Employment prospects are generally good. With the aging of the population, for example, oral health and related health problems are a growing problem, which means that there is a demand for oral health professionals. With experience, there are some opportunities to move to a dental practice management role. In this role, you will support the dentist and take responsibility for the functioning of the office.
A cover letter for a dental hygienist highlights your qualifications and experience. Make a direct reference to the job posting’s specifications. If you are a state-licensed and registered dental hygienist, for instance, make sure you mention it. Writing a cover letter should meet several criteria. In general, the principle of using formal language applies. However, it is advised to first look at their website to determine what tonality they use in the company.
You can read more about formatting a cover letter here. It covers anything and everything you want to know about writing a cover letter.
Free Templates and Examples
Dental Hygienist Skills to Include in the Cover Letter
To be effective, dental hygienists must possess a combination of soft and hard skills. Following are some of the skills that you need to include in your dental hygienist cover letter:
- Technical skills and medical teamwork: Completing initial dental tests is one of the technical skills needed to become dental hygiene professional. You will inspect the patients’ mouths first, and then the dentist will perform the required treatments.
- Infection control and knowledge of hygiene standards: Another vital skill is to know about infection control and different hygiene standards that should be maintained to carry out different treatments as tartar, plaque, and food particles are carefully removed from patients’ teeth by dental hygienists using instruments. They also clean behind the gum line to help avoid gum disease.
- An empathetic manner: When you work in a dental hygiene role, you will encounter people who are afraid to go to the dentist. When patients start weeping in the dental chair because they are afraid of dentists, you will have to comfort them, and for that, you need to be an empathetic person.
- Good communication and interpersonal skills: You will need to communicate with patients to handle them. You will need to collect patient information, talk to them about their oral hygiene practices and routines, and discuss what you’re doing during treatments. This job will be difficult for you if you have difficulty communicating or if you lack confidence. That is why great communication and interpersonal skills are necessary to explain treatments to patients calmly and reassuringly and guide them on how to take care and keep their teeth and gums healthy.
- Attention to details and accuracy: Another crucial skill for dental hygienists is attention to detail. You will need to pay close attention to what you and the dentist are doing to complete treatments. You must be able to concentrate on minor aspects of the patient’s teeth or gums.
- Observation spirit: Each patient has unique problems. With each patient, you will face different problems, and you will need to be a good observation spirit to deal with them. For example, if you have frightened patients, you’ll need to find out how to calm them down while still getting their treatments completed.
- Recordkeeping: It would be best to have recordkeeping and good written communication skills to complete and maintain safe patient records to pursue a dental hygienist career.
- Computer literacy: Employers require candidates to have at least some basic computer skills for the majority of jobs. When you are applying for work, regardless of the role, emphasize your most computer skills.
Dental Hygienist Cover Letter Sample
Dear XYZ,
I am writing to express my interest in working as a dental hygienist advertised on your website. I believe that my credentials and professional experience qualify me for this role. I am passionate about providing patients with high-quality care and educating them on the best dental practices.
I was fortunate to work as an ABC lab assistant after receiving my Dental Assistant Certificate from XYZ University. There, I received outstanding training and was shaped into a fantastic dental professional. During my time at ABC labs, I was able to learn the following skills:
-X-ray preparation and growth, as well as equipment preparation and sterilization
-Creating research casts from impressions of patients’ teeth
-Instilling in patients the importance of good oral hygiene.
-Identifying and responding to emergencies following the procedure
Working with ABC will be mutually beneficial, as I am looking for a challenging work atmosphere where I can further develop my skills. I eagerly await your response and would welcome the opportunity to elaborate on my history in an interview.
In the attached resume, you will find a brief description of my work experience. Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Sincerely,
XYZ
Final Thoughts
A career as a dental hygienist is right for you if you have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, a high manual dexterity level, and wish to work in a clinical and health promotion role and present them properly to employers you need a proper cover letter. As a dental hygienist, you will play an essential role in the dental health team. By working closely with patients, you will educate them about tooth care, provide treatments to prevent oral problems, and offer oral hygiene and diet advice.
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