Top 12 Registered Dental Assistant Skills to Put on Your Resume
Dental assisting moves fast, and hiring managers skim even faster. The right mix of skills on your resume can tilt the odds your way—showing you’re safe, efficient, and ready to support great patient care from the first day.
Registered Dental Assistant Skills
- Radiography
- Sterilization
- Charting
- Scheduling
- Patient Care
- Infection Control
- Dental Software (e.g., Dentrix)
- X-Ray (Digital)
- Impressions
- Sealants
- Fluoride Treatments
- Equipment Maintenance
1. Radiography
Radiography is the production and use of dental X‑ray images to visualize teeth and surrounding structures for diagnosis, treatment planning, and follow-up.
Why It's Important
It reveals decay, bone loss, pathology, and anatomical details you can’t see clinically, supporting accurate decisions while tracking progress over time.
How to Improve Radiography Skills
Keep exposure low: Apply ALARA principles with proper shielding, collimation, and exposure settings tailored to the patient.
Nail positioning: Use stable holders, align the beam precisely, and minimize retakes with consistent techniques.
Use digital wisely: Leverage sensor positioning aids, adjust contrast/brightness judiciously, and standardize image presets.
Maintain equipment: Follow routine calibration and quality assurance checks; document outcomes and address variances quickly.
Stay compliant: Know state-specific RDA radiography permissions, training needs, and renewal requirements.
How to Display Radiography Skills on Your Resume
2. Sterilization
Sterilization removes all microbial life from instruments and devices—bacteria, viruses, fungi, spores—using validated processes like autoclaving to protect patients and staff.
Why It's Important
It breaks the chain of infection. No shortcuts. No guesswork. Just reliable safety every single day.
How to Improve Sterilization Skills
Clean before you sterilize: Thorough pre‑cleaning and ultrasonic/washer-disinfector use drive reliable sterilization outcomes.
Load and run correctly: Follow manufacturer instructions for packaging, load configuration, cycle selection, and dry times.
Monitor consistently: Track mechanical indicators each cycle; use chemical indicators with every pack; run weekly biological spore tests.
Store for sterility: Cool and dry packs before storage; protect from moisture and overhandling; rotate stock first-in, first-out.
Record everything: Maintain logs for cycles, test results, maintenance, and corrective actions for audits and accountability.
How to Display Sterilization Skills on Your Resume
3. Charting
Charting captures the patient’s dental conditions, procedures, findings, and instructions in a clear, standardized record—paper or digital.
Why It's Important
Accurate charts power clinical decisions, insurance clarity, handoffs, and legal protection. Sloppy notes cost time and trust.
How to Improve Charting Skills
Use consistent terminology: Apply standard dental terms, tooth numbering, surfaces, and chart symbols uniformly.
Master your software: Learn templates, shortcuts, and clinical notation tools to chart fast and precisely.
Chart in real time: Document during or immediately after care to avoid gaps and misremembered details.
Protect privacy: Follow HIPAA requirements; limit access appropriately; log out every time.
Audit yourself: Review charts for completeness and consistency; correct errors promptly with proper amendments.
How to Display Charting Skills on Your Resume
4. Scheduling
Scheduling orchestrates patient appointments, provider time, room flow, and turnaround so the day runs smooth and productive.
Why It's Important
Good scheduling reduces wait times, balances production with care, and leaves space for emergencies without chaos.
How to Improve Scheduling Skills
Template the day: Block procedures by length and complexity; reserve same‑day slots for urgent needs.
Confirm smartly: Use multi‑channel reminders and clear prep instructions to cut no‑shows.
Prioritize room turns: Build in sterilization and setup time; avoid bottlenecks with staggered starts.
Track metrics: Monitor no‑show rates, chair utilization, treatment acceptance, and on‑time starts; adjust weekly.
Communicate changes: Flag delays early, offer options, and keep the team aligned minute by minute.
How to Display Scheduling Skills on Your Resume
5. Patient Care
Patient care spans chairside assistance, comfort measures, instrument preparation, post‑op guidance, and calm communication from check‑in to goodbye.
Why It's Important
People remember how you made them feel. Comfort builds trust, trust fuels adherence, and adherence improves outcomes.
How to Improve Patient Care Skills
Reduce anxiety: Explain steps, offer distractions, check in often, and adjust pace to the patient.
Be clinically ready: Anticipate instruments and materials; maintain impeccable asepsis; assist efficiently.
Educate simply: Use plain language, visuals, and brief take‑home instructions customized to risk and age.
Close the loop: Confirm understanding, schedule follow‑ups, and document home‑care guidance clearly.
Learn continuously: Refresh skills with CE and team drills; debrief tough cases to improve the next one.
How to Display Patient Care Skills on Your Resume
6. Infection Control
Infection control is the system of policies and practices—hand hygiene, PPE, surface disinfection, sterilization, and waterline safety—that prevents disease transmission in the dental setting.
Why It's Important
It protects patients, clinicians, and the community. It’s also required by law and regulations—no wiggle room.
How to Improve Infection Control Skills
Hand hygiene first: Perform at key moments and between glove changes; use proper technique every time.
Right PPE, right fit: Masks, eye protection, gloves, and gowns selected for the task; follow OSHA requirements.
Disinfect surfaces: Use EPA‑registered products with correct contact times; wipe high‑touch zones relentlessly.
