Dental Hygienist cover letter example

Dental Hygienist cover letter example: an opening on periodontal care and recall, proof from a 220-patient program, and a warm close to the dentist.

Resume for this role

Colleen MacIsaac

Registered Dental Hygienist (CDHO) | Periodontal Care and Patient Education

Ottawa, ON

October 30, 2026

Dr. Marc LavoiePrincipal DentistOrléans Smile ClinicOttawa, ON

Re: Registered Dental Hygienist, full time

Dear Dr. Lavoie,

Your posting for a Registered Dental Hygienist at Orléans Smile Clinic mentions a growing number of periodontal patients and a goal of better recall. Those two areas have been the focus of my last five years at Glebe Dental Centre.

When I joined, periodontal patients were seen on the same schedule as everyone else. I proposed a dedicated maintenance program with three- or four-month recalls, full charting at every visit and a simple home-care plan written for each patient. Today 220 patients are in the program, and 70% showed reduced pocket depths at their 12-month re-evaluation. The same attention to follow-up has kept my recall rate at 88%, well above our practice average of 79%.

I see 8 to 10 patients a day, take and interpret intraoral and panoramic radiographs, and have trained three new hygienists on our charting and recall routines. At Kanata Family Dentistry I also helped move 1,600 patient charts from paper to digital in five months, so I know how to keep a schedule running during a change.

I have 9 years of clinical experience, I am registered with the CDHO and authorized to self-initiate, and I am comfortable with both ABELDent and Dentrix. I also enjoy working with children and anxious patients; I ran a school-season sealant clinic for more than 300 children, and I understand families are a large part of your practice.

I would be glad to meet you and your team at your convenience. I am available on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, and I can start in four weeks.

Sincerely,

Colleen MacIsaac

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How this letter works

What each part of the letter above does, and how to do the same in yours.

The opening

It picks the two needs in the posting, more periodontal patients and better recall, and says they are what Colleen has focused on for five years. Dentists hiring a hygienist want to know you will keep the schedule full and patients healthy.

Whom to address

Address the principal dentist by name with "Dr."; it is on the practice website. In larger groups, the office manager may screen first, but the dentist still makes the decision.

Requirements matched to proof

The posting asks forPeriodontal maintenance
The letter showsA program for 220 patients; 70% with reduced pocket depths at 12 months.
The posting asks forStrong patient recall
The letter shows88% recall rate against a 79% practice average.
The posting asks forFamily and paediatric care
The letter showsSchool-season sealant clinic for 300+ children.

Length

Five paragraphs, in the usual 250 to 400 words. Practice owners read letters between patients, so the clinical results come in the second paragraph, not the fourth.

This letter: 257 words.

The closing

A simple offer to meet the dentist and the team suits a practice where fit with the team matters as much as skills.

Mistakes to avoid in this letter

  1. Describing routine care only

    Scaling and polishing are the baseline. Show something you improved: recall, periodontal outcomes, patient education.

  2. Forgetting your registration

    Name your college and registration status once. Practices must confirm it before you can work.

  3. No sense of the practice

    Family, periodontal and cosmetic practices want different things. One sentence about their patients shows you looked.

Questions about this cover letter

Do dental hygienists need a cover letter?
Many practices hire through a short interview, but a letter helps when several hygienists apply. It shows how you will contribute beyond filling the schedule.
Should I mention which practice software I know?
Yes, in a single line. Knowing the practice's software shortens your training and reassures the office manager.
How do I write the letter as a new graduate?
Use your clinical placements: patient numbers, the cases you found rewarding, and any outreach or school programs. Mention your registration status or exam date.

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