Dental Assistant Resume Examples

Dental Assistant Resume Example

Meet Marisela Ordonez, a fictional dental assistant with 6+ years chairside in general practice. This example highlights procedure volume, radiography credentials, sterilization compliance, and the patient-flow work that keeps a busy practice running on schedule.

Marisela Ordonez

(505) 555-0173 ◇ Rio Rancho, NM

marisela.ordonez@example.com ◇ linkedin.com/in/marisela-ordonez ◇ mariselaordonez.com

Objective

Dental Assistant with 6+ years chairside in general practice, supporting 3 dentists through about 32 patients a day. Certified in radiography and coronal polishing, with 4 consecutive infection control audits passed at 100%. Cut average operatory turnover from 12 minutes to 6, which recovered roughly 90 minutes of clinical time a day across the practice.

Education

Dental Assisting Certificate, Sandia Vista Career College 2018 – 2019

CODA-accredited program; coursework in Chairside Assisting, Radiography, Dental Materials, and Infection Control.

Certified Dental Assistant, Dental Assisting National Board 2019

Holds Radiation Health and Safety and Infection Control certifications; current CPR and coronal polishing credentials.

Skills

Chairside Assisting

Four-handed dentistry, restorative and crown procedures, extractions, root canals, impressions, suction

Radiography & Imaging

Digital bitewings and periapicals, panoramic imaging, intraoral photography, sensor placement, exposure technique

Clinical Operations

Sterilization and autoclave monitoring, operatory setup and turnover, inventory, OSHA and HIPAA compliance

Tools & Systems

Dentrix, Eaglesoft, Dexis and Schick sensors, CEREC, statim autoclaves, Weave, Microsoft 365

Experience

Dental Assistant 04/2021 – Present

Cottonwood Mesa Dental Group Rio Rancho, NM

Assist 3 dentists chairside through about 32 patients a day, covering restorative, crown, endodontic, and surgical procedures.
Take roughly 60 radiographs a week with a retake rate under 2%, against a practice benchmark of 6%.
Cut operatory turnover from 12 minutes to 6 by preparing setup trays for the next 3 appointments during quiet periods.

Dental Assistant 08/2019 – 03/2021

Placitas Ridge Family Dentistry Bernalillo, NM

Supported 2 dentists through about 24 patients a day in a practice serving roughly 2,600 active families.
Managed sterilization for a 5-operatory practice, passing 4 consecutive infection control audits at 100% compliance.
Reduced clinical supply spend by 16% by tracking usage across 90 items and setting reorder points against actual consumption.

Dental Assisting Extern 05/2019 – 07/2019

Jemez Line Community Dental Clinic Albuquerque, NM

Completed 320 externship hours assisting on roughly 200 patient visits across restorative and preventive care.
Took 140 radiographs under supervision, reaching independent competency sign-off 3 weeks ahead of the program schedule.
Supported a community outreach day providing free care to 85 patients, handling setup and instrument processing.

Projects

Operatory Turnover Standard. Built a tray setup and turnover sequence that prepares the next 3 appointments during quiet periods rather than after each patient. Turnover fell from 12 minutes to 6, recovering roughly 90 minutes of clinical time a day across 3 dentists.

Supply Usage Tracking. Tracked consumption across 90 clinical items over 6 months and reset ordering to match real usage rather than habit. Supply spend dropped 16% with no stockouts, and expired material write-offs stopped.

Radiograph Retake Reduction. Reviewed a quarter of retakes to find the sensor positioning errors behind most of them, then built a positioning reference card for the operatories. The practice retake rate fell from 6% to under 2%.

Extra-Curricular Activities

Volunteer at an annual free dental care day, assisting on roughly 40 patients across a single Saturday.
Member of the American Dental Assistants Association, completing 20 continuing education hours a year.
Interpret Spanish for patients at the practice roughly 8 times a week, which the dentists rely on for consent conversations.

Leadership

Train every new dental assistant at the practice, taking 5 people from first day to independent chairside since 2021.
Serve as the practice's infection control coordinator, running monthly spore testing and the annual OSHA refresher for 14 staff.
Introduced the turnover standard and positioning reference card now used across all 6 operatories.