Safeguard DUWLs: Treat and monitor dental unit waterlines; document results and corrective steps.
Sharps and injections: Apply aseptic technique and safe disposal protocols; never recap by hand.
Train and audit: Conduct annual training, spot checks, and mock drills; fix gaps quickly.
How to Display Infection Control Skills on Your Resume
7. Dental Software (e.g., Dentrix)
Dental software manages scheduling, billing, imaging, charting, and communications—pulling the practice together in one place.
Why It's Important
Proficiency speeds up check‑in, improves data accuracy, reduces claim denials, and keeps clinical notes tight and searchable.
How to Improve Dental Software (e.g., Dentrix) Skills
Level up your workflows: Learn templates, macros, and clinical note shortcuts; customize dashboards for your role.
Integrate imaging: Link X‑rays, photos, and charting so everything opens fast and in the right context.
Protect data: Follow HIPAA, strong passwords, role‑based access, and secure messaging habits.
Use reports: Pull treatment acceptance, recall, and aging reports; act on them weekly.
Train new features: After updates, review release notes and practice with a sandbox or test patient.
How to Display Dental Software (e.g., Dentrix) Skills on Your Resume
8. X-Ray (Digital)
Digital X‑rays use sensors instead of film, delivering instant images with lower radiation and powerful tools for enhancement and sharing.
Why It's Important
Faster images, fewer retakes, clearer diagnostics. Patients appreciate less exposure and quicker visits.
How to Improve X-Ray (Digital) Skills
Position perfectly: Align sensor, beam, and anatomy; use positioning devices that fit the mouth comfortably.
Dial in exposure: Adjust kVp, mA, and time for patient size and region; standardize presets for consistency.
Handle sensors gently: Protect cables, use barriers properly, and clean per manufacturer guidance.
Refine images: Apply enhancement tools lightly; avoid overprocessing that hides artifacts or pathology.
Document protocols: Create quick guides for periapical, bitewing, and panoramic sequences to reduce variability.
How to Display X-Ray (Digital) Skills on Your Resume
9. Impressions
Dental impressions capture detailed molds of teeth and soft tissues for diagnostic casts, trays, appliances, and more.
Why It's Important
Accurate impressions save remakes, chair time, and frustration—leading to better-fitting restorations and appliances.
How to Improve Impressions Skills
Choose correctly: Select tray size and impression material suited to the indication and anatomy.
Mix and time: Follow working and setting times precisely; watch temperature effects on set.
Seat with confidence: Use adhesive when indicated, center the tray, and maintain steady pressure without rocking.
Capture margins: Retract soft tissue where needed; ensure full coverage of critical landmarks.
Disinfect and store: Rinse, disinfect per protocol, and protect from distortion before pouring or shipping.
How to Display Impressions Skills on Your Resume
10. Sealants
Sealants are resin coatings placed in pits and fissures—usually molars—to block bacteria and food, cutting caries risk dramatically. Application by an RDA varies by state regulations and supervision requirements.
Why It's Important
Prevention wins. Sealants protect vulnerable grooves where brushes can’t reach well, especially in kids and high‑risk adults.
How to Improve Sealants Skills
Isolate like a pro: Keep the field dry with cotton rolls or rubber dam; moisture is the enemy of adhesion.
Prep the surface: Clean, etch, rinse, and dry thoroughly; verify frosty enamel before placing.
Flow and cure: Use just enough material to fill fissures without pooling; cure fully per manufacturer directions.
Check and adjust: Evaluate coverage and occlusion; add or smooth as needed; document tooth numbers and materials.
Recall checks: Reassess sealant integrity at subsequent visits and repair when indicated.
How to Display Sealants Skills on Your Resume
11. Fluoride Treatments
Topical fluoride—varnish, gel, or foam—strengthens enamel and reduces demineralization, lowering caries risk.
Why It's Important
It’s quick, inexpensive, and effective across ages, especially for patients with high caries risk, exposed roots, or orthodontic appliances.
How to Improve Fluoride Treatments Skills
Risk-based care: Apply fluoride according to individual caries risk and age; tailor frequency and type.
Prep the surface: Dry teeth when required; follow product‑specific instructions to the letter.
Educate clearly: Give simple post‑op guidance (e.g., wait times before eating/brushing for varnish).
Track outcomes: Note applications, brand, concentration, and sites; reassess caries activity over time.
Coordinate benefits: Confirm coverage and code correctly to reduce denials and delays.
How to Display Fluoride Treatments Skills on Your Resume
12. Equipment Maintenance
Equipment maintenance includes routine checks, cleaning, servicing, and repairs that keep dental devices safe, accurate, and ready.
Why It's Important
Reliable equipment prevents breakdowns, protects patients, and keeps the schedule on track. Downtime is expensive.
How to Improve Equipment Maintenance Skills
Follow set schedules: Create and adhere to maintenance calendars for sterilizers, compressors, suction, sensors, and handpieces.
Clean daily: Perform end‑of‑day cleaning and flushing protocols; replace filters and traps as required.
Document thoroughly: Log service dates, part replacements, test results, and vendor visits for each device.
Train the team: Standardize procedures with checklists; cross‑train staff to cover critical tasks.
Stay compliant: Align with OSHA and manufacturer instructions; keep manuals accessible.
How to Display Equipment Maintenance Skills on Your Resume
