Gina Guevara, RDH, OMT

One Little Boy Changed the Way I See Dental Hygiene I never imagined that my own son would change the way I see my profession. My son Milan was born tongue-tied. As a Registered Dental Hygienist, I thought I understood what that meant. But at three years old, he began snoring and grinding his teeth, and I was told it was nothing. As a mom, I knew something wasn't right. I started asking questions, looking for answers, and learning about orofacial myofunctional therapy. That experience opened up a whole new world for me. It changed the way I looked at oral health and inspired me to pursue further education. My son was the reason I started looking closer, but what I learned became something I wanted to share with other families, too. Today, that same desire to help people guides me in every part of my work. In our dental office, we work together to support children's oral health. When appropriate, we refer children to an orthodontist early, and we offer orofacial myofunctional therapy right in our office. Families can receive more connected care that considers teeth, gums, diet, oral function, and airway-related concerns, with collaboration between professionals when needed. I love helping families understand that oral health involves more than what we see when a child opens their mouth.

Looking closer has also helped me in ways I never expected. One day, while examining a patient with my loupes, I noticed a lesion on the side of his head that didn't look right. We took a photo, and I referred him to his family doctor, who found nothing concerning. Six months later, it had grown. I told him, "If you were my dad, I would pursue this," and encouraged him to get a second opinion. Six months after that, he came back and gave me a Starbucks card. He told me I had saved his life. The lesion was early-stage melanoma, and because it was found early, he could be treated in time. That day, I understood that dental hygiene is not only about what is in the mouth. It is about the whole person. My work has also grown beyond the dental office. Through Nurture Myo Wellness, I educate and support children and adults around the world. I use my online platform to share what I have learned, help families recognize concerns that may deserve a closer look, and encourage them to ask questions and seek appropriate professional guidance. But some of the moments that have affected me most have happened while volunteering in Guatemala. We provide dental care to children from birth through age 18, including cleanings, fluoride treatments, screenings, oral health education, and preventive care. When children need restorative treatment, including fillings or extractions, I help support the care provided by our team. I will never forget working with children who have never seen a dentist before. Imagine

being two, three, or four years old and experiencing dental treatment for the first time. You don't understand what is happening. You may need local anesthesia, and everything around you is unfamiliar and frightening. In those moments, I find myself right there with the child and the dentist, speaking gently, helping the child stay calm, encouraging them to breathe, and explaining what is happening in a way they can understand. I want them to feel safe. I want them to know that someone is there for them. I know we cannot take away every bit of fear, and I cannot promise that treatment will never hurt. But I can offer patience, reassurance, and kindness. I can help a child feel that they are not alone. That matters to me because I want these children to be seen as little people who deserve respect and compassion, not simply as patients who need treatment. I want their first experience with dental care to help build trust, so they know they can be cared for even when something feels unfamiliar or scary. Another experience in Guatemala has stayed with me deeply. We were treating a child with extensive cavities who needed multiple extractions. During that visit, I learned that the child's father was also experiencing dental pain, but he was afraid to see a dentist. He told us that his brother had died from a dental infection, and I began to understand why seeking dental care was so frightening for him. Although our mission was focused on the children, I could see that this father needed

care, too. I encouraged the dentist to examine him, and the dentist found a significant infection and extracted two teeth. That experience affected me deeply. Here was a father who was carrying the fear of losing his brother, living with pain of his own, and afraid to seek help. I was grateful that we were able to encourage him to be seen and receive treatment. It reminded me that sometimes the person who needs help is not the one we initially came to serve. We have to be willing to look beyond the immediate situation, listen, and recognize when someone else needs our attention. Because I speak Spanish, I can also help bridge the language barrier for children and parents. I want families to understand what is happening, feel comfortable asking questions, and know that their concerns matter. Communication is not a small part of care. It is one of the ways we build trust. For me, going above and beyond means recognizing the person behind the patient. It means helping a frightened child through an unfamiliar experience, encouraging a parent to seek care despite his fears, and sharing knowledge with families who may live thousands of miles away. I love dental hygiene because it has given me opportunities to keep learning, work alongside other professionals, and make a difference in people's lives in ways I never expected when I began my career. After 25 years in dentistry, starting as a dental assistant, that curiosity still drives me.

My own son inspired me to look beyond what I already knew. My patients remind me why paying attention and speaking up matter. And the children and families I meet in Guatemala remind me that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity, regardless of their circumstances, their language, or their access to care. I do this work because I know what it means to be a mother looking for answers, and how much it matters for people to feel heard, understood, and cared for. Whether I am in the dental office, educating families through Nurture Myo Wellness, or volunteering in Guatemala, I carry the same intention with me: to look closer, to keep learning, and to help where I can. One little boy changed the way I see dental hygiene. He taught me to ask more questions and to look beyond what is immediately visible. Today, that lesson guides the way I care for every child and family I meet. And that is why I love dental hygiene.