Christine Brautzsch, LDH

To whom this my concern,

Sophomore year of high school I knew I wanted to be a dental hygienist. When I initially applied for a dental hygiene program I was devastated to not be accepted. I then decided to go to dental assisting school. I worked in an office for 6 years , and decided that my true passion was still dental hygiene. Retook classes and re-applied. I finally graduated with my official LDH in 2016.

During my college courses I was highly focused on periodontal disease. I knew that when I graduated I wanted to be the best at my craft. Dental hygiene education was my passion. It’s truly crazy looking back at the path that got me to where I am today. I started in an office that didn’t have a perio program. This office hired a consultant to come in and teach us how to incorporate a periodontal program. Training was very confusing, and hard to grasp at times, but like I said before, I was very passionate about educating my patients. I quickly noticed how important perio charting was. I was shocked as a new graduate how many patients “looked healthy”, but after perio charting realized that most of the patients had a stage of periodontal disease.

What I learned quickly is that if an office does not have a periodontal program then their patients have undiagnosed periodontal disease. And the percentage increases depending on how much time the hygienist is given with their patients.

An office without a perio protocol is so dangerous. Especially when you are a new graduate. The hustle and bustle of a new office, and learning about your new career. You start to get in the mentality of how can I get this patient in and out of this room as fast as possible.

What I learned from my 1st job was how important it was to perio chart, evaluate X-rays for tarter/bone loss, and to educate patients on gum disease. However, I didn’t truly understand how to get a patient to understand the importance of 3 month recalls. We were doing SRP’s but not seeing results because most of our patients were going back to 6 month recalls and not properly healing. As a new hygienist this was devastating.

At my 2nd office, they already had an established periodontal program. However, perio charting ironically were still not being done annually , and I felt that if a patient declined treatment they were pushed out of the office. There was a disconnect to patient autonomy. However, I learned a lot about building relationships with patients and communication skills on periodontal protocol. Most of my patients were on 3 or 4 month recalls. I noticed that the SRP treatment was more successful as long as the patients were doing their follow-up 3/4 month perio maintenance recalls.

This now leads me to my current office. The doctor I used to work for back when I was an assistant was now looking to hire a hygienist. A part of me was hesitant because I knew that this office did not have a periodontal program. I knew that if I were to go back and work there it would be a tough battle getting a periodontal program started. Oh, and did I tell you I was replacing their beloved hygienist , loved by staff and patients!

I worked over time quite often due to patient education/ setting up treatment plans. I was stressed , and my body was tired. I was getting massages/ chiropractor treatments once a month. Change is not an easy thing. Starting a periodontal program was emotionally, physically, and mentally draining. Oh , and did I tell you, I started this program during COVID ?!?! I was going through extra stress.

Yes, I started this program in 2020 and now heading into the new year of 2026, I’m truly proud of what I have accomplished. There were many times I had to stand up for this program. At times I had to stand up to my coworkers, and even the dentist. There were also times I thought I could easily leave and / or just not care about the program. Knowing that I was making a difference in my patient’s health kept me going. I’m very passionate about patient education, and being a dental hygienist, I always have been. Looking back at my journey it almost seemed destined. I feel like I’ve come such a long way from where I started. It’s now so exciting to see all the progress my office has made, and all the healthy smiles I’m apart of.

Thank you for considering me for The Heart To Hands Award,

Christine Brautzsch LDH