Jennifer Henderson, RDH

I have always loved dentistry at a young age! But I started my professional journey in dentistry in 2009 as a dental assistant. I eventually decided to take the next step and become a dental hygienist. I graduated from dental hygiene school in 2025, and I am so grateful that I get to do something every day that allows me to help people and make a difference in their lives.

One of my favorite things about being a dental hygienist is getting to know my patients and helping them feel comfortable in the dental chair. I know that not everyone enjoys going to the dentist. Some people feel nervous, some feel embarrassed about their teeth, and others have had experiences that make it difficult for them to trust dental professionals. I want my patients to know that they don't have to feel that way with me. I want them to feel safe, respected, and cared for, no matter what their oral health looks like when they come in.

Honestly, some of my favorite moments happen at the end of an appointment. I love getting hugs from my patients, seeing their smiles, and hearing them say that they learned something new and actually had fun at their cleaning! Those moments mean so much to me because they remind me that what we do is about more than teeth. If someone comes into my appointment feeling nervous and leaves smiling, laughing, or feeling more confident about their oral health, I feel like I've made a difference.

I love being able to teach my patients about their oral health in a way that makes sense to them. I don't want people to feel like they are being lectured or judged. I want them to understand why something matters and feel encouraged to make changes that work for them. We can talk about brushing, flossing, periodontal disease, or how oral health connects to our overall health, but I also want there to be room for conversation, laughter, and questions. Learning about your health doesn't have to be scary or boring!

Working in a community health setting has helped me see how many different challenges people face when trying to access dental care. Financial difficulties, transportation, medical conditions, disabilities, and limited appointment availability can all make it harder for someone to get the care they need. Sometimes people go years without seeing a dentist, and by the time they come in, they may feel embarrassed or overwhelmed. I want them to know that I am not there to make them feel bad about the past. I am there to help them move forward.

My own life experiences have also influenced the kind of dental hygienist I want to be. Helping care for my mother as she experienced early-onset dementia gave me a personal understanding of how difficult it can be when someone needs extra help and support. It made me think even more about people who have trouble accessing healthcare and how important it is to treat every person with patience, compassion, and dignity.

I am now continuing my education to become a Registered Dental Hygienist in Alternative Practice (RDHAP). I want to be able to bring preventive dental hygiene services to people who may have difficulty getting into a traditional dental office. My hope is to help both adults, children and medically vulnerable individuals, and others in my community who need more convenient access to care. I want people to have the opportunity to maintain their oral health, even when getting to a dental office isn't easy.

I know I still have so much to learn, and I want to continue growing both personally and professionally. But I also know the kind of hygienist I want to be. I want to be someone my patients feel comfortable talking to, someone who listens, someone who encourages them, and someone who makes their appointments a positive experience. I want my patients to leave feeling like they were cared for as a whole person, not just another name on the schedule.

When I think about making a difference, I think about the hugs, the smiles, and the patients who tell me they learned something and had fun. Those moments remind me why I chose this profession and why I worked so hard to get here. I may not always know how much a small interaction means to someone, but I hope that every patient who sits in my chair leaves feeling a little more confident, a little less afraid, and a little more excited about taking care of their health.

I started in dentistry as a dental assistant, and now I get to continue that journey as a dental hygienist with so many opportunities ahead of me. I am proud of how far I have come, and I am excited to see how many more people I can help along the way.

For me, being a dental hygienist is about so much more than cleaning teeth. It's about building trust, sharing knowledge, making people smile, and reminding them that they deserve to feel comfortable and cared for. If I can make someone laugh, help them learn something new, or earn a hug at the end of an appointment, then I know I am doing something that matters.

And if I can help make going to the dentist a little less scary and a little more fun, one smile at a time, then that is exactly the kind of difference I want to make.