Dental Assistant Cover Letter Example and Advice from HR Pros

If you want to apply for a new job as a dental assistant, you will need both a resume and a cover letter. The job of the resume is to present your skills and professional experience in a way that will interest your potential employer. The job of a cover letter, on the other hand, is to make a good first impression.

Your resume and cover letter are two separate documents that should focus on different things but complete each other when used in tandem.

If you are not sure how to write your dental assistant cover letter, you’ve come to the right place. Below, we will go into more details about the following:

• Why is a cover letter important?
• What to include in a cover letter?
• How to make a cover letter effective?
• and more.

We will also give you a dental assistant cover letter template that you can use as a base for writing your own cover letter.

Let’s get started.

For tips on how to write a powerful dental assistant resume, check out Dental Assistant Resume Sample and Tips from HR Pros.

Why is a cover letter important?

A cover letter is a professional introduction and an essential part of most job applications. A well-written cover letter will let your potential employer know that you are interested in the job and what makes you the best possible candidate for it.

We suggest you do include a cover letter with any job application because it provides you with extra space for making your case.

What to include in a cover letter?

The most important thing about writing a cover letter is that it should be tailored to the position you’re applying for. It’s never a good idea to send out the same cover letter to multiple employers with the hope of impressing each one. A cover letter should explain your interest in this specific position at this particular company. It should also highlight your most important and valuable skills that are relevant to this job. Because of this, writing a one-fits-all cover letter is pretty much an impossible task.

While you should write a different cover letter for each position you’re applying for, there are still some key elements that form the base of every cover letter.

Cover letter header

All cover letters typically start with the applicant’s contact information that should be placed right at the top of the page. This gives the hiring manager the option to quickly see whose cover letter they are reading and immediately reach out to you if they have further questions regarding your application or want to invite you for an interview.

Thus, at the top of your cover letter, add the following:

• Your full name and professional credentials
• City where you are based (optional)
• Email and phone number
• Link to your professional social media, like Linkedin

Tip: If you do add a link to your professional social media, make sure that your profile page on that network is up-to-date and complete. Also, make sure that the information displayed there matches your resume and cover letter and is in line with the position you are applying for.

Cover letter greeting

Just like any other letter, it’s best to start your cover letter with a personal greeting. That is, it’s best if you know the name of the person who will be reading your cover letter and address it accordingly.

If you don’t know the name of the hiring manager, there are several ways to find it out.

First, check the job description again. In a lot of cases, the name of the hiring manager will be listed in the job posting.

Next, take a look at the company's website. A lot of companies will have a section on the website titled team or about us. Here you might be able to find the name of the person who will be reading your cover letter.

You should also check the company's social media profiles. Quite often, you should be able to find the name of the hiring manager on the company’s Facebook page, LinkedIn profile, Instagram or more.

Finally, if none of these have worked, consider calling the company and asking the receptionist for the current manager's name. You can explain your situation: Say that you will be sending a letter in response to a recent job posting and would like to know how to properly address it.

If you have tried all of the methods above and still were not able to find the name of the hiring manager, you can use a general greeting such as:

• Dear Hiring Manager
• Dear Hiring Team
• Dear XYZ Company
• Dear XYZ Company Representative
• Good Day

It’s best to avoid the more old-fashioned and bulky “To whom it may concern”.

Cover letter introduction

The first paragraph of your cover letter should get the HR manager interested in what’s to come next. It should also bring forward all your key skills and abilities. Imagine that this paragraph is ALL the hiring manager will read out of your whole cover letter. Make it as powerful and convincing as possible.

Cover letter middle paragraphs

Here, you can elaborate on what value you will be bringing to the company if hired. Emphasize the skills that you have that are most relevant to the job you’re applying for. And, in the following paragraphs, try to illustrate how you were able to develop the skills and how they came in handy in your previous positions. You should also mention that you are well aware and familiar with responsibilities and challenges that the new position holds. Explain that you are fully prepared to handle them.

Try not to use generalities and vague language here. Instead, give specific examples, use numbers and references to show why you are the right person for the job.

This section of your cover letter shouldn’t be too long: just two to three paragraphs.

Cover letter call to action

It’s recommended to end your cover letter with a call to action. For instance, you can inform when you will be available to start the new job. You can also say that you will be waiting for feedback on your application and will appreciate any comments.

You should also thank the hiring manager for taking the time to review your application.

Cover letter signature

You can use a standard sign-off for you cover letter such as:

• Best Regards
• Warm Regards
• Regards
• Sincerely
• Sincerely Yours
• Cordially Yours
• Yours

You should also repeat the same contact information that you’ve included at the top of the letter. It may seem superfluous, but it’s a good idea to repeat your contact details after your call to action. This way, the hiring manager will instantly see your contact information if they want to give you a call or confirm something from your cover letter.

Tips for writing a dental assistant cover letter

Now that we’ve covered what you should include in your cover letter, let’s take a look at some of the best practices that you should keep to when writing a good cover letter.

• First, as we’ve mentioned, you should do your best to tailor your cover letter to the position you’re applying for. It is actually a good idea to go over the job description one more time and look for all relevant keywords and key phrases that you can use in your cover letter to illustrate your skills and expertise. This way, when the hiring manager is reading your résumé, the key phrases you’ve used will jump off the page for them.
• Your cover letter should be short and to the point. Most HR managers agree that a cover letter should be no longer than a page. This is why it’s best to avoid any general or abstract information. Use numbers, and specific facts and examples.
• Finally, before sending out your cover letter, make sure that it’s free of typos and spelling or grammar mistakes. To do so, you can run your cover letter through an online spellchecker or just read through it one more time keeping an eye out for any mistakes.

Dental assistant cover letter example

Summing things up

Let’s go over some of the key takeaways from today’s article.

• A cover letter is an important part of your job applications that should not be overlooked. A cover letter is a professional introduction that sells you as a candidate to the hiring manager.
• Make sure that your cover letter does not repeat the same information as your resume. A cover letter should be a powerful short professional introduction. It should only include your most valued skills and examples of those skills that will be useful in the job that you are now applying for.
• Your cover letter shouldn’t be longer than the page. Avoid generalities and use specific information: numbers, references, examples, etc.
• Make sure your cover letter includes the following sections: contact information, greeting, main paragraphs (where you explain your motivation for applying for the job and illustrate why you are the best choice), call to action and sign-off.
• If possible, add a link to your professional social media in your contact details.
• Try to incorporate the same keywords and key phrases into your cover that are used in the job description you are applying for.
• The first paragraph of your cover letter should be the “strongest” part of your letter. Make sure that after reading it, the HR manager will be interested in reading the rest of your cover letter.

Learn more about how to write a cover letter.