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Entry Level Dental Assistant Resume Example

Meet Trevor Blaisdell, an entry level dental assistant recently out of an accredited program with an externship completed. This example shows how program training, clinical hours, and certification carry a resume when chairside employment is still ahead.

Trevor Blaisdell

(801) 555-0127 ◇ Ogden, UT

trevor.blaisdell@example.com ◇ linkedin.com/in/trevor-blaisdell ◇ trevorblaisdell.com

Objective

Entry level dental assistant, recently graduated from a CODA-accredited program with 340 externship hours completed. Assisted on roughly 220 patient visits and took 160 radiographs under supervision, reaching competency sign-off ahead of schedule in both. Holds current Certified Dental Assistant credentials and Utah radiography permit, and is ready for independent chairside work from the first week.

Education

Dental Assisting Certificate, Wasatch Front Technical College 2024 – 2025

CODA-accredited; graduated with a 3.9 GPA and coursework in Chairside, Radiography, and Dental Materials.

Certified Dental Assistant, Dental Assisting National Board 2025

Passed all 3 component exams on first attempt; holds Utah radiography permit and current CPR certification.

Skills

Chairside Basics

Four-handed dentistry, instrument transfer, suction and isolation, tray setup, patient positioning

Radiography

Digital bitewings and periapicals, sensor placement, exposure settings, panoramic imaging, image mounting

Infection Control

Instrument processing, autoclave operation, spore testing, surface disinfection, OSHA bloodborne pathogen standards

Tools & Systems

Dentrix, Open Dental, Dexis sensors, statim and Midmark autoclaves, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace

Experience

Dental Assisting Extern 01/2025 – 05/2025

Weber Bend Dental Associates Ogden, UT

Completed 340 externship hours assisting 2 dentists on roughly 220 patient visits across restorative and preventive care.
Took 160 radiographs under supervision, reaching independent competency sign-off 4 weeks ahead of the program schedule.
Processed instruments for a 4-operatory practice, logging 90 sterilization cycles with no failed spore tests.

Dental Office Assistant, Part Time 06/2024 – 12/2024

Pineview Trail Dentistry Ogden, UT

Handled check-in, scheduling, and operatory preparation for a practice seeing about 40 patients a day.
Prepared and broke down 25 operatories a day while completing the assisting program in the evenings.
Reduced instrument shortages at chairside by rebuilding the tray setup checklist for 12 common procedures.

Pharmacy Technician 08/2022 – 05/2024

Bonneville Line Pharmacy Layton, UT

Filled roughly 160 prescriptions a shift with a verified accuracy rate above 99.7% across 20 months.
Counseled about 40 patients a day on medication pickup, insurance questions, and refill timing.
Maintained controlled substance logs and inventory counts with no discrepancies across 4 quarterly audits.

Projects

Tray Setup Checklist. Built a per-procedure setup checklist for the 12 most common appointments after noticing repeated mid-procedure instrument requests. Chairside instrument shortages dropped noticeably and the checklists were laminated for each operatory.

Radiography Competency Portfolio. Documented all 160 supervised radiographs with technique notes and self-assessment against the program rubric. The portfolio supported early competency sign-off and is used as a study reference by the following cohort.

Sterilization Log Redesign. Reorganized the instrument processing log to record cycle, load contents, and spore test result on one line rather than three separate records. The externship site adopted it permanently for audit readiness.

Extra-Curricular Activities

Volunteer at a Give Kids A Smile event, assisting on preventive care for about 60 children in a single day.
Student member of the American Dental Assistants Association, attending the state meeting in 2025.
Assistant coach for a youth soccer team of 14 players across a 10-week season.

Leadership

Elected class representative for a dental assisting cohort of 24, coordinating between students and program faculty.
Tutored 6 classmates in radiography technique, all 6 of whom passed the component exam on first attempt.
Trained 2 part-time office staff on operatory preparation and the tray setup checklist during the assisting program.

