Rosenberg Delgado, RDH, AP, BSDH

What Makes Me Love Dental Hygiene

Rosenberg Delgado, RDH, AP, BSDH

Dental hygiene was not always part of my plan, but it has become one of the most meaningful parts of my life. Right after high school, I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. Serving in the military taught me discipline, teamwork, and the importance of showing up for others. When my time in uniform came to an end, I knew I wanted a career that still centered on service, just in a different way. I wanted something hands on, purposeful, and people focused.

Dentistry was not on my radar until a friend casually suggested dental hygiene. At the time, I knew very little about the profession, but I felt confident that I could handle working in people’s mouths. That small leap of faith ended up opening the door to a career that aligns perfectly with my values.

One of the experiences that truly shaped my love for dental hygiene happened early in my education. During my first year in the program, I joined a group of students on an outreach trip to Quito, Ecuador. That trip was eye opening in every sense. I worked with patients from a wide range of ages and backgrounds, many of whom had little to no access to dental care. I saw dental conditions I had only read about in textbooks and witnessed the relief and gratitude that came from simply being able to help. It showed me that oral health is about more than teeth. It is about confidence, comfort, and quality of life.

Today, that perspective guides everything I do in my role as Lead Dental Hygienist and Clinical Coordinator with The Smile Zone, a nonprofit organization that provides mobile pediatric dental care to underserved children and families throughout Arizona. Working in mobile dentistry allows us to meet children where they already are, removing barriers that often prevent families from accessing care. Our teams serve preschools, elementary schools, middle schools, daycares, and family and community resource events. Each setting comes with its own challenges and opportunities, but the goal is always the same: to make dental care accessible, comfortable, and positive.

A particularly meaningful part of our work involves partnering with the Arizona Department of Child Safety. Through this collaboration, we provide dental checkups for children before they are placed into the foster care system. These visits are often a child’s first experience with a dental provider, and they come at a time of significant transition and uncertainty. Being able to offer care, reassurance, and a sense of normalcy during such a vulnerable moment reinforces why this work matters so deeply.

My role allows me to combine clinical care with leadership. I still work chairside, but I also help coordinate mobile dental events, support and mentor our clinical teams, and ensure consistency and quality of care across all sites. For many of the children we serve, this is their first dental visit. Some arrive nervous or unsure, but with patience, education, and encouragement, fear often turns into trust. Creating that safe and welcoming experience is just as important as the clinical care itself.

What I love most are the small moments that create a lasting impact. Watching a child go from hiding their smile to proudly showing it off never gets old. Seeing that shift in confidence is a powerful reminder that even simple preventive care can change how a child sees themselves.

Being in a leadership role has also deepened my appreciation for this profession. I enjoy mentoring other hygienists, supporting their growth, and fostering a team culture built on compassion, collaboration, and service. When we take care of each other as providers, we are better equipped to take care of our patients.

I once served my country in uniform, and now I serve my community through smiles. The mission may look different, but the heart behind it remains the same. Dental hygiene allows me to live out those values every day, and that is why I love what I do.

Dental hygiene was not always part of my plan, but it has become one of the most meaningful parts of my life. Right after high school, I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, where I learned discipline, teamwork, and the importance of showing up for others. When my time in uniform came to an end, I knew I wanted a career that still centered on service, just in a different way. I wanted something hands on, purposeful, and people focused.

Dentistry was not originally on my radar. It was not until a friend casually suggested dental hygiene that I began to consider it as a career. At the time, I knew very little about the profession, but I felt confident that I could handle working in people’s mouths. That small leap of faith opened the door to a career that aligns closely with my values and strengths.

One of the experiences that truly shaped my love for dental hygiene happened early in my education. During my first year in the program, I joined a group of students on an outreach trip to Quito, Ecuador. The experience was eye opening. I worked with patients of all ages and backgrounds, many of whom had little or no access to dental care. I saw dental conditions I had only read about in textbooks and witnessed how even basic treatment could bring relief and confidence. That trip showed me that oral health is about more than teeth. It is about dignity, comfort, and overall quality of life.

That perspective continues to guide my work today in my role as the Lead Dental Hygienist and Clinical Coordinator with TheSmileZone, a nonprofit organization that provides mobile pediatric dental care to underserved children and families throughout Arizona. Working in mobile dentistry allows us to meet children where they already are, removing barriers such as transportation, cost, and time away from school. Our teams provide care in preschools, elementary and middle schools, daycares, and at family and community resource events, creating opportunities to reach children who might otherwise go without care.

One of the most meaningful aspects of my work is our partnership with the Arizona Department of Child Safety. Through this collaboration, we provide dental checkups for children before they are placed into the foster care system. These visits often occur during a time of uncertainty and transition, and for many children, it is their first experience with a dental provider. Being able to offer care, reassurance, and consistency during such a vulnerable moment reinforces the importance of compassionate, accessible oral health care.

In my role, I balance clinical care with leadership responsibilities. I continue to work chairside, while also coordinating mobile dental events, supporting and mentoring clinical teams, and ensuring quality and consistency of care across all sites. Many of the children we serve arrive feeling nervous or unsure, but with patience, education, and encouragement, fear often turns into trust. Creating a positive experience is just as important as the clinical care itself.

What I love most about dental hygiene are the small moments that create lasting impact. Watching a child go from hiding their smile to proudly showing it off never gets old. That shift in confidence is a powerful reminder that preventive care can change how a child feels about themselves and their health.

Being in a leadership role has deepened my appreciation for this profession. I enjoy mentoring other hygienists and helping build a team culture centered on compassion, collaboration, and service. When we take care of each other as providers, we are better equipped to serve our patients and communities.

I once served my country in uniform, and now I serve my community through smiles. While the mission may look different, the heart behind it remains the same. Dental hygiene allows me to live out my commitment to service every day, and that is why I love what I do.