It's me, hi, I'm the hygienist, it's me

As the blog implies, I am an RDH (Registered Dental Hygienist) and a genius (in my own mind). But I'm also a human, which may be difficult for some to believe, given the first statement. But it's true; most of us working in a general dental practice are human. The verdict is still out on prosthodontists. If you are not a dental professional and are joining us today, WELCOME!!! This blog is for you. Yes, it's for them, too - the joke about prosthodontists probably gave that away. But don't give up on me yet because I like writing about more than just teeth. I’m writing for People Who Appreciate Humor and I’m writing for Dental Professionals. The crossover between the two is where I find My People, and where I satisfy my itch for creativity and humor as well as my intense interest in my profession (I’m one lucky nerd!). If I can make the dental folks laugh while engaging with their profession, or the normies start flossing more because suddenly they know too much not to, then it will all have been worth it.  

I grew up in the midwest but have lived in Colorado for the last three years. I never thought I would adjust to living out in the open like this, but I doubt I could leave Colorado now that I'm here. Unless it was for Europe, then all bets are off. I have been married to the same man for twenty (20) years, and I have not murdered him. We have two remarkable dogs. Tigré will be seven in February, and Winston will be three in January. I know I'm biased, but these are some of the best dogs that have ever walked this earth. 

Tigré is a boxer/Australian cattle dog mix adopted from the ASPCA in Fort Wayne, IN. The story we were given was that he was surrendered by a man who simply had too many dogs. If I ever met this man, my only question would be, "How good were your other dogs that THIS was the dog you gave up???" And then I would punch him for being so stupid. Seriously. How do you give up a dog this good, handsome, sweet, and smart? Sure, he is likely on the Doggy Autism Spectrum, and you have to make pretty specific arrangements if you intend to leave a space without him, and you BETTER NOT EVER touch his tail. But still. 

Winston was adopted in true Colorado fashion: from a foster program at a brewery in the foothills. He was billed as a "hound mix." He was about six months old when we got him, and according to the paperwork we were given, he weighed 35.6 lbs at the time. As he continued to grow and change, his standout breeds became more apparent: Great Dane and Greyhound. His greatest strengths include jumping six-foot fences, cowering at every appliance that goes "BEEP," and spending twenty-two hours of every day in bed, buried under the covers no matter how hot it may be.

Enough about them; let's get back to me. I graduated from Illinois Central College in 2010 as a newly minted Dental Hygienist. I was my school's Hu Friedy Golden Scaler Award recipient that year. "This award is presented annually…to students who have demonstrated remarkable skill and talent over the course of their classes. Golden Scaler Students have the special "golden touch" that will serve them well as they begin their new career in dental hygiene. The award is a testament to their achievement." Their words, not mine. I have an actual 24-carat gold-plated Gracey curette embedded in glass that I received along with the respect (envy) of my peers. This award meant a lot to me when I received it, but it hasn't made any actual difference in my career. In nearly fourteen years, I have yet to encounter any dental hygiene emergencies that would necessitate my breaking that glass for the scaler inside. But I keep it nearby just in case. At my home, of course, there are plenty of other scalers to use at work. 

I have been in private practice my entire career. Although I love stability and constant, my husband is more of a nomad, and we have relocated multiple times throughout our marriage. We have lived and worked in Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and now Colorado. As a result, I have worked in my fair share of practices. The smallest practice consisted of one dentist, two hygienists, two assistants, and two front desk. The largest office was a single-doctor-owned practice encompassing a nearly 34,000 sqft, three-level building on a 2.5-acre lot. There were somewhere around seventy employees on average at any given time. 

Having the opportunity to work with so many brilliant dental professionals throughout my career with their extensive knowledge and skill sets has been an enormous boon to my professional development. I genuinely believe I wouldn't be the hygienist I am today without all of the input I have received from such an eclectic group of experts. Working directly with periodontists, oral surgeons, endodontists, and orthodontists throughout my career has added to my wide range of my experience. I'm hoping to share some of that experience here. I am also one of the lucky hygienists who still loves what they do, even after fourteen years. If I can help another hygienist find a love for their career again, it will have all been worth it. Forget what I said about the flossing thing earlier. More fulfilled, happy, engaged hygienists in the field will ultimately lead to more flossing among the general population anyway. 

My goal for this blog is to share information (as well as my thoughts) on the latest dental trends, techniques, products, and research, as well as music, dogs, pop culture, and life, just to name a few. I hope to humanize dental professionals for patients like my husband who believe we are all a bunch of soulless energy and emotional vampires who feed on the sight of blood and fear in our patients' eyes. Lastly, and possibly most importantly, my goal for this blog is to give myself an outlet for the pent-up creative energy that threatens to result in me burning down my house someday (on accident, of course). 

Until my next post, I hope you all seek to find a bit of joy in whatever it is you spend your days doing. If you have a topic you'd like to see covered or have any other reason to communicate with me, including starting a debate regarding Taylor Swift's best album, you can find all the ways to annoy me and endear yourself to me HERE.