What makes me love dental hygiene? It is the endless opportunities to create meaningful change and empower others. Dental hygiene can bridge gaps in healthcare and positively impact the lives of individuals and communities around the world. Dental hygiene is more than a profession; it is a way to connect with people, inspire healthier lives, and drive sustainable transformation within communities.
My work in public health has been deeply rewarding, particularly in the areas of maternal and early childhood programs. I find great satisfaction in facilitating oral health initiatives that extend beyond traditional clinical settings. A key highlight of this work is the opportunity to integrate oral health into primary healthcare through interprofessional collaboration and strong community partnerships. For example, equipping public health nurses with tools to educate families has shown me how to increase capacity in spreading oral health knowledge, keeping me excited and inspired in my career. Partnering with pregnancy outreach, early childhood programs, literacy initiatives, and immigration services further increases awareness and breaks down barriers, reaching those who might lack access to oral healthcare resources. The creative aspect of my role, which allows me to innovate while addressing real needs, is another source of fulfillment. Designing educational materials such as brochures, posters, and other visuals enables me to make oral health education accessible and engaging.
My passion for oral health extends globally. Drawing on my public health experience and understanding the global burden of oral disease, I felt compelled to take action. I followed my heart to rural Africa and focused on developing sustainable, collaborative public health programs tailored to the unique needs of each community. This work led to the creation of a school-based and a maternal-child program. The success of these programs lies in mentoring community members to ensure cultural relevance, fostering sustainability, and empowering local oral health champions - a highlight of my journey. The initiatives also align with the World Health Organization’s Global Strategy and Action Plan on Oral Health 2023–2030, integrating oral health into primary healthcare and education systems.
The school-based program focuses on primary school-age children and helps establish lifelong oral health habits. By training teachers, creating an oral health curriculum, and fostering a daily toothbrushing practice, the program is laying the foundation for healthier smiles and improved overall well-being. Watching children graduate from these programs and share their knowledge with their families and peers is the ultimate reward and highlights the program’s far-reaching influence.
The maternal-child program empowers pregnant women and mothers with the knowledge and skills to prioritize and maintain good oral health for themselves and their families. A key achievement has been addressing harmful practices, such as infant oral mutilation (IOM), through culturally relevant education. Seeing these practices replaced with positive behaviours displays the transformative power of education and how small actions can spark profound change. The program’s interprofessional approach also fosters greater integration of oral health into community health practices. Seeing mothers leave oral health sessions confident in caring for their children’s oral health, along with parent testimonials of adopting healthy practices, reinforces the profound impact of this work.
I continue to be engaged in program growth and development by fostering additional partnerships, developing custom educational materials translated into local languages, providing training and mentorship to local individuals, healthcare professionals and educators, and implementing feedback and evaluation measures. These locally led programs reach individuals daily and positively influence thousands of mothers and children annually.
Various grants have supported the programs, including the 2019 ADA International Volunteer Project Grant, for improving access to oral health care in underserved communities. They have also achieved international recognition, winning first place in the International Dental Hygiene Federation’s (IFDH) Social Responsibility Program. I had the amazing opportunity to present these projects to like-minded professionals on a global stage at the 2022 IFDH Symposium in Dublin, Ireland, and the 2023 IFDH Global Oral Health Summit.
Sharing these experiences through published articles and mentorship has also been incredibly rewarding. An article I wrote for the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association’s Oral Health Canada magazine received the 2021 Oh Canada! Readers’ Choice Award. In 2023, I was deeply honoured to receive the Sunstar/RDH Award of Distinction in the public health category.
Throughout this journey, I have learned that every effort matters. What inspires me most are the remarkable people I encounter along the way. There is something truly heartwarming and memorable about watching a child light up with pride as they showcase their toothbrushing skills. It is equally inspiring to see a local individual become a motivating ambassador for oral health and witness a community adopt and embrace positive oral health practices. These moments spark my passion for dental hygiene. As dental hygienists, we have the opportunity to uplift individuals and communities, reminding us that we all are part of something bigger.