Best Oral Surgery Assistant Resume Examples for 2025 (Template & Guide)

Use This Example

Oral Surgery Assistant Resume: Choose a Format

Choosing a format for your oral surgery assistant resume is the first step in making a solid first impression. The right format should emphasize your strengths while listing your most relevant skills and qualifications.

There are three formats for an oral surgery assistant resume: chronological, functional or combination. Each format has potential benefits and drawbacks, so let’s look closer!

Chronological resumes for oral surgery assistants

A chronological resume format lists your work experience in reverse chronological order. It’s a great choice if you have consistent experience as an oral surgery assistant and want to showcase your professional growth.

This format highlights your career progression and shows employers you’re prepared for the job. Chronological resumes are also compatible with applicant tracking systems (ATS), increasing your chances of getting your resume past initial screening.

However, because of the emphasis on your work history, a chronological resume may not be the best option if you have gaps in your work history or are new to the field.

Use This Example

Functional resumes for oral surgery assistants

A functional resume format emphasizes your skills and qualifications instead of your work history, making it ideal for those who may not have direct experience as an oral surgery assistant but have transferable skills.

A functional format highlights your abilities in patient care, sterilization, and surgical assistance without emphasizing where or when you obtained them. However, functional resumes are incompatible with ATS and can sometimes raise concerns with hiring managers because they don’t offer a clear timeline of your work history.

Combination resumes for oral surgery assistants

A combination resume merges features of chronological and functional formats. You can use this format to showcase your skills and work history equally. It’s a flexible option that works well if you have a range of skills and some experience as an oral surgery assistant.

The benefit of a combination resume is that it allows you to emphasize your most relevant skills first while providing a clear work history. However, this format can be tricky to organize, making your resume longer than ideal. When using this format, focus on the most relevant information.

Use This Example

Choosing a resume format

Choosing the right format for your oral surgery assistant resume can set you apart from other candidates. When in doubt, a chronological resume is always a safe bet. It is familiar to employers and is ATS-friendly, which will help you pass through the initial screening process.

A chronological resume can work well even if you’re new to the field. You can customize your resume to emphasize your transferable skills from other jobs. For example, you can emphasize skills like communication, attention to detail and empathy, which are crucial to patient care. Then, highlight any degrees, internships, certifications or volunteer work that provided you with experience in a dental or medical environment.

Focus on the skills and duties most relevant to the job you’re applying for. Read the job description carefully, and consider how your previous education and experience have prepared you for the role.

Use This Example

How to Write an Oral Surgery Assistant Resume

Writing an oral surgery assistant resume may feel overwhelming, but this step-by-step resume-writing guide will help you craft a resume that gets noticed. From contact information to work history, we’ll show you how to structure your resume so it’s clear and professional. Start by creating a resume outline with the following sections:

• Contact Information
• Summary or Objective
• Work History
• Skills
• Education

Once these essential elements are covered, we’ll show you some optional sections that can take your resume to the next level!

Contact information

Start with the basics! The contact information section of your oral surgery assistant resume should be simple and easy to find. Include your full name, city and state, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile (if you have one). Double-check for errors and use a professional email address, avoiding nicknames or outdated domains.

Here’s how to format your contact information:

Mike Schulz

Seattle, WA
(555) 555-1234
m.schultz@email.com
linkedin.com/in/mike-schulz

Use This Example

Summary or objective

Next, you will write a brief introduction at the top of your resume to grab the reader’s attention. Provide a quick look at your qualifications with either a resume summary or an objective statement. This introduction should be concise, two or three sentences at most.

A resume summary is best if you have a few years of experience as an oral surgery assistant. It provides a brief overview of your career accomplishments and skills.

A well-written resume summary for an oral surgery assistant might look like this:

Experienced oral surgery assistant with over five years in fast-paced dental offices. Skilled in assisting during complex procedures, maintaining sterilization protocols, and providing compassionate patient care. Proven history of providing excellent surgical support and patient management.

On the other hand, a resume objective is ideal for those new to the role because it focuses on your career goals, transferable skills, and passion for the job.

