As people become more conscientious about their teeth, dental assistants are in ever-higher demand. So how do you launch or continue a rewarding career in this dentistry role? An exceptional dental assistant cover letter will give you a big advantage over other job seekers and could even be what lands you the job. It's the most professional way to convince a dental office that you’re the right person for its team.
For expert advice and support with every cover letter preparation step, you’re in the right place. Resume.io’s job-winning resources include more than 180 occupation-specific writing guides and free cover letter examples. In addition, we offer formatting advice, plus field-tested templates and builder tools to help you create both resumes and cover letters.
This writing guide, along with a dental assistant cover letter example, will discuss how to write a cover letter that stands out from crowds of others and help you land that interview. Here’s what we’ll cover:
- The importance of an effective cover letter tailored to each position
- The best format for structuring a dental assistant cover letter
- Step-by-step advice for each cover letter section: header, greeting, introduction, body and conclusion
- Writing psychology — important qualities for a dental assistant’s cover letter
- How to avoid common mistakes made by other job candidates
There’s a growing amount of research that shows good dental health is a key component of overall physical health. Not surprisingly, the job outlook for dental assistants is is favorable. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the need for dental assistants will grow by 8 percent from 2021 to 2031, faster than the average for most occupations.
Why a dental assistant cover letter is important
Let’s take a look at why a cover letter is necessary for all applications and how to create one that speaks to your skills and achievements.
Primary purpose
A cover letter is one of the most requested application materials with good reason. It allows an employer to get a sense of your personality, motivation and successes without you ever having to step in the door for an interview. This 200-to-400 word document is the perfect complement to your resume because it allows you to expand on any points of interest, unexplained circumstances or unique perspectives that your resume simply doesn’t have space for.
A cover letter is one of the easiest ways to make a personal connection with dentists or hiring managers. Here, you are able to create your strongest arguments about why you’re a good fit for their office and why you stand apart from other certified dental assistants with similar training.
It’s important to keep your letter concise and focused on a few key points. You should also stick to trusted san serif fonts like Helvetica, Georgia and Arial, with a size between 10 and 12 points. You can find even more formatting tips in Resume.io's comprehensive guide to writing a cover letter.
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Maximizing your chances
Occasionally, you’ll run into an application that doesn’t specify whether or not you must include a dental assistant cover letter. Many candidates take this ambiguity as a free pass to save themselves the trouble and submit only a resume.
This is a big mistake.
In a field like dentistry, where many tasks are repetitive and many assistants have the same training and skills, a large number of dental assistant candidates will have similar resumes. How is a dentist supposed to know who will make for the most productive and personable hire?
That’s where the cover letter is key. It's your big opportunity to convey your unique attributes, both in the selling points you make and your professional, friendly tone. Why throw away such a big opportunity to maximize your chances of landing the position?
Tailoring your resume for success
One of the surest ways to make your cover letter as effective as possible is to tailor it to each individual position that you apply for. A generic copy-paste cover letter is seldom likely to land you an interview. Employers want to see that you have demonstrated the exact skills needed for their unique situation.
As a dental assistant, you may want to consider this potential employer’s patient population, dental clinic size and areas of expertise. For example, if the dentist works with a large number of Spanish-speakers, your ability to communicate in their language could be a huge advantage other candidates don’t have.
Best format for a dental assistant cover letter
Some candidates dread writing a cover letter because they think it lacks structure. Luckily, you don’t have to be among them. In this section, we’ll discuss the framework of a well-organized cover letter and offer writing tips to break it down into manageable steps.
Here are the key components:
- The cover letter header
- The greeting
- The introduction
- The letter body
- The conclusion
- The signature
The structure of a cover letter is roughly the same no matter which occupation or type of position.
Next, we’ll take a closer look at each cover letter section, along with wording you can modify for each dental assistant position being sought. It comes from this adaptable dental assistant cover letter example.
