Leah Sawyers, CRDH

My dental hygiene career began in 2020 when I graduated from FSCJ in Jacksonville, Florida. I left school with a strong passion for periodontics and a deep appreciation for the way oral health influences overall health. My first position was in a general practice that did not yet have an in-office periodontal protocol in place. Alongside my co-hygienist and former classmate, we developed and implemented a structured perio program. Together, we worked diligently over the next two years to elevate the standard of care and provide the level of treatment our patients needed. Seeing patients receive appropriate periodontal therapy reinforced my belief in the difference hygienists can make when we advocate for evidence-based care.

During that time, I also participated in a program established by my dentist with a nearby nursing home. Every three months, I visited residents on both the assisted living and memory care sides to provide cleanings from the comfort of their rooms. This work was deeply meaningful to me, as my own grandmother lived in a memory care facility out of state. I knew firsthand how overwhelmed the staff could be, how limited their resources were, and how easily oral care needs could go unmet. Being able to bring hygiene services directly to these patients felt like a small but important way to honor her experience. It taught me that dental hygiene extends far beyond the operatory—it is about compassion, accessibility, and meeting patients where they are.

In late 2022, I moved home to North Carolina. Once I obtained my NC hygiene license, I began working in a periodontal office, where I discovered how much I truly love treating periodontal disease and partnering with patients to improve their oral and overall health. Educating patients, celebrating small improvements, and watching their confidence grow reminded me daily why this field is so meaningful to me.

After two years in perio, I was offered an incredible opportunity to join a general practice in my hometown county, where I am currently working. In this county, there is one periodontal office, with two others in neighboring counties that would require about an hour drive for our patients. With the combined experience from my previous general and periodontal settings, I have been able to assist the practice in establishing a comprehensive perio program, which now opens up more opportunities for our patients to receive treatment in our office. It has been rewarding to contribute to another team to offer a proactive, health-centered approach to our patients.

Through this practice, I became connected with a local health clinic launching a free dental clinic for the community. The clinic partners with a dental bus that visits periodically to provide cleanings and extractions. After volunteering a couple of times, I noticed that treatment days were not running as efficiently as they could, largely due to the need of a hygienist to come in and assess patients beforehand. The assessments were consuming much of the time we had allotted for the patient, resulting in treatment being postponed until the next time that the dental bus was scheduled. I am now collaborating with the assistant director to schedule dedicated screening days, allowing us to make the most of our dental bus visits and provide more organized, effective care.

Entering the world of public health has opened my eyes to the significant need for low-cost and free dental services in my community. Being part of this effort has been incredibly rewarding, and I am excited to see how the clinic grows and how these experiences will continue to shape me as a hygienist. Each step of my journey—clinical, community-based, and personal—has strengthened my passion for dental hygiene and reinforced why I love this profession.