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Registered Dental Assistant Resume Example

Meet Adaora Ilesanmi, a registered dental assistant licensed to perform expanded functions her unregistered colleagues cannot. This example demonstrates how to foreground state registration and expanded duties, which is the whole point of the credential.

Adaora Ilesanmi

(916) 555-0158 ◇ Roseville, CA

adaora.ilesanmi@example.com ◇ linkedin.com/in/adaora-ilesanmi ◇ adaorailesanmi.com

Objective

Registered Dental Assistant licensed in California with 8 years chairside, performing expanded functions that unregistered assistants cannot. Places and finishes about 45 restorations a month under supervision, applies sealants and fluoride, and takes final impressions for 30 crown cases a month. The registration is the point of the role, and it frees roughly 6 hours of dentist chair time each week.

Education

A.S. in Dental Assisting, Sacramento Bend Community College 2015 – 2017

CODA-accredited program; coursework in Expanded Functions, Radiography, Dental Materials, and Oral Anatomy.

Registered Dental Assistant, Dental Board of California 2017

License current; holds Certified Dental Assistant credentials, coronal polishing, sealants, and pit and fissure certifications.

Skills

Expanded Functions

Restoration placement and finishing, coronal polishing, sealants, fluoride application, final impressions, cord packing

Chairside Assisting

Four-handed dentistry, crown and bridge, endodontics, surgical assisting, temporary fabrication

Clinical Compliance

Sterilization protocols, California Dental Board regulations, OSHA and HIPAA, scope of practice documentation

Tools & Systems

Dentrix, Eaglesoft, Dexis and Schick sensors, CEREC and iTero scanners, curing lights, digital radiography

Experience

Registered Dental Assistant 06/2020 – Present

Placer Ridge Dental Care Roseville, CA

Perform expanded functions for 4 dentists, placing and finishing about 45 restorations a month under supervision.
Take final impressions and fabricate temporaries for roughly 30 crown cases a month, freeing about 6 hours of dentist chair time a week.
Deliver preventive services to about 70 patients a month including sealants, fluoride, and coronal polishing.

Registered Dental Assistant 09/2017 – 05/2020

American River Family Dentistry Citrus Heights, CA

Assisted 2 dentists chairside through about 28 patients a day while performing expanded functions on 20 cases a week.
Reduced crown remake rate from 8% to 2% by tightening final impression technique and cord packing on posterior cases.
Maintained the sterilization program for 6 operatories, passing 3 Dental Board inspections with no deficiencies.

Dental Assistant 07/2016 – 08/2017

Folsom Line Dental Clinic Folsom, CA

Assisted chairside on about 22 patients a day while completing the expanded functions coursework in the evenings.
Took roughly 50 radiographs a week with a retake rate under 3% during the first year of practice.
Reorganized the instrument inventory across 4 operatories, cutting the time to locate a specialty instrument to under a minute.

Projects

Crown Remake Reduction. Reviewed a year of remade crowns to trace most of them to moisture control and cord packing on posterior cases, then changed technique accordingly. The remake rate fell from 8% to 2%, saving both laboratory cost and patient appointments.

Expanded Function Scheduling. Worked with the front office to block expanded function appointments so restorative finishing does not compete with the dentist's diagnostic time. About 6 hours of dentist chair time a week was freed for higher-value procedures.

Preventive Program Delivery. Took ownership of the practice's sealant and fluoride program, including recall follow-up for eligible pediatric patients. Monthly preventive service volume rose from about 40 to 70 patients.

Extra-Curricular Activities

Volunteer at 2 California Dental Association free care events a year, assisting on roughly 50 patients per event.
Member of the California Dental Assistants Association, completing 25 continuing education hours annually.
Mentor 3 dental assisting students a year through a community college externship partnership.

Leadership

Serve as clinical trainer for the practice, taking 7 assistants from first day to independent chairside since 2020.
Coach 3 assistants through the registered dental assistant examination, all 3 of whom passed on first attempt.
Own the practice's sterilization and Dental Board compliance program across 8 operatories and 11 clinical staff.

