Giving your CV a thorough clean-up will help you attract the attention of employers and set you apart. A well-designed dental hygienist CV should reflect both your clinical expertise and your commitment to patient care. 

Discover CV help and tips, including dental hygienist job requirements, salary expectations, day-to-day responsibilities, key skills, and tailored advice on writing a compelling CV – from choosing the right format to crafting a personal statement that shines.

Keep reading for:

  • Sample hygienist CV
  • Dental hygienist CV templates
  • The best format for your hygienist CV
  • How to write an effective CV for a hygienist
  • Top dos and don’ts for hygienist CV writing
  • Your dental hygienist questions answered

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    Sample dental hygienist CV

    Dental Hygienist CV Example

    Dylan Cooke
    44 Ninth Street
    Glasgow G1 3GB
    dylan.cooke@example-example.co.uk
    07912 345678

    PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

    Ambitious Dental Hygienist with over 8 years of expertise in dental prophylaxis, scaling, and fluoride and sealant application. Accomplished in driving dental health goals through patient education and community outreach. Eager to bring talent and background to a growing dental office.

    WORK HISTORY

    Dental Hygienist (01/2019 – Current)
    Courtyard Dental Care, Glasgow

    • Applied fluoride and pit or fissure sealants.
    • Interpreted patients’ dental radiographs.
    • Introduced advanced tooth-cleaning procedures to the office.
    • Screened patients for signs of oral cancer, lesions or disease.
    • Removed soft and hard deposits, cleaned and polished teeth.

    Assistant Dental Hygienist (11/2014 – 12/2018)
    Queen Street Dental Practice, Glasgow

    • Supported Dental Hygienist in improving operations and resolving issues to deliver top-notch customer service.
    • Continuously developed knowledge through continuing education and seminars.
    • Educated patients on the importance of oral hygiene.
    • Maintained accurate medical and dental records.
    • Assisted with an average of 6 patients every day, resulting in £1,000 revenue each week.

    SKILLS

    • Sealant application
    • Periodontal evaluation
    • Dentrix software proficiency
    • Preventive oral health education
    • Patient relationship building
    • Strong verbal communication
    • Highly organised
    • Dental disease management

    EDUCATION

    Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, 2014
    Bachelor of Science: Oral Health Science

    Royal Secondary School, Newcastle, 2011
    A-Levels: Biology, Chemistry, Maths

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    Dental hygienist CV templates

    Making a sparkling first impression is easy when you refer to our dental hygienist CV examples. A professional CV template creates a clean, attractive structure, which is filled with relevant professional qualifications, experience, and skills. Meet recruiters’ expectations and get hired quicker with our help!

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    The best format for your hygienist CV

    The role of a dental hygienist demands professionalism, empathy, and attention to detail – and your CV should reflect all three. Whether you’re applying to a private practice or an NHS clinic, your layout and formatting choices should support a sense of clinical precision while remaining easy to read and accessible to both recruiters and employers.

    Here are some general CV formatting tips to get you started with choosing the right CV format:

    • Choose a professional font such as Verdana or Times New Roman to reflect a clinical, trustworthy tone.
    • Keep margins wide and spacing consistent – clutter can make your CV look rushed or unprofessional.
    • Display your GDC registration number clearly next to your name and contact details.
    • Use bullet points to break down duties and patient outcomes under each role.
    • Consider light blue or grey accents in headings to subtly reflect healthcare branding.

    When choosing the best CV format, think about your level of experience and career history. Below are two formats commonly used by dental hygienists:

    Chronological CV

    A chronological CV format is often ideal for candidates with continuous dental employment. This format puts your work history front and centre. It allows you to highlight your clinical expertise in preventative care, periodontics, radiography, and teamwork with dental professionals. Employers can quickly see your career progression and the depth of your practical experience.

    Skills-based CV

    A skills-based CV (also known as a functional CV) is suitable for most newly qualified hygienists or those re-entering the profession. It focuses on skills and education rather than job titles. It makes it easy to highlight hygiene techniques, communication skills, and your approach to patient education, even if you don’t have extensive clinical experience.

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    How to write an effective CV for a hygienist

    As a dental hygienist, confidence and accuracy start with your CV. Employers expect clear, structured information that reflects your professionalism and patient care experience. 