For example, an objective statement for an oral surgery assistant might look like this:

Dedicated healthcare professional with a strong background in compassionate patient care and dental assistance. Eager to apply my training in surgical procedures and patient management as an oral surgery assistant at a reputable clinic.

Whichever option you choose, remember to customize it to each job you’re applying for by including relevant keywords from the job description. Using keywords from the job description will make your resume stand out to ATS and hiring managers.

Use This Example

Work history

The work history section is your chance to highlight the value you’ve brought to previous employers. Start by listing your most recent position and work your way backward, including the job title, company name, location and dates of employment. For each entry, use bullet points to detail your key responsibilities and accomplishments.

To make this section stand out to employers, focus on providing measurable results and using action verbs. Instead of simply listing duties, explain how your contributions made a difference. For example, rather than saying you “assisted in surgeries,” specify how many procedures you assisted with and how your support improved efficiency or patient outcomes.

Quantifying your achievements will make your resume more impactful. Include metrics such as the number of surgeries you’ve assisted with or the percentage by which you improved sterilization times. Using numbers demonstrates your impact in previous roles.

Highlight any unique responsibilities you took on, especially those beyond typical expectations for the role. Include details about training new staff, managing complex patient cases, or streamlining office processes. Emphasizing these standout moments can help differentiate you from other candidates.

Here’s an example:

Oral Surgery Assistant
Smile Dental Clinic, Denver, CO
June 2020 – Present

• Assisted in over 200 oral surgeries, including extractions, implants, and corrective jaw surgery, improving procedural efficiency by 15%.
• Reduced sterilization setup time by 10% by implementing a new instrument preparation process.
• Managed patient records and scheduled follow-up appointments, streamlining the office’s scheduling system and reducing delays by 25%.

Use This Example

Skills

Including a dedicated skills section on your oral surgery assistant resume is crucial because it shows employers what you bring to the table. Include both hard and soft skills to demonstrate you are a well-rounded professional. Hard skills like sterilization techniques and radiography demonstrate your technical expertise. However, soft skills like communication and collaboration highlight how well you work with others.

To write an effective skills section, focus on the abilities most relevant to assisting in oral surgeries. To help you get started, here are the top skills for an oral surgery assistant resume:

Top 5 hard skills for oral surgery assistant resumes

1. Sterilization Techniques: Knowledge of proper sterilization procedures is critical to maintaining a safe and sterile environment in the operating room.
2. Surgical Assistance: A crucial part of the job is assisting oral surgeons during complex procedures by handling instruments, managing suction, and anticipating surgeon needs.
3. Radiography: Operating dental X-ray machines and preparing patients for radiographic imaging is essential for pre-surgical planning.
4. Patient Care: Oral surgery assistants must compassionately care for patients before, during and after surgery, including taking their vitals and monitoring their comfort levels.
5. Medical Record Management: Efficiently maintaining and updating patient medical records ensures that all patient documentation is accurate and accessible.

Use This Example

Top 5 soft skills for oral surgery assistant resumes

1. Communication: Communicating effectively with patients, surgeons, and other staff is essential for a smooth surgical process.
2. Attention to Detail: Precision is critical when handling instruments, preparing rooms, and following sterilization protocols.
3. Teamwork: Oral surgery assistants work closely with surgeons, anesthesiologists and other team members to ensure the smooth running of each procedure.
4. Empathy: Helping patients feel at ease, especially before and after surgery, requires a compassionate and understanding approach.
5. Adaptability: The ability to adjust to unexpected situations in the operating room or during patient care is crucial for this fast-paced surgical environment.

A skills section for an oral surgery assistant’s resume might look like this:

Skills

• Sterilization Techniques
• Surgical Assistance
• Patient Care
• Communication
• Teamwork

Use This Example

Education

Your educational background is an integral part of your oral surgery assistant resume. Most oral surgery assistants will have completed some formal education, whether it’s a dental assistant program or a similar certification.

When listing your education, include the degree or certification earned and the institution’s name and location. Including a graduation date is unnecessary and could introduce bias into the hiring process. However, you can include any relevant oral surgery or dental assistance coursework.

