Amber Nehme, RDH, M.Ed

Making a Difference, One Smile at a Time: A Passion That Goes Beyond the Plaque

Written by Amber M. Nehme, RDH, M.Ed

Plaque may be something I spend my days removing, but smiles, confidence, and connections are what make me love dental hygiene! My name is Amber Nehme, RDH, M.Ed., and for the past 20 years, this profession has been so much more than a career to me. It has been my calling, my passion, and my way of making a difference; one patient, one student, and one smile at a time. I love dental hygiene because it allows me to educate and inspire others in ways that reach far beyond the dental chair. What began as a passion for caring for patients has grown into a lifelong mission to teach, learn, and share my love for a profession that impacts both oral health and overall well-being. And the best part? My opportunity to make a difference still continues to grow!

For two decades, I had the privilege of serving my Southern California community chairside, building meaningful relationships with patients and helping them understand the powerful connection between oral health and overall wellness. Over time, my Doctor, who was a mentor in education for me, as well as many patients recognized my passion for dental hygiene and encouraged me to take that passion into education. Their words planted a seed that changed the trajectory of my career. I took a leap of faith, earned my bachelor's degree, and continued on to complete my master's degree in education. Five years ago, I began a new chapter that would allow me to multiply my impact by investing in the next generation of dental hygienists.

Today, I teach both clinically and didactically, and one of my greatest rewards is knowing that my students feel the difference. I have received heartfelt letters and recognition from countless students describing me as a teacher who genuinely cares about them and makes learning fun. One message from a recent graduate particularly captures why I do what I do:

“Your genuine passion for your students and dental hygiene is felt beyond the walls of school, it will remain with me for a lifetime.”

Those words remind me that teaching is about so much more than lectures, instruments, clinical competencies, or passing an exam. It is about making students feel supported, believing in them before they fully believe in themselves, and creating an environment where learning is engaging, confidence grows, and passion becomes contagious. I want my students to leave my classroom not only as skilled clinicians, but as compassionate providers who understand the profound difference they can make in someone's life. My greatest hope is that they carry that same enthusiasm and compassion into their own careers, passing it along to every patient they serve. If something I have shared stays with a student for a lifetime, then my impact has the potential to reach far beyond anything I could accomplish alone.

But why stop at the classroom? My passion for dental hygiene has never been content to stay in one place! Last year, I challenged myself to expand my reach through research and writing, exploring emerging health topics that I encounter every day in clinical education. Since then, I have had two articles published in Dimensions of Dental Hygiene and Decisions in Dentistry, addressing important issues such as the growing diabetes epidemic and the relationship between GLP-1 medications and periodontal health. I want to help bridge the gap between emerging research and everyday patient care, empowering providers and patients with knowledge that can make a meaningful difference in their health.

I have also taken my passion to social media, where I share daily positivity, review dental products, and talk about all things dental hygiene. Whether I am discussing the latest research, encouraging a future hygienist, or helping someone better understand something as specific as the morphology of incisors, my goal remains the same: to make dental education approachable, meaningful, and even a little fun! Because learning about teeth should never have to be boring, and sharing knowledge should never be limited to the four walls of a classroom.

From the dental chair to the classroom, from published research to social media, my mission continues to grow. I may have started by caring for one patient at a time, but today I have the opportunity to influence future providers, empower patients, and share my love for this profession far beyond my own community. Each new opportunity reminds me that the reach of one person's passion can be much greater than they ever imagined.

I believe making a difference is not about how many people know your name; it is about how many people are better because you took the time to care. If I can inspire a student to become a more compassionate hygienist, help a patient understand a health condition that affects their smile, or encourage even one person to take charge of their health, then I know my work matters. The true impact of dental hygiene lives on in the patients we educate, the students we inspire, and the knowledge we share with others.

So, why do I love dental hygiene? Because it has given me far more than a profession; it has given me a purpose. After 20 years, my passion has not faded; it has found new ways to grow. There are still patients to empower, students to inspire, questions to research, and knowledge to share. If plaque is persistent, so is my passion for this profession! I will continue showing up with curiosity and a genuine desire to make a difference, one patient, one student, and one smile at a time. Because to me, loving dental hygiene means never stopping at the smile in front of me, but wondering just how many more lives I can touch.