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Dentist skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
Quoted Experts
Stephen Sterlitz,
Oliver Keefer DDS
Dentist Example Skills
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical dentist skills. We ranked the top skills for dentists based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 27.5% of dentist resumes contained patients as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a dentist needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 dentist skills for your resume and career

1. Patients

Here's how dentists use patients:
  • Participated in dental awareness programs to provide treatment including extractions, prophylaxis & demonstrated basic oral hygiene procedures to under-represented patients.
  • Performed general restorative dentistry procedures on underprivileged pediatric and adult patients from the surrounding area in a public health clinic.

2. Diagnosis

Here's how dentists use diagnosis:
  • Provided oral diagnosis and treatment services to the San Lucas community, implemented oral health prevention activities
  • Demonstrated clinical excellence by ensuring that every patient receives a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plan.

3. DDS

Here's how dentists use dds:
  • Shadowed Dr. Victor Avis, DDS in all dental procedures and assisted in routine and surgical oral surgeries.
  • Worked under direct supervision of a DDS mentor with over 30 years' surgical experience.

4. Work Ethic

Here's how dentists use work ethic:
  • Maintained a great work ethics, productivity and attitude

5. Dentures

Here's how dentists use dentures:
  • Fabricated temporary / permanent dentures and night guards and provided in-office whitening.
  • Designed and provided treatment planning of Partial, Cast Partial & Complete Dentures, Interim Prosthesis, and Crown & Bridge.

6. Treatment Planning

Here's how dentists use treatment planning:
  • Conduct treatment planning, periodontal procedures and restorative dentistry for pediatric patients.
  • Have excellent treatment planning and patient education skills

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7. Infection Control

Infection control describes the principles and practices used in hospitals and other healthcare facilities to control and minimize the spread of infections with the aim of lowering rates of infection. Infection control refers to the process of detecting and controlling pathogens in order to reduce their spread.

Here's how dentists use infection control:
  • Ensured adherence to established policies, procedures, continuous quality improvement and safety, environmental and infection control standards.
  • Managed inventory, prepared dental materials, carried out infection control and sterilization procedures as required.
Select Skills To Add To Your Resume

8. Oral Surgery

Here's how dentists use oral surgery:
  • Completed rotations, which provided clinical experience in pediatric dentistry, emergency dentistry, oral surgery, and periodontal assisting.
  • General dentist primarily treating patients with emergency procedures oral surgery and operative

9. Dental Health

Here's how dentists use dental health:
  • Provided patients with preventative care techniques to ensure optimal dental health and personal well-being
  • Conducted annual dental health education at the local Elementary School

10. Dental Services

Dental service is a diagnostic, maintenance, preventive or corrective procedure related to teeth, gums, and mouth performed by or under the supervision of a dentist and covers oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, and restorative dentistry. The goal of dental service is to prevent complications such as cavities (tooth decay) and gum disease and to maintain the overall health of the mouth.

Here's how dentists use dental services:
  • Provided discounted dental services to Wichita and surrounding areas, qualifications based on income
  • Provided clinical and preventive dental services to rural communities.

11. Extraction

Here's how dentists use extraction:
  • Preformed extractions, oral cancer screening, anesthetic injections, hospital accounting and oral hygiene education.
  • Performed desensitization, examinations, prophylaxis, restorations, simple extractions, and limited prosthetic work.

12. Private Practice

Private practice refers to a business operated by professionals such as doctors or lawyers neither controlled nor paid by the government.

Here's how dentists use private practice:
  • Provided comprehensive care to a medically- compromised population in a private practice setting.
  • Practiced general dentistry as an independent contractor in a private practice setting.

13. Direct Patient Care

Here's how dentists use direct patient care:
  • Train dental assistants in four-handed dentistry through direct patient care in a clinical setting
  • Provided and managed direct patient care.

14. Dental Clinic

A dental clinic is a medical premise or compound where dentistry services and treatments are provided by a certified dentist. A dental clinic hosts general dental diagnoses, Hygenic treatments, as well as complex dental surgeries.

Here's how dentists use dental clinic:
  • Serviced multiple states and federally-funded rural medical-dental clinics throughout California promoting oral health to the impoverished social classes.
  • Performed pro bono dental procedures for the local pediatric community in elementary schools and a local dental clinic.

15. Root Canals

Here's how dentists use root canals:
  • Performed fillings, bleaching, minor oral surgeries, pediatric care, root canals and prosthetic restoration for 10-15 patient per day
  • Performed diagnoses and procedures like oral prophylaxis, restorations, extractions, root canals and gave health education talks.
top-skills

What skills help Dentists find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on Dentist resumes?