    Below, we’ll take you through each key section – from your personal statement to your clinical experience – and provide examples and writing tips to help you create a well-balanced job application.

    Adding contact details to your hygienist CV

    The first element you want positioned at the top of the page is your contact section. Keep your information simple and professional. Include your full name, phone number, email, and location (just the city or region is enough). Make sure your email address is appropriate, easy to read, and professional.

    Example contact section for a hygienist CV

    Brett Hawkins
    53 Church Way
    Sheffield S1 9TH
    07912 345678
    brett.h@example.co.uk

    Writing your hygienist CV’s personal statement

    From the moment employers first set eyes on your CV, you need to keep their attention. Your personal statement is the first place to hook recruiters by showcasing your unique set of skills and experience, along with your major achievements.

    This short section at the top of your CV should comprise three to four sentences and should illustrate exactly why you exceed the requirements of a dental hygienist. Don’t be tempted to copy your work history – your personal statement should be completely original and focus on why you’re perfect for the role.

    Example personal statement for a hygienist CV

    Compassionate and detail-oriented dental hygienist with over 5 years of experience skilled in performing thorough scaling and polishing treatments, educating patients on oral hygiene, and assisting dentists with periodontal care. Known for building strong patient relationships and maintaining a calm, reassuring chairside manner. GDC registered and committed to providing high standards of preventative care in line with the latest clinical guidelines.

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    Adding an experience section to your hygienist CV

    In a clinical setting, your hands-on experience carries as much weight as your qualifications. That’s why the experience section of your dental hygienist CV should show more than just where you’ve worked – it should reflect how you’ve contributed to patient care, worked with dentists, and maintained high clinical standards.

    Present your experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent role. Use professional language and focus on clarity. Precision is essential – just as it is in your work. Be sure to include:

    • Job title, practice, or clinic name and dates of employment
    • A brief summary of your daily duties and responsibilities
    • Any specialisations (for example, periodontics or paediatric dentistry)
    • Measurable results (such as improvements in patient retention or hygiene scores)
    • Evidence of patient-centred care and adherence to NHS or private care standards

    Example of work experience for a hygienist CV

    Dental hygienist (June 2020 – Current)
    SmileBright Dental Clinic, Birmingham

    • Provide preventative and therapeutic dental hygiene treatments to over 30 patients per week.
    • Perform thorough scaling and polishing procedures, including ultrasonic and manual scaling techniques.
    • Educate patients on oral hygiene routines and individualised aftercare plans, resulting in a 20% reduction in recurrent gum disease.
    • Liaise with dentists on treatment planning and charting for routine and emergency procedures.
    • Maintain accurate patient records in accordance with GDPR and GDC standards.
    • Implement infection control processes and sterilisation procedures in accordance with clinical governance.

    Top skills for your hygienist CV

    The skills required to be a dental hygienist go beyond technical knowledge. As well as performing routine dental procedures such as cleaning, scaling, and polishing teeth, demonstrate your strong communication and interpersonal skills to ensure a positive patient experience. Showing you know how to educate patients on oral hygiene practices and provide effective preventive care is essential.

    Proficiency in using dental tools and equipment, maintaining patient records, and complying with health and safety regulations are critical technical skills to highlight. However, soft skills such as patience, empathy, and the ability to reassure nervous patients are equally important. The ability to work efficiently while maintaining a high level of attention to detail ensures that every patient receives the highest quality of care.

    Technical skills for a hygienist

    • Dentistry knowledge
    • Sealant and coating application
    • Dental equipment care
    • Periodontal evaluation
    • Dentrix software proficiency
    • Administering local anaesthetic  

    Transferable skills to set you apart

    • Verbal and written communication
    • Customer service
    • Manual dexterity
    • Concentration
    • Organisational skills
    • Team player

    Outlining education on a hygienist CV

    When outlining your education on a dental hygienist CV, be sure to highlight your formal training and certifications. This section demonstrates your qualification to practice dental hygiene, which is a must for any hygienist. Include your degree or diploma in dental hygiene and any additional certifications, such as CPR or dental radiography, that are relevant to the role. 

    If you have advanced training in specific areas of dental care, such as periodontics or paediatric dentistry, be sure to mention this as well. Listing relevant courses or workshops you’ve completed can further demonstrate your ongoing commitment to professional development. Provide accurate details, including the name of the institution, the dates of your studies, and any significant achievements during your time at school.

