I have over 30 years of experience in the dental profession, ranging from front office administration responsibilities, which include insurance and treatment coordinator, patient scheduling, and office manager, to back office clinical duties as a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA).
After receiving my Associate's degree in Dental Hygiene, passing a National Board Exam, Clinical Board Exam, and the California Jurisprudence and Ethics Exam, I received my license as a Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH). Upon receiving my Certificate of Completion in Special Needs Care, completing 2,000 clinical hours, and passing an additional California Jurisprudence and Ethics Exam, I received my license as a Registered Dental Hygienist in Alternative Practice (RDHAP).
In 2018, I opened a mobile dental hygiene practice, providing dental hygiene care in an alternative practice setting to those who have a physical or cognitive limitation and are unable to receive their care in a traditional dental practice setting. This alternative setting could be the person's home, an assisted living or long-term care facility, hospice, institutions, hospitals, or school settings.
Since June 2022, I have been working in academia as an educator in a dental hygiene program. I earned my Master's degree in Education in 2024, and in 2026, I opened a boutique dental hygiene practice (brick and mortar) in a dental health professional shortage area (DHPSA). My passion for oral health awareness and access to care continues to motivate and inspire me to be a change maker.
I participate regularly in advocacy opportunities, including speaking with Legislators during Lobby Day, appearing on local news to promote dental hygiene services at the dental hygiene program, and, during the COVID-19 pandemic, advocating for proper personal protective equipment (PPE) not only for the public's safety with aerosol transmission, but also for dental healthcare workers' safety. My most recent contribution in advocacy is an article I wrote addressing California's funding cuts, pilot programs, and changes to scopes of practice that can negatively impact consumers' oral health, often without their knowledge.
