention a situation where things didn’t go as planned and what you learned from it, demonstrating your ability to learn and adapt.
Mix and match hard and soft skills across your dental nurse CV
Your skill set play an equally valid role as your experience to your application. That is because recruiters are looking for both:
- hard skills or your aptitude in applying particular technologies
- soft skills or your ability to work in a team using your personal skills, e.g. leadership, time management, etc.
Are you wondering how you should include both hard and soft skills across your dental nurse CV? Use the:
- skills section to list between ten and twelve technologies that are part of the job requirement (and that you're capable to use);
- strengths and achievements section to detail how you've used particular hard and soft skills that led to great results for you at work;
- summary or objective to spotlight up to three skills that are crucial for the role and how they've helped you optimise your work processes.
One final note - when writing about the skills you have, make sure to match them exactly as they are written in the job ad. Take this precautionary measure to ensure your CV passes the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessment.
Top skills for your dental nurse CV:
Patient Care
Dental Health Maintenance
Infection Control
Radiography
Sterilization Techniques
Dental Materials Knowledge
Equipment Maintenance
Clinical Skills
Oral Anatomy Knowledge
Dental Prophylaxis
Communication
Teamwork
Empathy
Attention to Detail
Problem-Solving
Multitasking
Stress Management
Adaptability
Organisational
Customer Service Orientation
PRO TIP
If there's a noticeable gap in your skillset for the role you're applying for, mention any steps you're taking to acquire these skills, such as online courses or self-study.
Listing your university education and certificates on your dental nurse CV
The best proof of your technical capabilities would be your education and certifications sections. Your education should list all of your relevant university degrees, followed up by their start and completion dates. Make sure to also include the name of the university/-ies you graduated from. If you happen to have less professional experience (or you deem it would be impressive and relevant to your application), spotlight in the education section:
- that you were awarded a "First" degree;
- industry-specific coursework and projects;
- extracurricular clubs, societies, and activities.
When selecting your certificates, first ask yourself how applicable they'd be to the role. Ater your initial assessment, write the certificate and institution name. Don't miss out on including the completion date. In the below panel, we've curated relevant examples of industry-leading certificates.
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If you have received professional endorsements or recommendations for certain skills, especially on platforms like LinkedIn, mention these to add credibility.
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Key takeaways
Here are five things you need to remember about writing your dental nurse CV for success:
- Sort your experience based on the reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent career items, to showcase how you've grown your career;
- Include within your CV header your relevant contact details, a headline that could spotlight your unique value, and a photo - if you're applying for roles outside the UK or US;
- Decide to use the CV summary, if you happen to have more professional experience, and an objective, if you want to showcase your career goals;
- Within the experience section, write your bullets using action verbs, skills, and success, instead of just merely listing your on-the-job responsibilities;
- Prove your technical skills, using your education and certificates, and your soft skills, with your achievements and strengths sections.