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Lead Dental Assistant Resume Example

Meet Gabriel Marchetti, a lead dental assistant supervising an assisting team while still working chairside. This example shows the supervisory layer honestly: scheduling, training, inventory, and compliance ownership on top of full clinical duties.

Gabriel Marchetti

(414) 555-0166 ◇ Waukesha, WI

gabriel.marchetti@example.com ◇ linkedin.com/in/gabriel-marchetti ◇ gabrielmarchetti.com

Objective

Lead Dental Assistant supervising a team of 7 while working chairside 4 days a week at a 10-operatory practice. Cut assistant turnover from 70% to 22%, took the practice through 3 inspections with no deficiencies, and reduced clinical supply spend by $38,000 a year. Still assists on about 20 patients a day, because a lead who has left the chair stops being useful to the team.

Education

A.A.S. in Dental Assisting, Kettle Ridge Technical College 2013 – 2015

CODA-accredited; coursework in Chairside Assisting, Radiography, Practice Management, and Dental Materials.

Certified Dental Assistant, Dental Assisting National Board 2015

Holds Wisconsin radiography certification, coronal polishing, and current CPR and infection control credentials.

Skills

Team Leadership

Assistant scheduling, training and onboarding, performance feedback, coverage planning, conflict resolution

Chairside Assisting

Four-handed dentistry, restorative and surgical procedures, implant assisting, endodontics, impressions

Clinical Operations

Sterilization program ownership, inventory and purchasing, equipment maintenance, OSHA and HIPAA compliance

Tools & Systems

Dentrix, Open Dental, Dexis sensors, CBCT, Midmark autoclaves, Weave, Microsoft Excel, Kronos scheduling

Experience

Lead Dental Assistant 01/2021 – Present

Fox River Bend Dental Waukesha, WI

Supervise 7 assistants across 10 operatories and 5 dentists, while assisting chairside on about 20 patients a day.
Cut assistant turnover from 70% to 22% over three years by rebuilding onboarding and publishing schedules 3 weeks ahead.
Reduced clinical supply spend by $38,000 a year by consolidating to 3 vendors and setting par levels from actual usage.

Dental Assistant 08/2017 – 12/2020

Pewaukee Line Dental Group Pewaukee, WI

Assisted 3 dentists chairside through about 30 patients a day, including 12 implant placements a month.
Took ownership of the sterilization program for 7 operatories, passing 2 state inspections with no deficiencies.
Trained 6 new assistants on chairside procedure and practice protocols during a period of rapid practice growth.

Dental Assistant 07/2015 – 07/2017

Menomonee Grove Family Dentistry Brookfield, WI

Supported 2 dentists through about 24 patients a day in general and restorative practice.
Took roughly 55 radiographs a week and maintained the digital imaging library for about 3,000 active patients.
Rebuilt the equipment maintenance schedule for 12 devices, ending the unplanned downtime that had cancelled 9 appointments the prior year.

Projects

Assistant Retention Program. Rebuilt onboarding into a structured 4-week path and moved schedule publication from 4 days to 3 weeks ahead. Turnover fell from 70% to 22%, which in dental assisting is the difference between a functioning team and constant retraining.

Supply and Par Level Reset. Tracked clinical consumption across 140 items, consolidated to 3 vendors, and set par levels from real usage. Annual supply spend dropped $38,000 with no stockouts and no expired material write-offs.

Equipment Maintenance Schedule. Built a preventive maintenance calendar for 12 clinical devices after 9 appointments were cancelled by unplanned failures in a year. Equipment-caused cancellations dropped to zero across the following two years.

Extra-Curricular Activities

Volunteer at a Mission of Mercy free clinic weekend each year, assisting on roughly 70 patients over 2 days.
Member of the American Dental Assistants Association, serving on the state chapter education committee since 2022.
Coach a youth hockey team of 16 players two evenings a week across a 20-week season.

Leadership

Lead an assisting team of 7, owning scheduling, training, performance conversations, and daily coverage decisions.
Serve as the practice's OSHA and infection control coordinator, delivering annual training to 22 clinical and administrative staff.
Trained 13 assistants across 2 practices since 2017, of whom 3 have moved into lead roles of their own.