Here’s how to format an education section of an oral surgery assistant resume:

Education:

Associate of Applied Science in Dental Assisting
Seattle Community College, Seattle, WA

You can also include professional certifications in this section, but creating a separately labeled section may have more impact.

Use This Example

Additional sections

Adding additional sections to your resume can enhance your candidacy by showcasing unique qualifications that set you apart. If you have the page space, consider including optional sections like:

• Certifications: Highlight relevant certifications to validate your qualifications.
• Volunteer Work: Volunteering in dental clinics or healthcare settings can show your commitment to patient care.
• Languages: Fluency in another language can be an asset in diverse communities.
• Professional Affiliations: Memberships in dental or healthcare associations demonstrate your dedication to your profession.

Use This Example

Top certifications for oral surgery assistants

Certifications are a great way to demonstrate your qualifications and commitment to continuing education. They provide validation of your skills and make your resume more competitive.

1. Certified Dental Assistant (CDA): This certification confirms your expertise in dental assisting, including oral surgery support, and is recognized nationwide.
2. Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification: BLS training ensures you’re prepared to assist during medical emergencies, a must in surgical environments.
3. Radiology Certification: Proving that you’re certified to operate X-ray machines enhances your qualifications for oral surgery procedures.
4. Infection Control Certification: This certification demonstrates your understanding of infection control protocols, which is crucial for maintaining a sterile surgical environment.
5. CPR Certification: CPR certification is an asset in any medical field, ensuring you can assist in a patient emergency.

Use This Example

10 Tips for Writing an Oral Surgery Assistant Resume

1. Tailor your resume for each job: Every oral surgery office has its own needs, so it’s vital to customize your resume for each job you apply to. Pay close attention to the job description, and adjust your resume to focus on the skills and qualifications that the employer is seeking.
2. Highlight your certifications: Certifications can set you apart from other applicants, so don’t just list them — make them stand out. Whether a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) certification or Basic Life Support (BLS) training, these credentials show employers that you’re qualified and prepared for the job. If you’ve completed specialized training in radiology or infection control, include these, too, as they’re highly relevant to an oral surgery assistant role.
3. Use action verbs to convey energy: Your work history should feel dynamic and engaging, which you can achieve by using strong action verbs. Instead of simply listing tasks, describe how you actively contributed to your previous roles.
4. Quantify your achievements: Whenever possible, include numbers to give hiring managers a clearer picture of your accomplishments. Quantifying your achievements shows that you’re results-oriented and can deliver measurable benefits.
5. Focus on hard skills: Your technical abilities are crucial as an oral surgery assistant, so emphasize them in your resume. Highlight skills such as sterilization techniques, surgical assistance, radiology, and medical record management. These are the hard skills that oral surgeons and hiring managers are looking for. If you’ve completed any specialized training, mention that as well. It can make a big difference when applying for roles that require specific expertise.
6. Don’t forget soft skills: Soft skills are just as important in healthcare roles, especially when working directly with patients and a surgical team. Be sure to include soft skills like communication, empathy and teamwork.
7. Use a clean and professional layout: The layout of your resume matters just as much as the content. A clean, well-organized resume is easier to read and leaves a positive impression. Use bullet points to list your responsibilities and achievements, and keep the formatting consistent throughout. Ensure your headings are clear, and avoid cluttering your resume with too much information. A professional layout shows that you take the time to present yourself well, which is important for a detail-oriented role like an oral surgery assistant.
8. Don’t skip the resume summary or objective statement: Your introduction is your first chance to make an impression, so don’t overlook it. This section should briefly showcase your top skills and experience in a way that grabs the employer’s attention.
9. Emphasize your patient care experience: Interacting with patients is one of the most critical aspects of an oral surgery assistant role. Highlight your experience with patient care, especially in a surgical or healthcare setting.
10. Proofread carefully for errors: Spelling or grammar mistakes can make a poor impression, even if you’re highly qualified. Take the time to carefully proofread your resume before sending it out. Even a tiny error can suggest that you don’t pay attention to detail, a critical skill in healthcare. If possible, ask a friend or colleague to review your resume to catch any mistakes you might have missed.