Dentist Cover Letter Sample (Works for a New Graduate)

You spent years training to become a dentist, it’s now time to capture your experience and skills in a professional cover letter. Follow these tips and dentist cover letter examples to get started.

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Cover letter for dentist example: associate dentist

This dentist cover letter sample targets a specific job, so you can get an idea of the different types of dentist cover letters you can create depending on the job you’re applying for.

Associate Dentist Cover Letter Example

Dentist cover letter: 5 key tips

Make the best of your cover letter for dentist jobs by following these general writing tips:

  • Start with a bang: explain your interest and fit. You’ve already given the facts on your resume, from your skills to the education you worked hard to obtain — now it’s time to sell yourself. Briefly explain why you’re the right person to join their team and why you’re interested in working for that employer.
  • Feature a mix of soft and hard skills. Hard skills, such as performing oral surgery or knowing how to use specific medical tools, are important to do the job but so are soft skills like excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Balance them out in your cover letter as you give the employer more examples of how you’ve used them to be a good dentist.
  • Give an accounting of your most relevant knowledge and technical skills. It’s important to tailor your job application — both the dentist cover letter and resume — to the job. Dive into the knowledge you possess that relates to the job description and directly answers the requirements; those details are the employer telling you the type of person they want to hire.
  • Avoid repeating what’s on your resume. Imagine a hiring manager is holding two pieces of paper side-by-side, one your resume and the other your cover letter. You want them to complement each other to give the manager a bigger picture of who you are, so don’t copy and paste what’s on your resume to your cover letter. Use the extra space to market yourself.
  • Proofread one, two, three times. There’s nothing worse than applying for a job and then realizing your cover letter or resume had a typo. Proofread your documents well before hitting submit, and if necessary, get someone you trust to look at them to ensure you didn’t miss anything.

Write a dentist cover letter in 5 steps

Land the dentist position you desire by following this writing guide:

1

Heading

Like any business letter, your dentist cover letter header should include your contact information, so phone number and email address, and the hiring manager’s. Be sure to include their job title under their full name and the company’s physical address, similar to our dentist cover letter examples.

2

Salutation

To make your cover letter more personal and professional, research the hiring manager’s name. You can see if it’s mentioned on the employer’s website or LinkedIn. This extra effort is to avoid using generic terms like “Dear Hiring Manager” or “To Whom It May Concern,” which are outdated and show a lack of professionalism.

If you look high and low but aren’t able to find their name, then address the letter to the department of human resources (e.g., Dear Dentistry Department or Dear HR Department)

3

Opening paragraph

You need to frame yourself as a viable candidate immediately. In this example, the applicant references years of experience and expertise alongside a genuine emphasis on patient care. It’s concise but provides an enticing overview of their career highlights.

As mentioned before, you should always customize your cover letter to suit the role. Dentistry positions may vary depending on whether you are applying for a dental office, hospital or if there is a specialty required. Check the job description for any specifics and use this to customize your cover letter.

Furthermore, you need to tailor your cover letter to set yourself apart. All applicants will be registered dentists, so you need to include details that expertly put you in the hiring manager’s mind. Start this immediately in your first paragraph with a strong hook.

Dear Dr. Brown,

I am applying for the open dentist position at Dorian Care. With over 10 years of experience working in an orthodontic department, I am an expert in providing oral health with the utmost emphasis on patient care. I have worked with patients across different age groups, from elderly to pediatric, and understand the importance of being a friendly face during procedures that might be difficult for some.

4

Second paragraph

Show what you have learned during your work experience and how this has shaped you as a dental professional. Indicate any of your specialties and reference soft skills to show how you will fit into the team. Being a dentist goes beyond technical expertise, so highlighting skills like communication skills and teamwork is a good idea.

I take great joy in providing treatment plans to keep people safe, healthy and happy with their orthodontics services. Ever since I graduated from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry with my dental degree, I have fostered a passion for dental care and I am eager to help my patients every day.

While being able to perform the duties of a general dentist, I specialize in prosthodontics. This is where I take real joy in restoring oral health for my patients and allowing them to live the life they want. I take great pride in educating my patients and their families on the best oral care practices, keep up-to-date with the field’s findings and am always ready to lend a helping hand.

5

Closing and sign off

As with your opening salutation, your sign-off should be professional and polite. Thank the recruiter for their time before encouraging a further discussion. Point them toward your dentist resume and say you’re looking forward to the next step, which could be either a phone call or a job interview.

Thank you for taking the time to review my application. Attached is my resume for a more in-depth account of my work history and achievements. I look forward to speaking with you to discuss how I can contribute to your team further.

Sincerely,

Dr. Melissa Torres

For extra tips and writing examples, check our How to Write a Cover Letter article.

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Key skills for a dentist cover letter

Dentistry roles require a mix of skills to care for patients. The specific knowledge needed will vary on the job but here are some general dentist soft skills and hard skills every dentist should have in their arsenal:

  1. Manual dexterity
  2. Great communication skills
  3. Attention to detail
  4. Critical thinking skills
  5. Problem-solving skills
  6. People skills
  7. Organizational skills
  8. Time management
  9. Customer service skills
  10. Active listening

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From templates to examples and career resources, we have everything you need to take your dentist career to the next level.

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FAQ: Dentist cover letter

Key sections a general dentist cover letter should include:

  • An opening statement that briefly summarizes your years of experience and expresses your desire to join the team.
  • One or two body paragraphs that highlight your dentistry experience — be it what you’ve obtained working at other clinics or from school — while demonstrating the industry knowledge you have. How many dental procedures have you done? How have you used your excellent communication skills?
  • A concise third paragraph that invites the reader to contact you and thanks them for their time.

Be sure to tailor your cover letter to the job, as dentistry is a large field with different roles. Focus on the skills the employer is looking for and show them you’re the right person for the job. Show your experience managing patients, your deep understanding of oral health and most importantly, the interpersonal skills you have that make it possible for your patients to reschedule appointments with you. These simple steps will help your cover letter stand out from the crowd.

Dental schools may require you to write a CV. Similar to a resume, a curriculum vitae provides an extensive summary of your skills and experience, from your education to any memberships, awards and important presentations you have given. A CV is at least two pages long and typically requested in specialized fields, such as academia or law.

Follow the guidelines of your dental school to make sure you’re using the correct format and including the information they desire. This information may include:

  • Details of your educational background and training
  • Mentions of relevant certifications
  • List of skills
  • Professional summary
  • Organizations you’re active in or affiliated with

We all start out somewhere and the good news is that many employers are looking for dental assistants with some or no professional experience. If you fall into the latter category, focus your dental assistant cover letter on your success as a dental student. What skills did you learn during your training? Did you receive any awards or accolades for your hard work? What made you decide to become a dental assistant?

Tell the employer about yourself and your passion for dentistry to convince them you have what it takes to be a great dental assistant.

Yes, you should always write a cover letter as part of your job application alongside your professional resume. The cover letter gives you a chance to expand on some of your resume’s details and share a little of your personality and enthusiasm. You can use the Cover Letter Builder at ResumeHelp to create a great cover letter and find cover letter tips that work for you. You should also invest your time in using our Resume Builder and resume examples to create the perfect dentist resume. Both elements are vital to your job application.

You’ll get an acceptable length if you follow our dentist cover letter sample. For any cover letter, you should be aiming for around three-quarters of a page. This gives you a chance to share some insights into your career as a dentist without overloading the hiring manager with too much information.

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WRITTEN BY Maria

Maria is a Puerto Rico-based Content Writer with ample background in digital marketing and copywriting. She graduated from the University of Puerto Rico with a B.A. in English and enjoys making information accessible to others.

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