Dear Dr. Bainton,
Four-handed dentistry should be delivered with precision and compassion in equal amounts. Graduating with an Associate’s Degree in Dental Assisting five years ago, and recently becoming a Certified Orthodontic Assistant, has expanded my clinical experience to encompass the broadest range of dental practice. My chairside manner met with the approval of 98% of my patients and is something that I am constantly seeking to work on.
Working in both public and private sectors — high-volume and boutique — has exposed me to the broadest range of patients and clinical procedures. I was consistently the CDA with the highest patient volume in my last practice, with 11 dentists and 15 assistants. I also ran the administrative office alongside patient care, developing a new preparation procedure to save 20% of time between appointments and implementing centralized procurement.
I have considerable experience in extractions, processing dental radiographs, fabricating crowns, implant procedures, suturing and all aspects of operative and post-operative care. Patients frequently mention my gentle approach during cleaning, polishing and taking impressions. I am accomplished at explaining the benefits of oral hygiene and was a semi-regular preventive educator in the local school district. No one wants to go to the dentist, but not everyone — children and adults alike — must be aware of what neglect might be doing to their teeth.
I have a flexible and caring approach to every patient and am able to adapt to the individual styles of the dentists that I work with. Four-handed dentistry is a team pursuit, and it only works well when there is harmony. Patients can certainly tell when that isn’t the case.
I have 60 patient recommendations and a glowing reference from my previous employer. Had I not relocated with my husband, I would have been a happy team member for a long time to come. Now I hope for the opportunity to become a valued part of your dental team.
Sincerely,
Hayley Pickford
Cover letter header
The header's primary function is to identify your dental assistant cover letter as belonging to you. In large health care networks, hiring can be done by a team of HR professionals and it’s likely that your cover letter will float between desks. Your header helps to keep your name and contact information at the reader’s fingertips, which is practical even in small offices.
The goal of the cover letter header: Label your cover letter so that everyone who reads it has easy access to your contact information, create an attractive visual presentation.
Align document styles!
The secondary role of your header is to give your cover letter an aesthetically-pleasing look and feel. This is practically the only place on your document where it’s appropriate to add color or other design flourishes. However, in a formal industry like the medical field, it’s important to keep a sense of professionalism and organization. A neutral color palette is generally a good choice for this situation.
Another way to create a polished image is by aligning the styles of your resume, cover letter and other application materials. Our layout templates make it easy to create documents that convey a “personal brand” — a distinctive look that makes your application stand out from others.
Cover letter greeting
While only containing a few words, the greeting is one of the most important parts of your dental assistant cover letter. The goal is to create a personal connection with the dentist or hiring manager and set a polite and friendly tone for the rest of the document. While there are multiple possible greetings, “Dear” followed by the correct salutation and last name is the most versatile and respectful option.
The goal of the cover letter greeting: Address the letter recipient by name to establish a personal connection.
The importance of names and addressed greetings.
Whenever possible, you should always aim to address your cover letter to the person who will be reading it. In a small office or private dental practice, it’s safe to use the name of the dentist, even if an assistant may read it first. However, in hospitals and large health institutions, a team of hiring managers may be responsible for all the applications. If you aren’t able to find the name of the hiring manager or there appears to be more than one, it’s best to stick with a collective greeting like “Dear Shady Grove Health Team,” or “Dear MedStar Care Family,”
Cover letter introduction
The first paragraph of your cover letter is crucial to your dental assistant cover letter’s success. Your introduction should grab the attention of readers and carry them into the body section of the letter. Avoid boring or generic-sounding openings. Don't hesitate to use an energetic perspective, interesting anecdote or bold statement to hook the reader, as long as you still sound professional.
The goal of the cover letter introduction: Encourage the reader to continue reading your letter by creating an enthusiastic and interesting opening.
The greeting and introduction from our dental assistant cover letter sample appear below.