S

Stephen SterlitzStephen Sterlitz LinkedIn Profile

Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Michigan School of Dentistry

The pandemic disrupted dental education AND the practice of dentistry across the country. The characteristic that would stand out on a resume during these unprecedented times would be the applicant who actively sought additional training and certifications during the pandemic. There are professional organizations and private sources of continuing education that provide learning continuums and certificates of completion that can now be earned online. Whether it is dental implant training, diode laser training, or 100-hours of continuing education credit – the applicant who sought out additional learning opportunities to grow their skill and experience will be the applicant who differentiates themselves from the others.

What soft skills should all Dentists possess?

O

Oliver Keefer DDS

Assistant Clinical Professor, University of New England

As with many other career fields, communication skill is a major factor in a dentist's ability to excel. High levels of effective communication allow a dentist to treat various patients and work in a small-team environment with dental auxiliary staff. A dentist should be comfortable dealing with anxious patients while showing compassion, empathy, and patience daily. If they can lead other team members as well as have an understanding of delegation of work tasks and responsibilities, they will be more likely to build a strong clinical team. Finally, strong time management habits and basic business skills will make a dentist more likely to become a productive and effective clinician (and potential small-business owner).

What hard/technical skills are most important for Dentists?

O

Oliver Keefer DDS

Assistant Clinical Professor, University of New England

The technical skills are introduced while in dental school and are honed over many years of practice. A newly graduated dentist should be competent in common restorative procedures (fillings, crowns, etc.), have a general understanding of basic surgical technique (tooth extraction, gum surgery, wound healing, etc.), and treat patients who require removable prosthetics. A new dentist should also be comfortable treating children and geriatric patients. Dentists will need excellent treatment planning and radiographic interpretation knowledge, and satisfactory hand skill that allows for detailed, precise, and exacting procedures. Although not a technical skill, dentists need to think analytically and methodically, with experience reading and understanding scientific and clinical journals.

What Dentist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

D

Dr. Katie DinhDr. Katie Dinh LinkedIn Profile

Assistant Dean of Curriculum and Assessment, Associate Professor of Restorative Dentistry, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

I would say enhancement in business acumen will be the skills recommended. If the graduate takes a gap year, he/she may not have the opportunity to enhance any dental skills or procedures. If he/she joins a residency program such as AEGD (advanced education in general dentistry), that does not constitute the person taking a gap year.

What type of skills will young Dentists need?

M

Mario AlemagnoMario Alemagno LinkedIn Profile

Dental Coach, Business Coach, Life Coach, Dental School

I do believe that there will. Infection control has always been a point of emphasis in all dental programs. The coronavirus has reinforced this with students and has made them respect the necessity of this imperative part of their education and, ultimately, their practice. This is not likely to be forgotten. On a broader level, it has taught them to be prepared and to adapt to changes that may take place in the way they perform their dentistry and how they run their dental practices.

What technical skills for a Dentist stand out to employers?

M

Mauricio Restrepo

Dental Department Head, Florida National University

Dental laboratory technology, as its name implies, requires from the student a manual dexterity above the average, knowledge of prosthodontics and artistry, which makes them unique technicians, whose hands speak for them.
Do you want to know more?
Read more about what experts have to say about Dentist

List of dentist skills to add to your resume

Dentist Skills

The most important skills for a dentist resume and required skills for a dentist to have include:

  • Patients
  • Diagnosis
  • DDS
  • Work Ethic
  • Dentures
  • Treatment Planning
  • Infection Control
  • Oral Surgery
  • Dental Health
  • Dental Services
  • Extraction
  • Private Practice
  • Direct Patient Care
  • Dental Clinic
  • Root Canals
  • Dental Hygiene
  • Orthodontics
  • OSHA
  • Periodontal
  • Dental Equipment
  • Dental Practice
  • Dental Procedures
  • Informed Consent
  • Treatment Options
  • Patient Education
  • Dental Assistants
  • Dental Instruments
  • Kids
  • Dental Diseases
  • Medical History
  • Surgical Procedures
  • Dental Treatment
  • Oral Cavity
  • Dental Appliances
  • Eagle
  • Dental Problems
  • Nitrous Oxide
  • Aspen
  • Dental Emergencies
  • Prosthetics
  • Oral Health Care
  • Diagnose Diseases
  • Oral Examinations
  • Dentrix
  • Comprehensive Dental Care
  • Diagnostic Equipment
  • Oral Structures

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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