Felicity DeLemos, BSDH, RDH

What I love most about dental hygiene are the moments when it becomes more than teeth and instruments. The moments when a patient feels truly seen, heard, and safe. I believe trust is the foundation of great care, and I always try to meet every patient with empathy, putting myself in their shoes and providing care as if I were the one sitting in the chair. Understanding that no two patients are the same, and taking the time to listen, is what allows genuine connection to happen.One of the most memorable patient interactions of my career began while I was still in dental hygiene school. I was caring for an older transgender patient who had avoided dental care for years out of fear. She was hesitant to disclose her medical history and medications, not because she was being difficult, but because she was scared to open up. She had received so much judgment over the years, and this created a wall. Instead of rushing through my requirements, I chose to slow down and listen. We talked, built trust, and created a safe space together. It took more than four appointments to complete her care, but those appointments changed the way I viewed my role as a dental hygienist. Her story will stay with me forever, and it was the moment I truly realized how easily patients can be labeled as “difficult,” when in reality there is often a deeper story waiting to be understood. It taught me to pause, lead with curiosity, and ask myself not why a patient is being difficult, but what they may be carrying with them into the chair.While I deeply love patient care, education is what continues to inspire and energize me. I love connecting with other hygienists, sharing knowledge, and teaching the things I wish had been taught more thoroughly in hygiene school. I believe that by breaking this information down further and creating resources and tools for hygiene students, it allows them to feel what I felt during that patient connection I had in hygiene school, to tap into their empathy and connect with their patients. After graduating and working clinically for just five months, I created Tooth Fairy RDH. What started as the first dental hygiene reference cards designed to help students focus less on memorization and more on the patient has grown into something far greater. Today, it is a community of over 10,000 dental professionals, a place where hygienists can connect, learn, and feel supported at every stage of their career.Dental hygiene, to me, is the perfect blend of compassion and skill. It is about