Dear Dr. Bainton,
Four-handed dentistry should be delivered with precision and compassion in equal amounts. Graduating with an Associate’s Degree in Dental Assisting five years ago, and recently becoming a Certified Orthodontic Assistant, has expanded my clinical experience to encompass the broadest range of dental practice. My chairside manner met with the approval of 98% of my patients and is something that I am constantly seeking to work on.
Cover letter body
Now, in the middle part of your dental assistant cover letter, you’re ready to get into the details of why you are a great fit for this hiring office or team.
To simplify the body section of your cover letter, break it into two parts.
- Use the STAR method to relay relevant anecdotes. First, describe a Situation and the Task required, then explain your Action and the positive Result it caused. Just make sure to keep each anecdote short so you don’t bore the reader.
- This is your chance to discuss all the positive qualities and relevant skills you would bring to this dental office or dental assistant position. Mention the contributions you could make to the workplace. Just make sure to keep your tone respectful instead of presumptive.
The goal of the cover letter body: Describe your previous achievements and milestones, and also skills and contributions you could bring to this potential employer.
Our dental assistant cover letter example illustrates what you might include in the middle part:
Working in both public and private sectors — high-volume and boutique — has exposed me to the broadest range of patients and clinical procedures. I was consistently the CDA with the highest patient volume in my last practice, with 11 dentists and 15 assistants. I also ran the administrative office alongside patient care, developing a new preparation procedure to save 20% of time between appointments and implementing centralized procurement.
I have considerable experience in extractions, processing dental radiographs, fabricating crowns, implant procedures, suturing and all aspects of operative and post-operative care. Patients frequently mention my gentle approach during cleaning, polishing and taking impressions. I am accomplished at explaining the benefits of oral hygiene and was a semi-regular preventive educator in the local school district. No one wants to go to the dentist, but not everyone — children and adults alike — must be aware of what neglect might be doing to their teeth.
I have a flexible and caring approach to every patient and am able to adapt to the individual styles of the dentists that I work with. Four-handed dentistry is a team pursuit, and it only works well when there is harmony. Patients can certainly tell when that isn’t the case.
Cover letter conclusion and signature
It’s the home stretch of your dental assistant cover letter! Finish strong by creating an effective call to action. This sentence conveys your enthusiasm for the position and invites the hiring manager or dentist to get in touch. You may choose to leave your phone number and contact information here as well.
Then, sign off with a polite closing like “Best,” “Sincerely,” or “Best Regards.”
The goal of the cover letter conclusion: End on a positive note by creating a call to action that encourages a hiring manager to contact you.
Below is the closing section of our dental assistant cover letter.
I have 60 patient recommendations and a glowing reference from my previous employer. Had I not relocated with my husband, I would have been a happy team member for a long time to come. Now I hope for the opportunity to become a valued part of your dental team.
Sincerely,
Hayley Pickford
Writing psychology
As a dental assistant, there are a few key qualities you’ll want to convey in your professional cover letter. Your objective is to connect with prospective employers in a way that speaks to their needs and values.
- Organization: A big part of a dental assistant’s work is cleaning and organizing tools and medical supplies. Plus, you’ll likely have to deal with patient charts and scheduling. Showing previous instances of effective organization can work to your advantage.
- Passion: You can have all the technical skills in the world, but no one wants to work with someone who isn’t excited about what they do. You don’t need to exaggerate, but make sure you convey some interest and enthusiasm for both this role and the field of dentistry.
- A positive disposition: Oftentimes, patients spend more of the visit with the dental assistant than with the dentist. Customer service skills and a friendly attitude are essential for making the appointment an enjoyable experience for patients of all ages.
- Ability to follow instructions: Dental assistants work in a valuable supporting role. As such, they need to be able to listen closely and follow instructions quickly and precisely. Reflect on times when you offered great supporting care to show what an effective team member you are.
