Brittany Glauz, BSDH, RDHAP

 The moments that inspire me most are when hygienists choose to speak up for our patients and for our profession. Being involved beyond the operatory through volunteering and advocacy has shaped who I am as a provider, and I am honored to have received the 2023 Award of Distinction and the 2024 World Hygienist Award. These experiences reflect what has always been at the heart of my work: prevention and advocacy. 

One of the most eye opening experiences of my career was attending the House of Delegates as a delegate in 2025, where I saw firsthand the importance of hygienists being involved at the legislative level. I have watched dentistry evolve, from the introduction of oral preventive assistants to the expansion of scope in some states to include neuromodulator administration. While we continue to oppose legislation that could negatively impact our profession, what stands out most is our ability to grow while protecting the integrity of dental hygiene. 

In 2024, I attended the International Symposium on Dental Hygiene in Seoul, South Korea, where I met hygienists from around the world. One moment that stayed with me was meeting hygienists from Belgium, a country that only recently began recognizing dental hygiene as a profession. Hearing their stories gave me perspective on how far we have come in the United States and reinforced our responsibility to continue moving forward for future generations. 

One patient interaction will always remind me why prevention matters, especially in my work with a primarily geriatric population. Caring for older adults is one of the most meaningful parts of my practice, and I find fulfillment in slowing down, building trust, and honoring their life experiences. A patient presented with a lesion on his lip that had been present for months and did not concern him. Trusting my instincts, I documented the area, emphasized the importance of evaluation, and confirmed follow up with a dermatologist. Six months later, he returned and shared that the lesion was cancerous and had been removed. He went on to receive further evaluation and treatment for melanoma and thanked me for saving his life, a moment I will never forget. 

What continues to inspire me is growth and connection. Advancements in dentistry and the expansion of our scope keep me excited about the profession. Alongside earning my bachelor’s degree and becoming licensed as a registered dental hygienist in alternative practice in 2025, mentoring students and new graduates has become one of the most meaningful parts of my career. 

Over the past five years, I have built Brush with Britt, a platform dedicated to education, encouragement, and real world dentistry. Through social media and podcasting, I support hygienists as they learn to uphold the standard of care and find their voice as advocates for their patients and profession. With a combined following of over 250,000 and more than 105,000 podcast downloads, this community reminds me that this work reaches far beyond one operatory and fuels my commitment to lead with heart.