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Pediatric Dental Assistant Resume Example

Meet Lourdes Cabrera, a pediatric dental assistant whose work is as much behavior guidance as clinical assisting. This example highlights the skills specific to treating children: distraction technique, parent communication, and preventive program delivery.

Lourdes Cabrera

(210) 555-0139 ◇ San Antonio, TX

lourdes.cabrera@example.com ◇ linkedin.com/in/lourdes-cabrera ◇ lourdescabrera.com

Objective

Pediatric Dental Assistant with 7 years chairside, where behavior guidance matters as much as instrument transfer. Assists on about 38 pediatric patients a day, cut appointments abandoned to patient distress from 14 a month to 3, and runs a preventive program reaching 250 children a month. Bilingual in English and Spanish, which for many families decides whether the visit works at all.

Education

Dental Assisting Certificate, Alamo Heights Career Institute 2017 – 2018

CODA-accredited; coursework in Chairside Assisting, Radiography, Pediatric Dentistry, and Dental Materials.

Certified Dental Assistant, Dental Assisting National Board 2018

Holds Texas radiography certification, sealant certification, and current pediatric advanced life support credentials.

Skills

Pediatric Care

Behavior guidance, tell-show-do technique, distraction, nitrous oxide monitoring, special needs accommodation

Chairside Assisting

Restorations, stainless steel crowns, pulpotomies, extractions, space maintainers, sealants and fluoride

Family Communication

Parent education, bilingual Spanish and English, home care coaching, consent discussion support, recall follow-up

Tools & Systems

Dentrix, Curve Dental, Dexis sensors, panoramic imaging, papoose and stabilization protocols, Midmark autoclaves

Experience

Pediatric Dental Assistant 05/2020 – Present

Mission Trail Pediatric Dentistry San Antonio, TX

Assist 3 pediatric dentists on about 38 patients a day, from first visits at age 1 through adolescent restorative care.
Reduced appointments abandoned to patient distress from 14 a month to 3 by introducing a structured tell-show-do routine before every procedure.
Deliver the preventive program to roughly 250 children a month, covering sealants, fluoride varnish, and home care coaching.

Dental Assistant 08/2018 – 04/2020

Medina Ridge Children's Dental San Antonio, TX

Supported 2 dentists through about 30 pediatric patients a day, including 25 stainless steel crowns and pulpotomies a month.
Took roughly 45 radiographs a week on children aged 3 to 16, holding a retake rate under 4% on a notoriously difficult population.
Interpreted Spanish for about 40% of the patient families, supporting consent and home care conversations daily.

Dental Assisting Extern and Assistant 04/2018 – 07/2018

Bexar Line Community Dental San Antonio, TX

Completed 300 externship hours and stayed on part time, assisting on roughly 180 patient visits.
Supported a school-based sealant program that treated 320 children across 8 campus visits.
Processed instruments for a 6-operatory clinic, logging 120 sterilization cycles with no failed spore tests.

Projects

Behavior Guidance Routine. Introduced a consistent tell-show-do sequence with an age-matched script and a distraction toolkit for each operatory. Appointments abandoned to patient distress fell from 14 a month to 3, and 2 sedation referrals a month were avoided.

Bilingual Home Care Materials. Rewrote the practice's home care instructions in plain Spanish and English after noticing parents nodding without understanding. Follow-up visits showing improved hygiene rose noticeably among Spanish-speaking families.

School Sealant Program. Supported a school-based preventive program across 8 campus visits reaching 320 children who mostly lacked a regular dentist. The program identified 40 children needing urgent restorative care and routed them into the clinic.

Extra-Curricular Activities

Volunteer at Give Kids A Smile events twice a year, assisting on roughly 80 children per event.
Member of the American Dental Assistants Association, completing 22 continuing education hours a year.
Teach oral health sessions at 4 elementary schools annually, reaching about 400 students.

Leadership

Train every new assistant at the practice in pediatric behavior guidance, taking 6 people to independent chairside since 2020.
Own the practice's preventive program, coordinating recall for about 250 children a month with the front office.
Serve as the practice's bilingual point of contact, supporting consent and treatment conversations for about 40% of families.