The importance of learning
One of the biggest skills needed to succeed in the world of dental assisting is the ability to learn quickly. Unless you are a dental hygienist or performing x-rays, in many states dental assistants are not required to have any official licensure or training. In many of these entry level positions, every aspect of dental assisting from scheduling appointments to teaching patients about oral hygiene will be picked up on the job.
If you have years of experience working in dental care, then you probably know different dentists have different preferences and workflows that they expect you to adapt to. Although you’ve mastered the basics of dental assisting, you’ll still be learning in each of these unique environments.
If this is your first time working as a dental assistant, then you’ll likely be starting from scratch. You’ll need to pick up the teeth numbering system, terminology and dental procedures and sterilizing processes quickly and efficiently.
In fact, the ability to pay attention, follow instructions and learn fast are some of the most important qualities dentists look for when hiring new assistants. Conveying these traits on your cover letter can make all the difference.
At the end of the day, dental assisting is a hands-on career where patient care and procedural knowledge counts. Highlighting your ability to support a dentist through a variety of situations and pick up new skills quickly is one of the best ways to set yourself apart during your job search.
The benefits of learning
According to a study by LinkedIn, continuing to learn at work can also have big benefits for you. Almost half of respondents who learn at work say they feel less stressed at their job and 39 percent say they feel more productive.
While being happy and fulfilled has great benefits for you as an employee, it also makes you more hirable. Candidates who are passionate and enjoy what they do are more desirable in any workplace.
Common mistakes to avoid in your dental assistant cover letter
You will never regret making the time and effort to avoid these common mistakes in the final version of your dental assistant cover letter.
- Generic letters: Anyone in a hiring role can easily tell if job applicants put effort into their cover letter. It’s not enough to simply swap out the dentist’s name and submit the same letter with every application. To truly maximize your chances of landing the job, you’ll need to make sure your cover letter reflects the skills and needs of each job description.
- Typos and grammar mistakes: Small errors make your letter hard to read and dash your credibility. To avoid this common pitfall, take time to proofread your letter before you submit, or ask a friend to help you.
- Irrelevant information: If this is one of your first positions, you may be tempted to pad out your cover letter with tangentially related hobbies or activities. In general, it’s best to keep things strictly focused on the position. If you don’t have much experience, expand on your soft skills and personality traits that make you a good fit for the role.
- Formatting errors: Your visual presentation can carry just as much weight as your writing. Don’t leave it as an afterthought. Make sure it conveys the right message about you as a candidate. Using a professional cover letter template, like the ones Resume.io offers in four style categories, is a great way to make sure your document looks sharp and is error-free. Used together with our cover letter builder tool, a template makes it fast and easy to achieve professional results.
Key takeaways for a dental assistant cover letter
- Your cover letter is an essential component of any job application. Use it to create a personal connection with prospective employers and convince them that you are the right fit.
- To maximize your chances of success, make sure to customize your letter with the skills and qualities needed for each job posting that you apply for.
- Make the writing process easier by following the trusted cover letter structure and dedicating space to your achievements and milestones.
- The ability to quickly learn on the job is a key skill needed for dental assistants. Highlighting previous examples of this can prove your worth to a potential employer.
- Make sure to avoid common mistakes like typos and formatting errors. Professional templates can save time and frustration.
For more ideas and inspiration, you can check out these related cover letter examples in the medical category:
- Medical assistant cover letter sample
- Lab technician cover letter sample
- Medical receptionist cover letter sample
- Dentist cover letter sample
- Dental hygiene cover letter sample
- Pharmacy technician cover letter sample
- Pharmacy assistant cover letter sample
- CNA cover letter sample
- Healthcare cover letter sample
- Medical cover letter sample
- Physician assistant cover letter sample
- Veterinary assistant cover letter sample
- Doctor assistant cover letter sample
With resume.io’s easy-to-use cover letter builder, you can finish your application fast. No hassle, no uncertainty. Go out there and win!