    Example of education for a hygienist CV

    Bachelor of Science: Dental Hygiene (2022)
    University of Health Sciences, London

    • GDC Registration: 1234567
    • Relevant Coursework: Periodontics, Preventive Dentistry, Radiography, Pain Management
    • Clinical Training: 200 hours of hands-on practice, including patient assessments and cleaning treatments

    Additional Certifications

    • CPR & First Aid Certified, Red Cross (Valid until 2026)
    • Certificate in Dental Radiography, Health Education Institute (2023)

    Top dos and don’ts for hygienist CV writing

    DO

    • DO review the job description carefully

      Before treating a patient, a dental hygienist needs to inspect their teeth carefully. When writing a CV, you’ll need to inspect the job description with similar scrutiny. A dental hygienist job description for UK jobs will include details of the person specification that employers are looking for, along with your duties and expected qualifications. Read it through carefully, writing down any key competencies you meet, using their wording, if possible.

    • DO structure your CV accordingly

      Your dental hygienist CV should be split into several key parts: your contact details, personal statement, work history, academic history, and skills. As well as using professional CV templates to keep these elements structured neatly, you should also use reverse chronological CV formatting to display your work history. This professional format showcases your most recent position first, so the most relevant information is easy for employers to find.

    DON’T

    • DON’T include irrelevant details

      In your CV, you need to show you can meet (and exceed) the job duties of a dental hygienist. Recruiters need to see exactly what you’ve been able to achieve in your career. Perhaps you introduced your clinic to advanced cleaning procedures, or you might have saved time for your team with your meticulous record-keeping. Using career-specific pre-written content in an online CV builder can help you create a showstopping work history in no time at all.

    • DON’T forget to deep clean your CV

      Your CV should cover the full requirements for being a dental hygienist. Whilst irrelevant details should be removed, you might be surprised at how your entire work history can help you to exceed the job criteria, as there are many transferrable skills a dental hygienist needs for their role. Customer service, listening skills, and verbal communication are all vital, so even if this is your first dental hygienist role, you’ll have plenty of evidence to back up your core CV skills.

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    Your hygienist questions answered

    What is a dental hygienist?

    Dental hygienists assist and advise patients regarding the care and hygiene of their teeth and gums. They give patients advice about their oral hygiene to avoid tooth decay and gum disease. They usually work as part of a team within a dental practice or hospital, with patients of all ages, including children and older adults. The many benefits of a dental hygienist career include a competitive salary, job stability, opportunities for progression, work schedule flexibility, as well as the many potential perks from your employer.

    What does a dental hygienist do?

    The job description of a dental hygienist in the UK includes these responsibilities, among others:

    • Advising and educating patients on oral hygiene
    • Cleaning and polishing patients’ teeth
    • Applying sealants and coatings to protect teeth
    • Taking and interpreting x-rays of patients’ teeth
    • Listening and communicating empathetically with patients
    • Giving local anesthetic
    • Sterilising equipment
    • Maintaining dental records

    You’ll need to include examples of how you meet these key competencies as you write your CV and covering letter, from your personal statement through to your work and academic history.

    How can I become a dental hygienist in the UK?

    For a career as a dental hygienist, entry requirements will include either a degree, diploma, or an apprenticeship. All dental hygienists must be registered with the General Dental Council (GDC). To do this, you’ll need to have completed one of the following approved qualifications:

    • A three-year degree in oral health science, or dental health and dental therapy
    • A two-year foundation degree in oral health science
    • A two-year diploma of higher education in dental hygiene, dental health and dental therapy

    Dental hygiene course requirements in the UK usually require at least 1-3 A-Levels or an equivalent, depending on the course. Experience in dental nursing can be beneficial, as a recognised dental nurse qualification can also qualify you for the courses. An apprenticeship could also help you to get into this career, for example, through a Level 4 oral health practitioner apprenticeship – though to qualify for this, you should already be registered with the GDC.

    How much does a dental hygienist make?

    The average dental hygienist salary in the UK is around £30k to £35k per year. Entry-level positions start with salaries of around £25k per year. Specialist dental hygienists can earn more, particularly if they are involved in training other members of staff. The most experienced candidates can earn up to £45k per year.

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    Build a dental hygienist CV for a great first impression

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