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Beginner Dental Assistant Resume Example

Meet Jonah Wexler, a beginner dental assistant moving into the field from customer service with on-the-job training underway. This example shows how to build a credible resume in the first months of a career change, before certifications are complete.

Jonah Wexler

(614) 555-0114 ◇ Westerville, OH

jonah.wexler@example.com ◇ linkedin.com/in/jonah-wexler ◇ jonahwexler.com

Objective

Beginner dental assistant 8 months into on-the-job training after moving from customer service. Prepares and turns over about 22 operatories a day, assists chairside on roughly 15 patients, and has completed the Ohio radiography course with the state exam scheduled. Brings 4 years of handling anxious customers, which turns out to transfer directly to a dental chair.

Education

Dental Radiographer Course, Ohio State Dental Board Approved Program 2025

Completed the required coursework and clinical hours; state radiography examination scheduled for early 2026.

Diploma, Alum Creek High School 2017 – 2021

Health sciences pathway; currently enrolled part time in a dental assisting certificate program, expected 2026.

Skills

Clinical Support

Operatory setup and turnover, instrument transfer, suction, patient seating, chairside observation

Infection Control

Instrument processing, autoclave operation, surface disinfection, personal protective equipment, waste handling

Patient Interaction

Anxious patient reassurance, appointment confirmation, clear explanation of next steps, confidentiality

Tools & Systems

Dentrix, Midmark autoclaves, digital sensors, ultrasonic cleaners, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace

Experience

Dental Assistant, In Training 03/2025 – Present

Hoover Reach Dental Care Westerville, OH

Prepare and turn over about 22 operatories a day and assist chairside on roughly 15 patients across restorative and hygiene appointments.
Process instruments for a 5-operatory practice, logging about 60 sterilization cycles a month with no failed spore tests.
Reduced the practice's setup errors by building a photo reference for the 8 most common tray configurations.

Customer Service Representative 06/2021 – 02/2025

Scioto Line Veterinary Hospital Columbus, OH

Handled reception, scheduling, and client communication for a practice seeing about 70 animals a day across 4 veterinarians.
Calmed and supported roughly 15 distressed clients a week during emergency visits, a skill that transfers directly to dental anxiety.
Maintained a client satisfaction score of 4.8 out of 5 across 3 annual surveys covering about 900 responses.

Retail Sales Associate 07/2020 – 05/2021

Polaris Bend Sporting Goods Columbus, OH

Served about 80 customers a day across register and sales floor while completing high school coursework.
Closed the register within $2 on 96% of shifts across 11 months of daily reconciliation.
Trained 3 seasonal associates on the point of sale system during a holiday hiring wave.

Projects

Tray Setup Photo Reference. Photographed the correct configuration for the 8 most common procedure trays and posted the reference in the sterilization area. Setup errors dropped noticeably, and the practice now issues the reference to every new assistant.

Anxious Patient Approach. Adapted the reassurance techniques used with distressed veterinary clients to dental patients, focusing on explaining what happens next before it happens. The lead assistant asked for it to be shared with the rest of the team.

Radiography Coursework. Completed the Ohio Dental Board approved radiographer course alongside full-time work, including the required clinical hours. The state examination is scheduled, and a dental assisting certificate program is underway part time.

Extra-Curricular Activities

Volunteer at a Columbus animal shelter one weekend a month, handling intake for about 25 animals per session.
Enrolled in a dental assisting certificate program part time, expected to complete in 2026.
Play in a recreational adult soccer league across 2 seasons a year, serving as team organizer for 16 players.

Leadership

Proposed and built the tray setup photo reference now issued to every new assistant at the practice.
Trained 3 seasonal retail associates on the point of sale system and the closing count procedure.
Organize a recreational soccer team of 16 players, handling registration, scheduling, and field bookings each season.

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Orthodontic Dental Assistant Resume Example

Meet Simona Petrescu, an orthodontic dental assistant specializing in bonding, archwires, aligners, and long treatment relationships. This example demonstrates the distinct procedure set and the patient-retention side of a practice where treatment lasts years.

Simona Petrescu

(480) 555-0184 ◇ Chandler, AZ

simona.petrescu@example.com ◇ linkedin.com/in/simona-petrescu ◇ simonapetrescu.com

Objective

Orthodontic Dental Assistant with 9 years in specialty practice, handling bonding, archwire changes, and aligner workflows. Assists on about 55 patients a day, cut chair time per adjustment from 18 minutes to 11, and holds a bracket failure rate of 3.1% against a practice benchmark of 8%. Orthodontic treatment runs for years, so the relationship matters as much as the procedure.

Education

Dental Assisting Certificate, Sonoran Line Career College 2015 – 2016

CODA-accredited; coursework in Chairside Assisting, Radiography, Orthodontic Procedures, and Dental Materials.

Certified Orthodontic Assistant, Dental Assisting National Board 2018

Also holds Certified Dental Assistant credentials, Arizona radiography certification, and Invisalign assistant training.

Skills

Orthodontic Procedures

Bracket bonding and debonding, archwire placement and removal, elastics, separators, retainer delivery

Digital Workflows

Intraoral scanning, aligner tracking and attachments, progress photography, cephalometric and panoramic imaging

Patient Management

Long-course treatment relationships, compliance coaching, oral hygiene instruction, parent communication, emergencies

Tools & Systems

Dolphin Imaging, Ortho2, iTero scanners, Invisalign ClinCheck, digital radiography, Midmark autoclaves

Experience

Lead Orthodontic Assistant 02/2020 – Present

Ocotillo Ridge Orthodontics Chandler, AZ

Assist 2 orthodontists on about 55 patients a day across bonding, adjustments, aligner checks, and debonding appointments.
Cut chair time per adjustment from 18 minutes to 11 by pre-staging archwires and elastics by patient before each session.
Hold a bracket failure rate of 3.1% against a practice benchmark of 8%, across roughly 90 bonding cases a year.

Orthodontic Assistant 09/2016 – 01/2020

Gila Bend Family Orthodontics Mesa, AZ

Assisted on about 45 patients a day, taking 30 intraoral scans a week for aligner and retainer fabrication.
Reduced aligner tracking problems by 41% by coaching patients on wear time at every visit and flagging non-compliance early.
Managed the records workflow for 700 active treatment cases, including progress photography and imaging at each phase.

Dental Assistant 07/2016 – 08/2016

Superstition Line General Dentistry Apache Junction, AZ

Assisted chairside on about 20 general dentistry patients a day during a 2-month placement after certification.
Took roughly 40 radiographs a week and processed instruments for a 4-operatory practice.
Shadowed 3 orthodontic appointments during the placement, then moved into specialty practice within 2 months of certification.

Projects

Adjustment Chair Time Reduction. Introduced pre-staging of archwires, elastics, and instruments by patient before each adjustment session rather than during it. Chair time per adjustment fell from 18 minutes to 11, adding roughly 12 appointment slots a week.

Bracket Failure Investigation. Reviewed a year of bond failures to trace most of them to isolation and etch timing rather than patient behavior, then standardized the bonding sequence. The failure rate fell from 8% to 3.1%, removing about 60 emergency repair visits a year.

Aligner Compliance Coaching. Built a short wear-time conversation into every aligner appointment, with visible tracking against the treatment plan. Tracking problems fell 41%, which shortened average treatment time and reduced mid-course refinements.

Extra-Curricular Activities

Volunteer at a Smiles Change Lives screening day each year, supporting evaluations for about 45 candidate patients.
Member of the American Association of Orthodontists staff community, attending the annual meeting since 2021.
Teach oral hygiene sessions at 3 local middle schools annually, reaching about 300 students.

Leadership

Lead an orthodontic assisting team of 5, owning scheduling, training, and the daily patient flow across 8 chairs.
Trained 8 assistants in orthodontic procedures since 2020, including 4 with no prior specialty experience.
Standardized the bonding sequence across the practice, which is what took the bracket failure rate from 8% to 3.1%.

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